California Government Exam

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General Information

Effective September 1, 2007, the California Government Assessment will be revised to better reflect the knowledge and competencies found in the equivalent coursework. The new assessment will be composed of 40 multiple-choice questions and five identification items in which the examinee must define and explain in one paragraph the significance of a term related to
California governance. Each multiple choice item will be worth two points and each identification item will be worth four points. A score of 60 or more will be necessary to pass. The assessment will remain 60 minutes in length and there is no penalty for guessing. Different versions of the exam will be introduced over the next few months and a new study guide is being recommended: David G. Lawrence, California: The Politics of Diversity, fifth edition, Thomson Wadsworth, 2007.

Who Needs to Take the California Government Exam?

If you have met both the American history and United States Constitution portions of the American Institutions requirement through any of the following:

A. Advanced Placement (AP) credit in American history or Government/Politics: American
B. Course(s) in American history which cover a minimum of 100 years of U.S. history, including the establishment of the U.S. Constitution.
C. An American history course which covers a minimum of 100 years of history AND a course in American Government.

You may elect to complete the California state and local government portion of the American Institutions requirement by taking the California Government Examination. (Note: You can also complete the state and local government portion of the American Institutions requirement by completing a course from the list of courses found in the SDSU General Catalog.)

Registration Procedures

***Students Requiring Disability Accommodations please read!

California Gov't Online Registration (credit card or check).
Online Registration hours of availability: 6:30 a.m. - midnight (PST)

OR

Fill out the Cal Gov't Mail-In Registration Form.

OR

Come to the SDSU Student Testing, Assessment & Research Office, (SSW-2549) during business hours (Monday - Friday 8 am - 4:30 pm) and purchase a ticket of admission. The fee for the California Government Exam is $20.00

California Government Test Dates

Test Date	Online/In-Person Reg Deadline	Mail-In Registration	Scores Released
June 7, 2008	May 23, 2008	May 21, 2008	June 17, 2008
July 12, 2008	June 27, 2008	June 25, 2008	July 22, 2008
August 30, 2008	August 15, 2008	August 13, 2008	September 9, 2008
October 4, 2008	September 19, 2008	September 17, 2008	October 14, 2008
November 1, 2008	October 17, 2008	October 15, 2008	November 12, 2008
December 6, 2008	November 21, 2008	November 19, 2008	December 16, 2008

For Further Information

Read the American Institutions Requirement section of the current SDSU General Catalog. It can be found in the Graduation Requirements section.

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