The Maryland Graduation Assessments are a series of End of Course (EOC) exams that test student knowledge of course standards established by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
Students participate in four required subject area tests:
Algebra I (or other math if Algebra I was assessed in 8th grade)
English 10
American Government
Life Science
Each test has varying participation requirements.
Algebra I
Students take the Algebra I assessment at the end of their Algebra I course. Students in the 8th grade Kent County Public Schools STEM Academy will take this assessment in middle school. All other students take the course and assessment in high school. If the MCAP Algebra 1 exam is taken in 8th grade, the students will need to take one other math state assessment in high school (Algebra II or Geometry).
English 10
Students take the MCAP English 10 assessment at the end of their English 10 course. Typically this class is taken during a student’s 10th-grade year of high school.
American Government
Students take the MCAP Government assessment at the end of their American Government course. Typically this class is taken during a student’s 10th-grade year of high school.
All 9th-grade students enrolled in the high school American Government course will take the Maryland state EOC assessment in MCAP Government with the resulting score accounting for 20% of the student’s final grade (Code of Maryland Regulations 13A.03.02).
Life Science
Students take the Life Science Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (LS MISA) at the end of their Biology course. Typically this class is taken during a student’s 9th- or 10t- grade year of high school. All 9th-grade students enrolled in the high school Biology course will take the Maryland state EOC assessment in MCAP LS MISA with the resulting score accounting for 20% of the student’s final grade in the course (COMAR 13A.03.02).