CSET English Subtests I-IV Book + Online (CSET Teacher Certification Test Prep) - Softcover

Allen, John; Editors Of REA

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0738610550 ISBN 13: 9780738610559

Publisher: Research & Education Association, 2012

Synopsis

REA's Test Prep for CSET English Subtests I-IV with Online Practice Tests
Gets You Certified and in the Classroom!

Nationwide, more than 5 million teachers will be needed over the next decade, and all must take appropriate tests to be licensed. REA gets you ready for your teaching career with our outstanding library of Teacher Certification test preps!

Scoring well on the CSET English Subtests I-IV exam doesn't just help you get certified to teach, it helps you build your career! This second edition of our CSET (California Subject Examinations for Teachers) English Subtests I-IV test prep helps prospective California teachers prepare for this exam and get certified.

Our CSET test prep is designed to help teacher candidates master the information on the English Subtests I-IV exams. It's perfect for college students, teachers, and career-changing professionals who want to teach English in California.

Written by education experts and fully aligned with the latest test specifications, our in-depth review guides you through all the content topics tested on the CSET English exams, literature and textual analysis, composition and rhetoric; language, linguistics, and literacy; composition and rhetoric; communications, speech, media, and creative performance.

Two full-length practice tests in the book simulate the actual CSET English exams. Each practice test is balanced to include every type of question, subject area, and skill tested on the exam. Our practice tests replicate the CSET question format, allowing you to assess your skills and gauge your test-readiness.

The book's two exams are also offered online in a timed format with instant scoring, diagnostic feedback, and detailed explanations of answers. REA's Study Center offers the most powerful scoring and diagnostic tools available today. Automatic scoring and instant reports help you zero in on the topics and types of questions that give you trouble now, so you'll succeed when it counts!

Every practice exam comes with detailed feedback on every question. We don't just say which answers are right-we explain why the other answer choices are wrong-so you'll be prepared on test day. Our detailed answers let you identify your strengths and weaknesses while building your skills. This complete test prep package comes with a customized study schedule and REA's test-taking strategies and tips.

This test prep is a must-have for anyone who wants to teach English in California!

REA books and software have proven to be the extra support teacher candidates need to pass their challenging tests for licensure. Our comprehensive test preps are teacher-recommended and written by experts in the field.

About this title

About the Author

John Allen has more than 25 years of experience in test preparation. The owner of test-prep developer BBE Associates, Ltd., Allen received his B.A. degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1979. He has collaborated on several textbooks in the field of English-language arts.

From the Back Cover

ARE YOU READY TO TEACH IN CALIFORNIA? THEN USE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE ON THE MARKET TODAY.

CSET English Subtests I-IV with Online Practice

The Most Complete Subject Review
Everything you need to know for the CSET English exam, prepared by the leader in teacher certification prep. Comprehensive review chapters cover all the subjects and skills tested on the exam.

The Best Practice Exams Available
At the online REA Study Center, we give you 2 full-length practice tests with powerful scoring analysis and diagnostic tools that will pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses to focus your study.

Total Explanations of Questions & Answers
Each practice exam comes with detailed feedback on every question. We don’t just say which answers are right – but explain why the others are wrong, so you’ll be prepared on test day!

Proven Test Prep Methods
REA’s focused content and practical advice have helped millions succeed on their exams. With our step-by-step plan, you can score high on the CSET and get certified to teach in California!

Federal Guidelines for NCLB Compliance
You can expect that candidates with NCLB-compliant credentials will enjoy preferential status in hiring. This means you need to pass the CSET. Maximize your exam performance and master the CSET with the unrivaled certification expertise that only REA can offer.

　

　

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Passing the CSET: English Test

Congratulations! By taking the CSET: English test, you’re on your way to a rewarding career as an English teacher. Our book and the online tools that come with it, give you everything you need to succeed on this important exam, bringing you one step closer to being certified to teach in California. Our CSET test prep package includes:

• A complete overview of the four CSET English subtests

• A comprehensive review of every domain

• Two full-length practice tests for each subtest with online diagnostic tools to help you personalize your prep

There are many different ways to prepare for the CSET: English test. What’s best for you depends on how much time you have to study and how comfortable you are with the subject matter. To score your highest, you need a study system that can be customized to fit you: your schedule, your learning style, and your current level of knowledge. Our book and online practice tests will get you ready for the exam!

How to Use This Book

About the Review
The review chapters in this book are designed to help you sharpen the basic skills you need to approach the CSET: English test. The test is composed of four separate subtests, each scored separately and composed of either multiple-choice, constructed-response, or short-response questions. This book contains a thorough review of the material tested on each subtest, as well as the specific skills that demonstrate each content domain. The skills required for all subtests fulfill the objectives set by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the Content Standards for California Public Schools.

Keep in mind that your schooling has taught you most of what you need to know to answer the questions on the test. The education classes you took should have provided you with the know-how to make important decisions about situations you will face as a teacher. Our review is designed to help you fit the information you have acquired into specific domain components.

Studying your class notes and textbooks together with our review will give you an excellent foundation for passing the exam. To make it easier for you to use the review, we’ve used bold type at the first mention of the most important literary periods, novels, poems, short stories, and essays. This will help you locate material quickly, should you need to refer back to it while studying.

About the REA Study Center
The best way to personalize your study plan is to get feedback on what you know and what you don’t know. At the online REA Study Center, we give you two full-length practice tests for each subtest with detailed score reports that pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses.

Before you review with the book, go to the REA Study Center and take Practice Test 1 as a diagnostic test. Armed with your score reports, you can personalize your study plan. Review the parts of the book where you’re weakest and focus your study on the areas where you need the most review.

After reviewing with the book, take Practice Test 2 for each subtest at the REA Study Center to ensure that you have mastered the material and are ready for test day. If you are studying and don’t have Internet access, you can take the printed tests in the book. These are the same practice tests offered at the REA Study Center, but without the added benefits of timed testing conditions and diagnostic score reports.

An Overview of the Test

What’s on the CSET: English?
The CSET: English test assesses your proficiency and depth of understanding of the foundations of the subject contained in the English Content Standards for California Public Schools. This test represents the combined expertise of California educators, subject area specialists, and district-level educators who worked to develop and validate the test. CSET: English consists of four separate subtests, each scored separately and composed of either multiple-choice, constructed-response, or short-response questions. You are given five hours to complete the test, whether you take one or all of the subtests during one testing session. By monitoring your progress on the practice tests in this book, you can reach your own comfort level and approach your testing session with confidence.

Format of the CSET: English
The CSET: English test is offered in a paper-based format. The test is made up of multiple-choice questions and two types of constructed-response questions: extended-response and short-response. Both types of constructed-response questions (extended and short) require you to demonstrate a breadth of understanding of each subtest’s content domain and the ability to relate concepts from different aspects of the field. Extended-response questions take approximately 45–60 minutes to complete and short-response questions take 10–15 minutes each to complete.

Extended-response questions: are scored on the extent to which a response fulfills the following performance characteristics:

Purpose: addressing the assignment in relation to relevant CSET subject matter and/or content specifications.

Subject Matter Knowledge: applying accurate subject matter knowledge

Support: using appropriate, quality supporting evidence

Depth and Breadth of Understanding: the degree to which the response demonstrates understanding

of the relevant CSET subject matter requirements.

Short-response questions: are scored on the same performance characteristics as the extended-response questions, omitting consideration for the Depth and Breadth of Understanding category.

Multiple-choice questions: are designed to assess your knowledge of the domains and related skills mentioned above and reviewed in this book. In general, the multiple-choice questions are intended to make you think logically. You are expected in most cases to demonstrate more than an ability to recall factual information; you may be asked to think critically about the information, analyze it, consider it carefully, compare it with knowledge you have, or make a judgment about it.

Answering the multiple-choice questions is straightforward. You will have four choices labeled A, B, C, and D. You must mark your choice on a separate answer sheet or, if you are taking the computer-based version, directly below each test item. You should have plenty of time in which to complete the test, so speed is not important. However, be aware of the amount of time you are spending on each question; maintaining a steady pace when answering the questions will ensure that you complete the whole test. Using our timed online practice tests will help you pace yourself.

When Should the CSET: English Be Taken?
Traditionally, teacher preparation programs determine when their candidates take the various tests required for teacher certification. These programs will also clear you to take the examinations and make final recommendations for certification to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

For those seeking certification right out of school, the test is generally taken just before graduation. Taking CSET examinations is a requirement to teach in California, so if you are planning to become an educator, you must take and pass relevant tests in this battery.

The CSET: English test is usually administered six times a year at locations throughout California. The usual testing day is Saturday, but the test may be taken on an alternate day if a conflict, such as a religious obligation, exists.

The CSET Registration Bulletin offers detailed information about test dates and locations, as well as registration information and instructions on how to arrange testing accommodations for those with special needs. The registration bulletin is available at www.cset.nesinc.com.

Registration bulletins are also available at the education departments of California colleges and universities. To address issues that cannot be solved at the teacher preparation program level, you can contact the offices of the credentialing commission at (512) 936-8400.

Is There a Registration Fee?
Yes, you must pay a registration fee to take the CSET English exam. If you are using the registration form, all fees must be paid in full by personal check, cashier’s check, or money order. All payments must be made in U.S. dollars. Cash will not be accepted. If you are registering via the Internet or phone during the emergency registration period, payment must be made by VISA or MasterCard.

Scoring the Exam
To pass the CSET: English test, you must earn a passing score on each of the examination’s required subtests. Each CSET: English subtest is scored separately. For each subtest, an individual’s performance is evaluated against an established standard.

The passing score for each subtest was established by the credentialing commission based on the professional judgments and recommendations of California educators. Passing status is determined on the basis of total subtest performance. The total subtest score is based on the number of raw score points earned on each section (multiple-choice section and/or constructed response section), the weighting of each section, and the scaling of that score. Raw scores are converted to a scale of 100 to 300, with the scaled score of 220 representing the minimum passing score.

A passing score on a CSET subtest must be achieved at a single CSET administration; performance on sections of subtests cannot be combined across administrations. Once you pass a subtest, you do not have to take that subtest again as long as you use the score to earn certification within five years of the test date.

Your performance on CSET: English multiple-choice questions is based strictly on the number of test questions answered correctly. Candidates do not lose any points for wrong answers. Each multiple-choice question counts the same toward the total score. These items are scored electronically and checked to verify accuracy.

Responses to constructed-response questions are scored by qualified California educators using focused holistic scoring. Two sets of performance characteristics and two scoring scales are used to score responses to the constructed-response questions. Scorers will judge the overall effectiveness of your responses while focusing on the appropriate performance characteristics that have been identified as important for this examination. Each response is assigned a score based on an approved scoring scale. Scoring scales will be found at the end of Subtest I, Subtest III and Subtest IV.

When and How Will I Receive My Score Report and What Will It Look Like?
After you have taken the CSET, you will receive a score report for your records. Your results will also be sent to the CCTC and any institutions you indicated when you registered. Examinee test results are released electronically on the score report dates listed in the test bulletin. The score reports will be available for 45 days as PDF documents, which you may view, print, and save for your records. Candidates who register online can sign up to receive their score report by email.

For each subtest taken on the CSET: English your score report will include your passing status and, if you do not pass, your total subtest score. The reverse side of the score report contains diagnostic information about your performance. More information on scoring the subtests and score report results is available at: www.cset.nesinc.com.

Can I Retake the Test?
If you don’t do well on one of the CSET: English subtests, don’t panic! You can take any subtest again, and in fact many candidates do. You can register to retake the subtest(s) at any subsequent test administration.

Edition details

• Publisher: Research & Education Association
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0738610550
• ISBN 13: 9780738610559
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 384