Challenge Exams for Incoming Freshmen

The various Challenge Exams provide students with the opportunities to qualify for high level courses than the courses they are currently signed up. Damien High School offers Algebra 1, Geometry, and Spanish Challenge Exams. If a student chooses not to take a challenge exam, they will remain in the course for which they are currently qualified. Learn more about the eligibility requirements, test dates, exam content, as well as practice materials for the tests below.
 
alegbra
 
ELIGIBILITY
All incoming 9th graders are eligible to take the Algebra 1 Challenge Exam.
 
DATE AND TIME
Saturday, May 11, 2024 (A make-up Exam will be given on May 18 at the same time and location)
Check-in: 8:30 a.m.
Exam begins: 9 a.m.
Exam ends: Approximately 11:30 a.m.
Location: South side of the 300 Building (room assignments will be posted on the day of the exam)
 
REGISTRATION
Please register for this exam through your SchoolAdmin portal account.
 
PRACTICE MATERIALS
For additional digital practice, students can see dynamic practice questions listed for each semester topic using the online platform DeltaMath. Creating an account is free and students can add themselves into a digital classroom using the following link or with the class code: 5WG8-N3N2. Students can practice as many problems for each topic as they prefer and many topics have multiple types of questions that students can practice. For information on how to use DeltaMath, consider watching this 2-minute video. A hardcopy version of the practice can be found on the following PDF.
geo
 
ELIGIBILITY
Incoming 9th graders are eligible to take the Geometry Challenge Exam ONLY if:
• They pass both parts of the Algebra 1 Challenge Exam, given May 13, 2023 (see previous page), AND
• They have taken, or are presently taking, a Geometry course in middle school (as verified by an official transcript from middle school indicating the name of the course is ‘Geometry’ or ‘Integrated Math 2’)
 
DATE AND TIME
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Check-in: 8:30 a.m.
Exam begins: 9 a.m.
Exam ends: Approximately 11:30 a.m.
Location: South side of the 300 Building (room assignments will be posted on the day of the exam)
 
REGISTRATION
Please register for this exam through your SchoolAdmin portal account.
NOTE: Registration for the Geometry Challenge exam will not be possible until the results of the Algebra I Challenge exam have been posted. Check your SchoolAdmin portal beginning the week of May 12th. 
 
PRACTICE MATERIALS
For additional digital practice, students can see dynamic practice questions listed for each semester topic using the online platform DeltaMath. Creating an account is free and students can add themselves into a digital classroom using the following link or with the class code: DC5M-X78G. Students can practice as many problems for each topic as they prefer and many topics have multiple types of questions that students can practice. For information on how to use DeltaMath, consider watching this 2-minute video. A hardcopy version of the practice can be found on the following PDF.
 
NOTE: This resource is only intended for reviewing skills for the exam and should not be considered a substitute for learning a year of Geometry. 
spa
 
ELIGIBILITY
All incoming 9th graders are eligible to take the Algebra 1 Challenge Exam. The Challenge Exam is designed for:
• Native Spanish speakers, conducted at an accelerated pace, exclusively in Spanish, and
• Students who have studied the Spanish language intensively in junior high school or know and use Spanish at home and in the community on a regular basis.
 
DATE AND TIME
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Check-in: 8:30 a.m.
Exam begins: 9 a.m.
Exam ends: Approximately 11:15 a.m.
Location: 500 Building (room assignments will be posted on the day of the exam)
 
REGISTRATION
Please register for this exam through your SchoolAdmin portal account.
NOTE: A make-up Spanish Challenge Exam, only for those students who may also be taking the Geometry Challenge Exam on May 18, will be given by arrangement with the World Languages Department Chairperson, Mr. Luis Hernandez, who can be contacted by email at [email protected]
 
FORMAT
The Challenge Exam will contain both written and spoken/verbal components.