As provided for in the State Board of Education Rule regarding the Awarding Units of Credit (Rule 160-5-1-.15), students can “test out” of courses which have an associated Georgia Milestone End-of-Course (EOC) assessment. Currently, this option is available for the following four high school courses: Algebra, American Literature, Biology and United States History. 

To qualify for the EOC Test-Out Option, students must:

• Not be currently or previously enrolled in the course for which the EOC is being attempted;
• Have earned a grade of B or better in the most recent course that is in the same content area of the course for which the student is attempting the EOC assessment;
• Have a recommendation from a teacher of a course in the same content area as outlined above (or, if not available, a teacher in the same content area with knowledge of the student’s academic achievement) for which the student is attempting the EOC assessment;
• Have parent/guardian permission if the student is less than 18 years of age; and,
• Have not tested out of more than three EOC courses with three credits earned during his/her high school career (this includes high school credits earned in middle school).

When students attempt to earn course credit through the EOC Test-Out Option, the following state-established rules apply:

• Students must pay a $50 registration fee. If a student scores at the “Distinguished” Performance Level, the test-out fee will be refunded;
• Students have only one opportunity per course to demonstrate subject area competency;
• Students must test during the state testing windows in accordance with the PCSD-approved testing calendar;
• If a student does not reach the performance level of “Distinguished” when attempting to test-out and the course is required for graduation, the student will be required to enroll in and complete the course and retake the EOC assessment even if the student made a passing score on the EOC assessment during the test-out attempt; and,
• A student may not test out of a course if he/she has been enrolled in a higher-level course in the same content area. For example, a student taking AP Biology may not earn credit for Biology through this option.

Testing out may not be recommended for student athletes who anticipate competing at the collegiate level. The NCAA Clearinghouse, which establishes athletic rules for college students, differs from state and local graduation rules and explicitly prohibits the use of “courses completed through credit-by-exam” for purposes of collegiate athletic eligibility.

Students who earn course credit by testing out (scoring “Distinguished” on the EOC assessment) will NOT have the opportunity to re-take the course at a future time to improve the course grade. The EOC assessment grade conversion score will be recorded on the transcript as the course grade and the transcript will reflect “course completed through credit-by-exam.” The student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) will be calculated utilizing the EOC assessment test-out grade conversion score. As such, it is important that students and parents realize that the test-out option will impact GPA and class ranking.

Additionally, the Georgia Student Finance Commission will include this score in the calculation for the HOPE Scholarship/Grant Program. Note: The Georgia Student Finance Commission will only calculate HOPE GPA for students enrolled in 9^th through 12^th grades. For students who test-out during the 8^th grade year or prior, the scores will be included on the High School transcript however, these scores will not calculate into the HOPE GPA. 

Registration Information

How do you register? Interested students should speak with their school counselor regarding the EOC Test-Out Option. Applications will be available from the school counselor at least two weeks prior to the registration windows listed below.

When do you register? The Paulding County School district offers the EOC Test-Out Option during the September and March Mid-Month Milestones administration windows. The windows adhere to the testing dates established by the Georgia Department of Education, and cannot be extended by PCSD. Each window will consist of dates for the administration of the specific EOC assessments. Registration and payment must be made prior to the beginning of the testing window. Important Note: Testing dates are subject to change due to inclement weather, local/state emergencies, etc.

September 2024 EOC Test-Out Option Dates:

• Registration for the EOC Test-Out Option will take place between August 23 to August 31, 2024.
• All completed applications and registration fees are due to the counselor no later than August 31, 2024.  
• The Georgia Milestone End-of-Course assessments will be administered during the week of September 9-13, 2024.
• Specific start times may differ by school. Please contact your school for more information.

March 2025 EOC Test-Out Option Dates:

• Registration for the EOC Test-Out Option will take place between February 24 to February 27, 2025.
• All completed applications and registration fees are due to the counselor no later than February 27, 2025.
• The Georgia Milestone End-of-Course assessments will be administered between March 3-6, 2025.
  • American Literature is a two-day administration: Section 1 on one day, Sections 2 & 3 on the next day (must attend both)
• Specific start times may differ by school. Please contact your school for more information.

Where will the student take the test? The student will test using a server-based computer located at his/her designated home school. A virtual option does not exist; therefore, students must test in-person.

Earning Distinguished Level Status

Parents and students will often ask how hard it is to score at the Distinguished Level? Below is a chart that shows the percentage of PCSD students who scored at the Distinguished Level during the most recent years. When reviewing these percentages, however, please keep in mind that these results reflect students who participated in daily instruction through an 18-week block course at their high schools.