Golden State Seal Merit Diploma

Make your high school diploma shine brighter when you apply for admission to colleges and universities!

Score 370 or above on six of your CST tests and earn a special gold seal on your high school diploma as well as a black & white transcript seal.

To be eligible for the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma, students must have earned a scaled score of 370 or above on six qualifying California Standards Tests (CSTs). Results from the CSTs the students have taken in previous years may be used. The qualifying examinations must include six of the following examinations:

• The Grade 11 CST for History–Social Science (United States History and Geography)
• One of the following CSTs for English–Language Arts (ELA):
– Grade 9 ELA
– Grade 10 ELA
– Grade 11 ELA
• One of the following CSTs for Mathematics:
– Algebra II
– Geometry
– Summative High School Mathematics (Pre-calculus)
– Integrated Mathematics 2 or 3
• One of the following CSTs for Science:
– Biology
– Chemistry
– Physics
– Earth Science
– Integrated/Coordinated Science 1, 2, 3, or 4

• Two exams of the student’s choice. To meet this elective requirement, students may choose from any of the examinations listed above (that have not been used to meet another requirement) and the CST for World History.