PREP AND STUDYING
RESEARCH:
Pearson Education, INC. Washington Educator Skills Tests. http://www.west.nesinc.com/
According to the Washington Educator Skills Tests website,
the English Language Arts WEST-E consists of approximately 110 multiple choice
questions, and teacher candidates are given 2.5 hours to complete it. 25% of
the test is reading process and comprehension, 30% is literature and language,
30% is writing process and applications and 15% is oral and visual
communication. The website has a great .PDF break down of explaining what each
section might consist of and how to best prepare. There are sample questions on
the website for each endorsement area, and it is suggested that students try to
work through each question carefully before referring to the answer key. There
are 50 sample questions, each with a corresponding answer on the key. Though
there are no explanations for answers that you get stuck on, there is at least
a letter answer to view and compare.
National Evaluation Series http://www.nestest.com/Home.aspx
The NES is a computer-based test that consists of 150
multiple-choice questions. You are given three hours to complete it. The
percentage breakdown is: 23% vocabulary and reading comprehension, 23%
analyzing and interpreting literature, 19% conventions, composition, writing
process and research, 23% modes of writing, and 12% oral and visual
communication. The NES website has a full-length practice test that can be
taken online, for $17.50. They have interactive study guides also, for $22.50.
There is an eight-minute video that provides a general overview of test prep
and strategies that you can watch for free.
EXPERIENCE:
I clearly have not had any experience with either of these
tests, but I know many people who have taken the WEST-E. I’ve taken the WEST-B,
but I’m nervous about both of these “final exams”. The NES seems very new and
much more intense than the WEST-E, so I’m kind of concerned with the switch. By
the time I need to take either one, the NES will be newly implemented which doesn’t
give much time to develop test preparation, or see if it is even effective. Unfortunately, all of the test prep materials offered on the NES website come at a price.
APPLICATION:
I’m not sure how I would use this information in my personal
classroom, but we are obviously able to benefit from it as teacher candidates. Passing
either one of these tests will make us better teachers, which in turn helps us
better our students. Students will clearly benefit from certified and well-trained
teachers.
