Penn Foster Exams and Grading Explained

Taking tests in online classes isn’t that different from taking exams at in-person schools! You need to put in the study time, review your notes, and make sure you’re prepared before you start your exam. Unlike an in-person classroom setting, however, you can take your exams whenever you’re ready at Penn Foster. There are no scheduled test dates. That means if you’re not feeling confident you’ve got a handle on the subject you studied, you have plenty of time to reread your study guides and notes and really prepare to try and ace that exam. On the other hand, if you feel like you know your stuff and don’t need extra study time, you don’t have to wait for a test date to jump in and take the exam!

No matter what Penn Foster program you’re working on, the majority of your tests will be short, multiple-choice exams that you’ll take after each lesson. There are some writing assignments scattered throughout depending on the program you’re enrolled in, but they are minimal. Most classes have about 2-6 lessons each, though this can vary.

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Types of assessments you may complete

Your program will have exams at the end of each lesson, often multiple choice but occasionally you may have a writing assignment or project. You’ll also have self check exercises in your lessons so you can see how well you know the material before you actually take an exam. Some of our college programs have proctor exams at the end of some of the courses as well.

Penn Foster’s online programs don’t have what you’d traditionally consider “final exams.” In fact, career diploma programs and our high school diploma don’t have any “finals” at all! As long as you’ve passed all your courses for high school and career school, you’re set to graduate. However, for college-level programs like undergraduate certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees, you may have to take something called proctored exams. These exams act like finals for classes.

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For some of your online college classes, you’ll have a longer exam you need to take before you can move on to your next semester. Proctored exams are timed, monitored tests that can be a mix of multiple choice, short answer, and short essay questions to test what you learned throughout the class. You won’t have to take a proctored exam for every class in your semester, so it’s not as overwhelming as finals week in a traditional college setting! However, depending on the degree program you’re enrolled in, you may have at least one or two proctored exams each semester.

Proctored exams are completed remotely but can be completed as a paper exam through the mail for approved circumstances. Here’s more info on proctor exams:

• Online proctor exams. Our proctored exams will be taken online unless there are special circumstances that require an approved paper exam. The format consists of short answer, short essay, and multiple-choice questions, and you’re able to complete them at home. You’ll use a third-party service that monitors the exams, usually through video format. This means you’ll need a computer with webcam access in order to complete your proctored exams. You’ll also need proof of ID, which can be done through a smart phone. Once you’ve completed your exam, the test and the video recording are submitted for review and then graded. Exams can possibly be graded in as short a time as one week, though timeframes can vary.
• Paper Proctor exams. All of our proctor exams are online, but for certain circumstances, like if a student needs an accommodation through the Americans with Disabilty Act, a paper proctor exam may be approved. If this is the case, the student will have to find a proctor. A proctor can be a friend or coworker, but can’t be a relative, boss, partner, or live at the same address as the student. The proctor will need to have at least an associate degree in any subject to qualify. Librarians are often great proctor choices if you end up needing a paper proctor. The proctor exam in this format is mailed to the proctor, completed under the supervision of the proctor, and mailed back to us by the proctor.

Read more: A Guide to Penn Foster’s Learning Resources with Librarian Erica Getts

We use a number-letter system of grading for all Penn Foster programs. Completed exams and assignments will receive a number grade. Passing grades and grading in general works a little bit differently depending on what type of program you’re taking.

• High school grading. In online high school classes, 65 is considered the minimum passing grade and is equivalent to a letter grade of D.
• Career program grading. Similar to high school grading, you’ll generally need a minimum grade of 65 to pass your exams and classes. However, some career programs and certificates require that you earn at least a 70 to pass the overall program.
• College-level grading. Grading for college-level courses is a little more complicated! We still use the number-letter system, so you’ll receive number grades for your exams and assignments, including any proctored exams you need to take. The letter grade for each course varies, as exams are weighted in our college programs, so you should always check the syllabus of a course for this info. A 70 is considered passing for Penn Foster College. Letter grades are converted to grade points for the purpose of computing the Grade Point Average (GPA) for each semester and the cumulative Grade Point Average for more than one semester. Grade points range from 4.0 for an A grade to 0.0 for an F grade.

You can take a look at our grading scales and even bookmark them to refer back to.

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Tips for preparing for a Penn Foster exam

It can be helpful to take breaks while studying so you’re not trying to absorb a ton of information at once. Making sure you are able to study in a quiet area with minimal distractions can also be key. The exams, depending on the program, are open book but they still usually cover a lot of material, so you’ll want to be as prepared as possible. Take your time, try not to stress, and remember you can retake an exam if you don’t pass the first time.

Read more: 10 Study Tips from Real Students (Study Guide)

Not every subject may come as easily to you as others, so it’s not expected that you’ll earn perfect grades on every exam and assignment, and that’s okay! If you fail an exam within your program, or even if you’re not satisfied with your grade and know you can do better, you'll have the opportunity to retake that exam. If you’re a high school student, you’ll have two optional retakes available! After you retake an exam, we honor whatever your highest grade was, so for example, if you took a test and got a 70 then retake it and get a 90, 90 is your final grade for that lesson. For college and career programs, you’ll have one optional retake for your exams.

If you fail a class, you may have to retake the class or potentially be given additional attempts on exams to graduate. These are reviewed by our Education department.

Read more: Your Guide to High School English at Penn Foster

How Penn Foster protects academic integrity rapid

As an accredited institution, we make sure to keep our academic integrity at the forefront. Cheating of any kind is not permitted, and we do use plagiarism checkers when reviewing any written assignments. We also have a progression policy in our high school program that limits the amount of exams a student can do in one calendar week. This helps ensure students are able to thoroughly review their material before they jump into their exams.

Because we care about both our students and our employees, we have a student code of conduct. Interactions should all be handled with mutual respect and civility. Bullying of any kind will not be tolerated.

To read more about our academic integrity policies, you can take a look at the student catalog for whichever area you are enrolled in.

Since Penn Foster is completely online and self-paced, there’s plenty of flexibility that allows you to be successful in your courses. You can study at the pace that works best for you and take exams only when you’re ready, ensuring you’ve got the tools you need to pass your classes. However, some things can help set you up for success in your program from day one, including:

• Setting a schedule. Even though your courses are self-paced, setting a goal and creating a study schedule can help you better absorb what you learn and keep you on track toward graduation. When you first get started, consider when you’d like to have your diploma or degree completed by. Then, consider how much time you realistically will have to study, whether that’s 15 minutes a day or three hours per week. From there, you can create a clear schedule that can help you manage your time and expectations.
• Having a dedicated study space. While you can take your classes and study anywhere you go, having a dedicated study space can help you focus on what you’re learning.
• Using Penn Foster resources. You’re not alone when you’re studying online! If you’re stuck or need help, we’ve got several resources to get you through your program including our Learning Resource Center and our dedicated instructors!

Read more: How Does Online High School Work?

Whether you have questions about a grade you received, don’t quite understand the material you’re learning, or just need a little help to stay motivated, we’re here for you! Our dedicated instructors are available to help you through course-specific problems by phone, email, or through your Learner Center. You can also set up appointments to speak one-on-one with an instructor! Brian Brown, Academic Manager of Penn Foster High School, says "We want to help you, call us. You're not going to have bad experiences here."

If you haven’t enrolled in a Penn Foster program and want to know more, or aren’t sure where to get started, request more information or reach out to our Admissions Specialists today at 1-888-427-6500!