DENVER -- The state board of education will be adopting new landmark standards for what it takes to graduate and the new standards will make CSAPs obsolete in two years.

"This is a big day," said Department of Education assistant commissioner Jo O'Brien.

Instead of multiple choice questions about 15-30 big ideas in 13 "content areas" such as geography, civics, math, economics, reading, writing, health and science, students will be tested on two to six big ideas each year in each subject. Students will then have to prove they understand the ideas and show they know how to reason and problem solve.

Each school district in the state will have two years to implement the new standards which the state is calling -- "Fewer, Clearer, Higher."

"This teaches them how to be nimble, how to be thoughtful, how to be competitive," said O'Brien, who called the current standards that have been in place for 13 years "adequate, but not competitive."

This new form of testing is modeled after systems in Massachusetts, Virginia, Singapore and Finland. Educators say students in those states and countries set the bar in terms of how they understand subjects, and their ability to apply the subjects in real world situations.

"The right answer is the most effective and compelling argument," said O'Brien. "One of the possible questions would be: Write a memo that describes very thoughtfully whether or not a small Beechcraft plane with a record of airline crashes should be purchased by your company."

The new standards represent two years of work and meetings across the state with a variety of school and community leaders as well as parents and teachers.

The 13 content areas students will be tested on are civics, dance, economics, geography, health and physical education, history, math, music, reading, writing and communicating, science, theater, visual art and world languages and English language development.

"So now, instead of being just a test where they put a finger on a multiple choice question and constructive response, it will be more a simulation or scenario," said O'Brien.

Colorado will be the first state in the nation to overhaul all 13 subjects or content areas at one time, according to the department of education.

To read the detailed standards, go to the Colorado Department of Education Web site.