The results of two surveys of students who took the California High School Proficiency Examination are presented, with emphasis on the similarities and differences between passing students and failing students. Major concerns included: the students' reasons for taking the test, sources of information for the students about the test, what changes the test made for the students, and what they were doing fifteen months after taking the test. Although the test was designed both for bright but bored students and for students who don't work well in the conventional high school (potential dropouts), the test appeared to attract primarily the latter group. Very few minority students took the test. The questionnaire results showed similarity in several characteristics between those who passed and those who failed: job-related activities, financial independence, and community college attendance. However, it was noted that a much larger proportion of those who passed the test responded to the questionnaire. (Author/CTM)