Subject Examinations are required for all high school students (Grades 9–12) in order to receive diploma credit at International Torah Academy (ITA).

These evaluations allow students to demonstrate true understanding of core subjects through recorded oral exams, upholding our school’s values of academic honesty, Torah-integrated learning, and intellectual excellence.

​

​

Fees & Credit Structure

Each Subject Examination corresponds to one semester of a high school course (0.5 credit).
Students enrolled in a full-year course (1.0 credit) will complete two separate exams: one at the end of each semester.

• Fee: $60 per subject, per semester (Total of $120 for a full-year course)

This fee includes:

• Access to a semester-specific question bank (40 questions)

• A live oral exam with 3 randomly selected questions

• Grading and documentation for transcript purposes

• Access to the exam recording for review

For students in the In-House High School Plan, Subject Examinations are scheduled internally and included in tuition.

​

​

How It Works

Students complete a live oral exam for each subject they study in high school. Each exam assesses the student’s ability to think, explain, and apply what they’ve learned. 

​

For Creative and Guided Curriculum Students:

Once a family submits a Study Plan Form for a high school course, and it is approved by ITA the student will receive a list of 40 open-ended study questions for that subject. These questions serve both as a study guide and as the exam preparation material.

Exams must be scheduled one month prior to the end of the semester. During the exam, the student will be asked 3 questions at random from the list and must respond orally for 3–5 minutes per question. All exams are conducted live via Zoom or phone and are recorded for review.

​

For In-House Curriculum Students:

Subject Exams are built into the ITA high school program. No additional scheduling is needed. Exam dates are pre-scheduled and listed clearly in the course syllabus. Students will complete their exams on those dates with ITA instructors. The format and standards are the same: 3 questions selected from the course’s designated question bank, oral responses, and recorded evaluation.

​

Click Here to See Sample Questions.

​​​​

 

Grading Criteria for Subject Examinations

Each Subject Examination is graded using a standard letter grade scale (A–F). Grades are based on the student’s oral responses to three randomly selected questions from the subject’s question bank. These responses are evaluated holistically, with a focus on both content mastery and communication.

​

The following criteria guide the grading process:

​

A (Excellent):
The student demonstrates exceptional understanding of the subject matter. Answers are accurate, detailed, and insightful. The student explains concepts clearly in their own words, applies knowledge to real-life or theoretical scenarios, and communicates with fluency and confidence. Responses may show original thought, meaningful connections between ideas, or depth beyond the basic curriculum.

B (Good):
The student shows a solid understanding of the material. Answers are generally accurate and clearly presented, with only minor gaps or errors. The student uses appropriate terminology and gives relevant examples. Some areas may lack depth or refinement, but overall comprehension is strong.

C (Satisfactory):
The student has a basic, but acceptable grasp of the subject. Responses may include small misunderstandings or lack detail, but the core ideas are conveyed correctly. Explanations may be hesitant or incomplete, and communication may need improvement, yet the student demonstrates sufficient knowledge to earn credit.

D (Needs Improvement):
The student shows limited understanding of the material. Responses are unclear, overly vague, or contain significant inaccuracies. Key concepts may be missing or misunderstood. The student may struggle to express ideas in their own words. A grade of D is considered passing for diploma credit, but students are encouraged to revisit the material.

F (Failing):
The student does not demonstrate the minimum required understanding of the subject. Answers are mostly incorrect, off-topic, or absent. The student is unable to explain core concepts or complete the oral examination in a meaningful way. A failing grade requires the student to review the material and retake the exam before credit can be awarded.

​

All oral exams are recorded and evaluated by an ITA instructor, and grades are documented for the student’s official transcript. Families may request a written summary or feedback after the exam.

​

​

How to Schedule

1. Request a question list for any subject via your parent portal.

2. Prepare your answers with the help of a teacher, parent, or independently.

3. Submit payment and request an exam appointment.

4. Complete the exam via Zoom at the scheduled time.