Writing for California High School Proficiency Exam

The writing task is an expository essay on an open-ended, generic topic, typically asking to present and support your opinion or view. A sample question from the CHSPE web site is "High school classes should not begin before 9:00 a.m. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Be sure to be specific and explain your reasons."

The writing task is scored based on how well the student presents their opinion and provides supporting examples and evidence to justify their opinion. As with other writing exams such as the SAT, the primary grade is not based on proper spelling or grammar; however poor writing mechanics that detract from the essay will receive a lower score.