EAP for Students

SJSU Early Assessment Program banner

What is EAP?

The CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) gives high school juniors an early signal of their level of academic preparation for college and connects them with rigorous coursework in their senior year. The program has two parts:

  1. Junior Year Testing: In the spring of their junior year, students take the CAASPP exam at their high schools. Their results indicate their current level of academic preparation in mathematics and writing. (The CAASPP is NOT used for admission purposes.)
  2. Senior Year Coursework: Students’ CAASPP results direct them toward rigorous senior year coursework to help them maintain a high level of academic preparation for college.

Why is Early Assessment Important? 

Like all colleges and universities, the CSU wants to make sure that incoming first year students are prepared to succeed. Students who complete general education math and written communication courses during their first year save time, money, and are twice as likely to graduate than those who don't. Giving students an indicator of their preparation level during their junior year of high school allows them to focus on critical skills before they arrive on the CSU campus for their first semester. The Early Assessment Program and CAASPP exam results have no impact on the admissions process. These results are used to place students in appropriate writing and math courses during their first year of college AFTER they are admitted.

Three Opportunities

The Early Assessment Program gives students three opportunities to demonstrate academic preparation:

  1. The first opportunity is CAASPP exam results received in junior year of high school, that will indicate whether students are working above grade level (Level 4), at grade level (Level 3) or below grade level (Level 1 or 2).
  2. The second opportunity is to earn a qualifying score on SAT/ACT/AP/IB exams or meet any of the coursework and GPA threshold combinations noted in the multiple measures criteria during senior year of high school.
  3. The third opportunity, upon arrival at the CSU, is to take general education math and written communication courses with support, as well as participate in the summer Early Start Program if required.

EAP 3 opportunities flowchart

Learn more about Early Assessment during high school