Washington uses the grades 3-8 Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) and the High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) to test its students. The HSPE is used as the state's high school exit exam. In spring 2011, the state will begin using end-of-course exams in math as the high school exit exam.
After test items have been used on state assessments they sometimes become 'released' to the public to serve as practice tests for students. Also, the released items allow teachers and administrators to better analyze the results of specific test items by identifying strengths, weaknesses, patterns and trends of student performance.