Test preparation can be your ticket to a fulfilling teaching career or your downfall, forcing you no other option but to change profession.
A study guide can be your greatest asset when it comes to acing a state teacher certification test like the Praxis II, GACE, TExES, CSET or any other educator licensing exam required in all 50 states. However, many test takers would attest that there are many review manuals in the market that are sub-standard and not worth the value of your money or, more importantly, your time.
Here Are A Few [/b]"Pitfalls[/b]" You To Avoid With Test Preparation Materials For Teacher Licensure Exams:[/b]
Your prep book should not contain the subjective opinion of the author and include irrelevant information. The real test itself measures basic knowledge and general information about what a teacher should do various teaching scenarios. You have no time to lose on irrelevant content that are not included in the test requirements.
A review guides should not be riddled with typographical errors. Even a few typos despite a fairly written content can drastically decrease your faith in your study manual, which could also significantly affect your confidence level on your test dates. Remember, anxiety can be fatal to your score
The study guides should not contain erroneous information. The answer key lists incorrect answers as the right one, which could mean a few points less when all it takes is a measly single point to pass.
Practice test questions should not provide confusing and contradictory answer explanations. You will find yourself more confused than ever and would inadvertently spend more time studying on content you should already know.
If the test preparation book you are using is full of errors, typos and contradictory answer explanations, then chances of you passing the test and pursuing a teaching career in education is greatly diminished.
This is especially true for exams like the Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification and Texas Examinations of Educator Standards which covers an extensive list of subject areas. For this reason, your preparation begins with finding the best study guide and practice book for the test.
What Makes Up A Good Study Guide For Teacher Certification Tests?
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A quality practice booklet should be able to walk you through the covered subject areas. For instance, the reference guide should thoroughly cover the basic skills subjects in Mathematics, Reading and Writing for the professional section of the examination.
You These Tips To Help You Prepare:[/b]
Your prep course must provide a comprehensive review of relevant content, not some generic academic information.[/b]
More than just quality content, the study materials should be in sync with the official testing competencies that list what you need to know for the exam. There are various sites likeK a plan, Amazon.com or in a bookstore like Barnes & Noble where you can get a complete guide.
Practice questions should replicate actual tests and that include full explanations and rationales.
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Practice exams are crucial in your study so its format and level of difficulty should mirror the actual tests. Practice tests have a dual purpose: to check how well you know your content and to help you master the skill of test taking. As a rule of thumb, practice tests should comprise about 60% of your review. There are online practice test questions on the official website for each teacher credential exam. Some products simulate the Computer Adaptive Test (CAT exam) allow you to experience exam-like questions, actual test taking experience as well as provide you with immediate feedback.
Effective prep works on your blind spots.
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To optimize your eight week preparation period for this standardized test, focus on your weak subjects first. However, make sure you cover all content. Review the test objectives each week to ascertain which areas you need to work on.
To conduct a productive exam review here are concrete steps you can do to ensure that your study guide will guide you to passing your test and living your dream as a teacher.
1. Download study guides and practice tests from the official website for the specific test you are taking.[/b]
Scrutinize every subject areas and understand every test objective listed on the official website like the ETS for the Praxis series or Pearson and Evaluation System is website for the California Subject Examinations for Teachers. The domains and subject matter requirements are your guidelines to concentrate on in all your preparation activities. In fact, you do not need to buy a study guide for you can make your own. You can use your old books and lecture notes as well as find ready resources online that walk you through the relevant content you need to know for your exam.
2. Read the reviews on the various books on Amazon.com before your purchase one.[/b]
If you have no other materials you could borrow or download for free, then you could buy one ranging from $20 to $80. Just take the time to read book reviews readily available at Amazon.com so that you will be guided. After all, you cannot literally judge a book by its cover, but you can with the stars it received.
3. Find relevant study materials by interviewing test takers especially test passers.[/b]
You can interview friends and colleagues or join teacher discussion forums where you can get valuable insights or even access to useful study materials particularly practice tests for free or at a discounted price. Did you know that you can utilize the Praxis and CSET study guides for other teaching tests like the MTTC exam, GACE test and FTCE examination?
4. Enroll in the preparation courses. [/b]
You can choose either an in-room or an online class if you think you need a structured kind of review. In this way, you can maximize your study guide by covering all the subject areas. Even the best practice guide is useless if you do not take the time to study and practice with them. For the basic skills test, you may want to check the Longs dale Publishing online course.
5. Join a study group. [/b]
Not only will you have access to relevant preparation materials, but will also benefit from the knowledge of others especially for subject areas you find the hardest. This is also a far cheaper way to prepare if you are working on limited resources. Many others have passed the test without spending a single cent.
6. Find a preparation tutor.[/b]
If you have no teaching experience or have been away from a classroom for years, then it may be wise to invest on a personal tutor. You can immensely benefit with having a test coach that will help you study the content as well as learn some helpful tips on test taking. However, it may cost you as much as $30 an hour, but this amount may prove infinitesimal compared with the rewards you will reap once you become a certified teacher.
The real value of a study guide, sample questions, preparation class, tutors and any other preparation resources is how you use it. Going through the motions or just shopping for these materials will not help you get a passing score. You need to invest uninterrupted blocks of time and review consistently over 4-8 weeks before your testing date. Do that and follow these study tips and you be in front of the class quicker than you thought.