WEST-B - Washington Educator Skills Test - Basic (Test Preps)
Teach...Inspire...Lead...With this book in hand, you've taken an important step toward becoming a certified teacher in the state of Washington. REA's all-new WEST-B teacher certification test prep is designed to help you get into a Washington classroom. The instructive chapters in this book provide complete coverage of the WEST-B with in-depth reviews of every topic and area you can expect to encounter on exam day. A full-length practice test carefully modeled after the actual WEST-B exam will hone your test-taking skills. All practice test questions are explained in thorough detail to provide you with a greater understanding of the exam's content and difficulty. When you finish preparing with this book, you will be well equipped with all the knowledge, practice, and strategies needed to succeed on this important exam.About the TestsWhat is the WEST-B used for?The WEST-B, or Washington Educator Skills Test-Basic, is one part of the teacher certification process in Washington state. Passing the WEST-B alone is not sufficient to earn a teaching certificate in the Evergreen State. You must possess a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, and you are required to complete a teacher preparation program. You must also pass a background check conducted by the Washington State Patrol and the FBI. Once the Washington State Certification Office verifies that you have met all these requirements, you will be issued your teaching certificate.The WEST-B is aligned with standards established by the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB). Teachers in public and private schools in Washington state are required to hold a teaching certificate.Information about who must be tested and which tests must be taken can be found in the WEST-B Registration Bulletin, located online at http://www.west.nesinc.com. The registration bulletin and website also contain test dates and information that can assist you in determining which tests must be successfully completed.Am I required to take this test if I hold a teaching certificate from another state?If applying from out of state for a residency certificate, applicants must pass a basic skills test within 12 months of receiving their first temporary permit. Those who have a passing score on the CBEST, Praxis I: PPST, or computerized Praxis I: PPST may submit official score reports in lieu of the WEST-B. For information on test registration and administration, contact National Evaluation Systems at (800) 784-4999. Online registration is available at http://www.west.nesinc.com.How is the test content determined?The WEST-B is criterion referenced and objective based. A criterion-referenced test is designed to measure a candidate's knowledge and skills in relation to an established standard, rather than in relation to the performance of other candidates. The explicit purpose of the WEST-B is to help identify those candidates with the required level of basic skills to perform successfully in an educator preparation program or as a teacher in a public school classroom.Washington state legislation authorizes the Professional Educator Standards Board to set the passing score on the assessments for prospective teachers. The PESB established a standards-setting process to get recommendations from Washington educators regarding an appropriate passing score. Through this process, educators examined the content of the test, the difficulty of the questions, and the examinees' performance to determine the level of performance needed to pass the basic skills test.Who administers the WEST-B?The WEST-B is administered by National Evaluation Systems, Inc., a private testing group.When is the WEST-B test offered? How long is the testing time?The WEST-B test is offered up to six times a year. Test session reporting time is 8:30 A.M. The session ends at approximately 1:30 P.M. The actual testing time is four and one-half hours. To receive more information, consult the WEST-B registration bulletin.Additional information is available from the Washington Office of Public Education, to which NES is under contract. The department can be contacted as follows:Washington Office of Public EducationOld Capitol BuildingP.O. Box 47200Olympia, WA 98504-7200Phone: (360) 725-6000TTY: (360) 664-3631Website: www.k12.wa.us/certification/teacher/teacherinformation.aspxIs there a registration fee?Yes. In fact, there are several fees. There is a nonrefundable registration processing fee, a Reading Subtest fee, a Mathematics Subtest fee, and a Writing Subtest fee. Additional service fees are added for late registration, emergency registration, and changes in registration. Check with NES for fees and payment options.How to Use this BookWhat do I study first?We recommend beginning your study with the comprehensive chapter reviews. It is important to read over each review, noting crucial test-taking suggestions and insights. By studying each review thoroughly, you will reinforce basic skills that are vital to performing well on the WEST-B. After reviewing, take the practice tests. This will familiarize you with the actual exam's format, procedures, and level of difficulty. An added bonus to taking these practice tests is knowing what to expect on exam day.Wisely scheduling your study time is also a key component to your success on the WEST-B. To best utilize your study time, follow our flexible WEST-B study schedule found at the end of this chapter. The schedule is based ideally on a seven-week program, but can be condensed if needed.When should I start studying for the WEST-B test?It is never too early to start studying for your WEST-B test. Time is your ally here. The earlier you begin, the more time you will have to sharpen your skills and focus your efforts. Do not procrastinate! Cramming is not an effective way to study, since it does not allow you enough time to learn what will be required of you. It takes time to learn the tested areas and test format. Make the most of your time while you have it. Use it well to master the essentials necessary to pass.Format of the WEST-B testWhat is the basic format of the WEST-B?The WEST-B contains three separate subtests: Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. The Reading and Mathematics Subtests each consist of approximately 60 multiple-choice questions. The Writing Subtest consists of approximately 50 multiple-choice questions and two writing prompts.About the Subject ReviewsThe subject reviews in this book are designed purposefully to provide you critical insight into the content and form of the WEST-B. For smarter study, we break down this part of test preparation into more manageable "chunks." Before you begin reviewing, it is important to note that your own schooling experience has taught you most of what is needed to answer the questions on the actual WEST-B. Our review is written to help you fit and shape information acquired over the years into a context ideally suited for taking the WEST-B.You may also be taking test preparation classes for the WEST-B or have purchased other study guides and textbooks. Reviewing class notes and textbooks along with our subject reviews will provide you with an even better foundation for passing the WEST-B.Scoring the WEST-BTo pass the WEST-B, you must pass all three subtests. A passing score is 240 for each subtest. A 240 score for each subtest is defined as:o 63% of the READING multiple-choice questionso 63% of the MATHEMATICS multiple-choice questionso 62% of the WRITING multiple-choice questions and a score of 11 of 16 points on two writing tasksUnofficial scores for the WEST-B test will be available on the internet by 5:00 P.M., Pacific time on the official examinee score report mailing date. Refer to the test registration schedule on the back cover of the WEST-B Registration Bulletin for further information. Unofficial scores are available on the internet for approximately two weeks. To access your unofficial scores, go to www.west.nesinc.com and follow the score retrieval instructions.All essays for the Writing Subtest of the WEST-B are scored according to standardized procedures during scoring sessions held after a test's administration. As part of the scoring process, written responses are scored by more than one scorer.If you do not achieve a passing score on the practice test, review the detailed explanations for the questions you answered incorrectly. Note which types of questions you answered wrong, and re-examine the corresponding review. After further review, you may want to retake the practice tests.And finally, if you do not do well on test day, don't panic! The test can be taken again, so you can work on improving your score on your next WEST-B. A score on the WEST-B that does not match your expectations does not mean you should change your plans about teaching.Test-Taking StrategiesAlthough you may not be familiar with tests like the WEST-B, this book will help acquaint you with this type of exam and help alleviate test-taking anxieties. Here are the key ways you can more easily get into an WEST-B state of mind:Become comfortable with the format of the WEST-B. Practice tests are the best way to learn the format of the WEST-B. When you take a practice test, try to simulate the environmental conditions of the actual testing facility. Remember, you are in training for the WEST-B, and simulated testing conditions will only help you perform better. Stay calm and pace yourself. After simulating a test even once, you boost your chances of doing well, and you will be able to sit down for the actual WEST-B with much more confidence.Read all the possible answers. Examine each answer choice to ensure that you are not making a mistake. Jumping to conclusions without considering all the answers is a common test-taking error.Use the process of elimination. GUESS if you do not know. If you do not know the answer i...