Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Getting Started
Congratulations! By taking the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental (164) test, you're on your way to a rewarding career as a teacher of young students in Texas. 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 Texas.
This TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental test prep package includes:
• A targeted review of the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental (164) test
• A diagnostic test to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses and focus your study
• A full-length practice test to simulate the complete test-taking experience with true-to-format questions
All practice content is available both in the book and online at the REA Study Center.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK + ONLINE PREP
About Our Review
The review chapters in this book are designed to help you sharpen your command of all four competencies assessed on the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental test. Our content review is designed to reinforce what you have learned and show you how to relate the information you have acquired to the specific competencies on the test. Studying your class notes and textbooks together with our review will give you an excellent foundation for passing the test. We provide a comprehensive bibliography.
About the REA Study Center
We know your time is valuable and you want an efficient study experience. At the online REA Study Center (www.rea.com/studycenter), you will get feedback right from the start on what you know and what you don't to help make the most of your study time.
Here is what you will find at the REA Study Center:
• Diagnostic Test — Before you review with the book, take our online diagnostic test. Your score report will automatically pinpoint topics for which you need the most review, to help focus your study.
• Full-Length Practice Test — REA's online practice test gives you the most complete picture of your strengths and weaknesses. After you've studied with the book, test what you've learned by taking the practice exam. Review your score reports, then go back and study any topics you missed.
Our online exams simulate the computer-based format of the actual TExES test and come with these features:
• Automatic scoring — Find out how you did on your test, instantly.
• Diagnostic score reports — Get a specific score tied to each competency, so you can focus on the areas that challenge you the most.
• On-screen detailed answer explanations — See why the correct response option is right, and learn why the other answer choices are incorrect.
• Timed testing — Learn to manage your time as you practice, so you'll feel confident on test day.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE TEST
What is assessed on the Bilingual Education Supplemental test?
The TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental test is a criterion-referenced examination constructed to measure the knowledge and skills that an entry-level bilingual educator in Texas public schools must have. Because it's a computer-administered test, the exam is available throughout the year at numerous locations across the state and at select locations nationally. To find a test center near you, visit the official website of Texas's Educator Certification Examination Program at www.tx.nesinc.com.
Candidates are limited to five attempts to take any of Texas's teacher certification tests.
A Snapshot of the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental Test
Time: 5 hours
Number of Questions: 80 multiple-choice questions
Competency 001: The beginning Bilingual Education teacher understands the foundations of Bilingual Education and the concepts of bilingualism and biculturalism and applies this knowledge to create an effective learning environment for students in the Bilingual Education program.
Competency 002: The beginning Bilingual Education teacher understands processes of first- and secondlanguage acquisition and development and applies this knowledge to promote students' language proficiency in their first language (L1) and second language (L2).
Competency 003: The beginning Bilingual Education teacher has comprehensive knowledge of the development and assessment of literacy in L1 and the development and assessment of biliteracy.
Competency 004: The beginning Bilingual Education teacher has comprehensive knowledge of content area instruction in L1 and L2 and uses this knowledge to promote bilingual students' academic achievement across the curriculum.
What is the format of the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental test?
The test includes a total of 80 multiple-choice items, a few of which may not be scorable because they're being field-tested. You won't know which is which, so they surely aren't worth worrying about. Your final scaled score will be based only on the scorable items.
Could there be unfamiliar types of multiple-choice questions?
Though all the questions on the test are multiple-choice, they may not all be the type of multiplechoice question with which you're familiar. The majority of questions on the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental test are standard multiple-choice items. The questions are not intended merely to test your command of facts or your talent for recall but also your critical-thinking skills. For example, you may be asked to analyze information and compare it with knowledge you have, or make a judgment about it. To acquaint yourself with all the detail on the standards and competencies covered on the test, be sure to download the test framework at www.tx.nesinc.com.
Some multiple-choice questions are self-contained while others are clustered, relating to a common stimulus. Each question will generally have four choices: A, B, C, and D. (It's possible that an occasional question will have five options.) In addition, the test may sometimes present nontraditional formats for multiple-choice items, both to present the information and to allow you to select the best answer. The test developer, Pearson Education, reserves wide latitude to use what it terms unfamiliar question types. A rundown of these new formats follows.
What do unfamiliar question types look like?
There are several unfamiliar question types that may show up on the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental test. First, let's look at the kind of question that asks TExES test-takers to identify more than one correct answer.
Example
1. Which of the following led to the American Revolution?
A. the French and Indian War
B. the Intolerable Acts
C. the French Revolution
D. Options A and B
Answer and Explanation
Option (D) is correct. In other words, options (A) and (B) are both correct. The French and Indian War (A), fought from 1754 to 1763, served as a powerful vehicle by which the British Empire extended its reach in North America.
The British sought to impose taxation on the colonists to finance the defense of the newly acquired territory, which aggravated growing discontent with British governance. The Intolerable Acts (B) embraced measures enacted by the British Parliament in 1774 to strike back at the colonists' defiance (e.g., the Boston Tea Party in 1773) of British rule. The move backfired, spawning the First Continental Congress later that year. Simple chronology helps you root out the French Revolution (C) as an incorrect option. The French Revolution, fought from 1787 to 1799, is an anachronistic response that could not have led to the American Revolution, which ended in 1783.
According to ETS, the Bilingual Education Supplemental test may use interactive questions that may include audio or video clips instead of, say, a static map or reading passage.
Item formats may ask you to select the correct answer(s) by any of these means:
• Click on a sentence or sentences, or on parts of a graphic representation, such as a map, chart, or figure — sometimes dubbed a "hot spot."
• Drag and drop answer options into "target" areas in a table, piece of text, or graphic.
• Use a drop-down menu.
More than anything, these innovative item types require that you read the instructions carefully to be sure you are fully responsive to the question.
The TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental test is scored based on the number of questions you answer correctly. With no penalty for guessing, you won't want to leave any item unanswered.
When should the test be taken?
The TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental is generally taken during your junior or senior year. Traditionally, teacher preparation programs determine when their candidates take the required tests for teacher certification. These programs will also clear you to take the examinations and make final recommendations for certification to the Texas State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).
An entry-level candidate seeking bilingual education certification may take the Bilingual Education Supplemental test at such time as his or her Educator Preparation Program (EPP) determines the candidate's readiness to take the test, or upon successful completion of the EPP, whichever comes first. The EPP will determine readiness through benchmarks and structured assessments of the candidates' progress throughout the preparation program.
How do I register for the test?
To register for the TExES 164 test, you must create an account in the ETS online registration system. Registration will then be available to you online, 24/7, during the regular, late, and emergency registration periods. Visit Pearson Education's TExES website at www.tx.nesinc.com and follow the instructions.
The TExES Registration Bulletin provides information about test dates and locations, as well as information on registration and testing accommodations for those with special needs. The registration bulletin is available at www.tx.nesinc.com.
Registration bulletins are also available at the education departments of Texas colleges and universities. To address issues that cannot be solved at the teacher preparation program level, you can contact the offices of SBEC at (888) 863-5880 or (512) 469-8400.
You must pay a registration fee to take the TExES tests, and you will also incur additional late fees if registering after the scheduled date.
What's the passing score?
The TExES 164's score is reported on a 100–300 scale. A scaled score of 240 is set as the minimum passing score. To put this in context, you want to be confident you can answer between 70% and 80% of the questions correctly. To achieve the 70% level, you must get 56 questions correct; to reach the 80% level, you need to get 64 questions correct. As you work your way through our practice tests, scores in this range will suggest that you are sufficiently mastering the test content. On the actual test, some questions may be being field-tested and thus will not be scored.
If you do not get a passing score on our online diagnostic test or the practice test, review your score report and study the detailed explanations for the questions you answered incorrectly. Note which types of questions you answered wrong, and re-examine the corresponding review content. After further review, you may want to retake the online practice tests.
Bear in mind that there are various forms of this test. Because no two forms are the same, your performance on a given test form is figured on a common scale. To adjust for any even minor differences in a test form's aggregate difficulty, each test form is statistically equated versus the original test form.
When will I receive my score report?
As part of the registration process to take TExES examinations, test candidates set up an account with Pearson Education in which they are assigned a username and password. Use this account to access your score report information on Pearson's TExES website. Score reports will be posted by 5 p.m. CT on the score reporting date and will be available for 90 days.
What if I don't pass the test?
If for some reason you don't do well on the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental test, don't panic. You can retake the test up to four times more, for a maximum of five attempts. After the fifth attempt, you still have the option of requesting special dispensation from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to retake the test; however, approval is not automatic. This just requires a 45-day waiting period.
How should I prepare for the test?
It is never too early to start studying for the TExES. The earlier you begin, the more time you will have to sharpen your skills. Do not procrastinate. Cramming is not an effective way to study, since it does not allow you the time needed to learn the test material. It is important for you to choose the time and place for studying that works best for you. Be consistent and use your time wisely. Work out a study routine and stick to it.
When you take REA's diagnostic test and practice test, simulate the conditions of the actual test as closely as possible. Turn your television and smartphone off, and go to a quiet place free from distraction.
Read each question carefully, consider all answer choices, and pace yourself. As you complete each test, review your score reports, study the diagnostic feedback, and thoroughly review the explanations to the questions you answered incorrectly. But don't overdo it. Take one problem area at a time; review it until you are confident that you have mastered the material.
Give extra attention to the areas giving you the most difficulty, as this will help build your score. In addition, be sure take the time to review the relevant state curricula for these grades (Texas Knowledge and Skills) available at http://www.tea.state.tx.us.
Are there any breaks during the test?
Although there is no designated break during the test, you do have some time to use for the restroom or snacking or stretching outside the testing room.
Bear in mind the following:
• You need to get permission to leave the testing room.
• The overall test clock never stops.
• Consult your test admission materials for further details, including updates from Pearson Education and the Texas Education Agency.
What else do I need to know about test day?
The day before your test, check for any updates in your Pearson Education testing account. This is where you'll learn of any changes to your reporting schedule or if there's a change in the test site. On the day of the test, you should wake up early after a good night's rest. Have a good breakfast and dress in layers that can be removed or added as the conditions in the test center require. Arrive at the test center early. This will allow you to relax and collect your thoughts before the test, and will also spare you the anguish that comes with being late. As an added incentive to make sure that you arrive early, keep in mind that no one will be admitted into the test center after the test has begun.
Before you leave for the testing site, carefully review your registration materials. Make sure you bring your admission ticket and two unexpired forms of identification. Primary forms of ID include:
• Passport
• Government-issued driver's license
• State or Province ID card
• National ID card
• Military ID card
You may need to produce a supplemental ID document if any questions arise with your primary ID or if your primary ID is otherwise valid but lacks your full name, photo, and signature. Without proper identification, you will not be admitted to the test center. Strict rules limit what you can bring into the test center to just your ID; we recommend that you consult the Texas Education Agency's "Texas Educator Certification Registration Bulletin" for a complete rundown. You may not bring watches of any kind, cellphones, smartphones, or any other electronic communication devices or weapons of any kind. Scrap paper, written notes, and books and other printed material are prohibited.
No smoking, eating, or drinking is allowed in the testing room. Consider bringing a small snack and a bottle of water to partake of beforehand to keep you sharp during the test.
Good luck on the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental test!
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Excerpted from "TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental (164)"
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