1. HIGH SCHOOL EXIT EXAMS
“Exit exams” are NOT required to earn a high school diploma from NARS. Some states require students to pass a comprehensive battery of exams covering all four years of high school. If the student fails any section of those tests, he or she does NOT get a diploma. Our state is NOT LIKE THAT, so we do not require passing exit exams.

2. ACHIEVEMENT TESTING
These are sometimes called Standardized Achievement Tests, SAT’s -- not to be confused with the Scholastic Aptitude Tests (the College Boards). But, since we mentioned it, neither test is required by our school.

Standardized Achievement Tests are sometimes useful if there is a question about certain learning difficulties the student is experiencing. Standardized Achievement Tests are sometimes good diagnostic tools to find a problem.

The College Boards (SAT’s) may be necessary to complete a good “admissions package” when applying to college. We can provide additional information on both of these options. Call us for details.

3. SUBJECT TESTING
When you homeschool and are working towards high school credit, NARS needs to assign an actual grade for the course -- we prefer number grades, such as 92, 85, 71, etc. This may not be your favorite thing to do, but it is REQUIRED. We cannot issue a credit or a transcript without a grade. How you arrive at the grade is flexible. If you want to use tests from the end of the chapters, or if you want to grade reports and papers, that’s the parent’s option. Testing is NOT required, but a grade is required.