HSPE and MSP Study Guide

The WASL Exam has been replaced in the Washington school system, with two new exams geared towards grade school and high school students. The WASL exam is being replaced due to its complexity and the overall scope.

The Washington High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) and Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) Exam offered by the Washington State Board of Education (SBE) and Riverside Publishing assess a Washington school student academic aptitude.

The HSPE focuses on reading and writing skills. A student needs to pass the HSPE in order to graduate. In 2013, students will need to pass four focus areas including reading, writing, math, and science in order to receive their diploma. Over the course of a few years, the test will be administered solely online. Students will be granted one day to take each module, except writing which still takes two days. The HSPE is administered during the spring semester, with a few weeks between each module.

Students grade 3-8 take the MSP Exam to gauge their progress in key study areas, like reading, writing, math, and science. Like the HSPE, the MSP Exam will eventually be offered online to all students in the state of Washington. The writing portion of the exam takes two days, while the other areas take one.

Both exams are comprised of short answer and multiple choice questions. The tests will be measured against educational standards, not against classmate scores. The tests are required by every student according to state and federal laws.