Keystone Exams assess high school students at the end of their English literature courses in grades 10 and 11. Currently being developed in Pennsylvania for eventual use nationwide, the standardized tests represent a common assessment, meaning that all students take this test to show mastery of the concepts in the English literature curriculum. The literature test aligns with the Common Core Standards for high school literature, which districts nationwide are adopting. The questions are multiple choice and titled according to the standard to which they relate. For instance, a question about authorial purpose bears a title denoting the standard it tests. Some schools require students to pass this test to earn credit for the literature course.
The Scholastic Achievement Test assess students' college readiness. Students who want to go to college must take either the whole SAT or ACT test. The SAT, though, also offers assessment tests within certain subjects, including English literature. Candidates taking this test read and analyze passages from different genres and historical periods. The test consists of six to eight passages with attendant questions that focus on a unique aspect of the text. For example, a complex poem might feature questions related to structure or vocabulary. The questions are designed to assess what students normally learn in high school. Passing such a test strengthens a candidate's college application portfolio.
Students who want to skip taking a required college course have the chance to test out of it using the College Level Examination Program test. The CLEP in English Literature tests candidates on their knowledge of major authors and their literary works. The expectation is that candidates have developed an appreciation of English literature by reading widely and understanding the basics of literary periods. The test also assesses their knowledge of the historical development of English literature. Candidates who pass this exam can receive college credit for an English literature course at some institutions.
College graduates who want to earn a teaching license without returning to school have the opportunity to take exams that test their knowledge in the given content area. The Praxis Series offers a test for English Language, Literature and Composition. This test assesses whether candidates have a broad enough knowledge base to be a first-year teacher in junior high or high school. Candidates answer 120 multiple-choice questions related to material normally covered in a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and English education. These questions include competencies related to literature, English language and rhetoric, and composition.