|
Cumulative Pass Rates of BSC Students
After six administrations, cumulative pass rates for the Reading
is above 90 percent and for the Writing test well above 80 percent. 80% of BSC
students have passed the Reading and Writing tests and their subject area test.
Better than 70% of BSC students have passed all three components of the Massachusetts
Educator Certification Tests.
Among the 557
students who have attempted all three tests, 408 have passed all three.
Of the 149 who have not yet passed all three: |
16% |
(89) |
need to pass one test |
5% |
(30) |
need to pass two tests |
5% |
(30) |
need to pass all three tests |
Overall Cumulative Pass Rates
by Gender and Type of Student
Of the 557 students who have attempted all three tests, |
| 445 |
(80%) |
are women |
| 112 |
(20%) |
are men |
| 246 |
(44%) |
are BSC ("native")
undergraduates |
| 112 |
(20%) |
are transfer undergraduates |
| 46 |
(8%) |
are BSC post-baccalaureate or
graduate students |
| 153 |
(27%) |
are other post-baccalaureate or
graduate students |
Pass Rates for First Time Test Takers
Pass Rates for First Time Test Takers
| |
Writing Test |
Reading Test |
Subject Area Test |
Test Date |
Pass Rate |
N |
Pass Rate |
N |
Pass Rate |
N |
Apr 1998 |
51% |
149 |
67% |
149 |
63% |
150 |
Jul 1998 |
78% |
40 |
73% |
40 |
60% |
37 |
Oct 1998 |
78% |
72 |
73% |
71 |
69% |
62 |
Jan 1999 |
81% |
246 |
81% |
246 |
61% |
155 |
Apr 1999 |
70% |
153 |
81% |
155 |
70% |
96 |
Jun 1999 |
82% |
160 |
75% |
161 |
68% |
69 |
Cumulative Pass Rates for Specific Subject Area Tests
Subject
Area |
Number of
Test-takers |
Cumulative Pass
Rate |
| Early Childhood |
80 |
82.5% |
| Elementary Education |
249 |
79.1% |
| Middle School |
52 |
76.9% |
| Physical Education |
18 |
94.4% |
| Special Education |
81 |
86.4% |
| Biology |
8 |
100% |
| English |
19 |
63.2% |
| History |
25 |
80.0% |
| Mathematics |
15 |
40.0% |
| Spanish |
5 |
100% |
| Visual Arts |
10 |
100% |
| Note: Pass rates are
reported only for subject areas with scores for five or more
test-takers. |
Scores on Subtests (all administrations)
|
Minimum |
Maximum |
Average |
N |
| Reading |
0 |
100 |
74.9 |
975 |
| Writing |
18 |
100 |
74.6 |
1041 |
| Subject Area (all) |
17 |
95 |
70.5 |
810 |
| Early Childhood |
42 |
88 |
69.9 |
112 |
| Elementary Ed |
24 |
93 |
69.6 |
392 |
| Middle School |
41 |
95 |
72.7 |
64 |
| Physical Education |
53 |
89 |
76.8 |
19 |
| Special Education |
56 |
90 |
73.5 |
19 |
| Biology |
75 |
91 |
82.6 |
8 |
| Earth Science |
56 |
77 |
67.5 |
6 |
| English |
49 |
86 |
67.7 |
29 |
| History |
46 |
91 |
70.7 |
35 |
| Mathematics |
17 |
90 |
59.9 |
22 |
| Spanish |
70 |
89 |
79.4 |
5 |
| Visual Arts |
65 |
91 |
80.2 |
11 |
Notes: Test results
are reported on a scale ranging from 0 to 100, with a passing score of 70.
In this table, figures are reported only for subjects
with at least five test results. |
Reading
Skills of BSC Students
All students
Students who did not pass the Reading test
Writing
Skills of BSC Students
All students
Students who did not pass the Writing test
Reading Skills Among Undergraduates (all administrations)
|
None, few, some answers correct |
Many,
most answers correct |
| Word Meaning |
|
|
| BSC |
64% |
36% |
| Transfer |
50% |
50% |
| Main Idea & Detail |
|
|
| BSC |
30% |
70% |
| Transfer |
29% |
71% |
| Writer's Purpose |
|
|
| BSC |
28% |
72% |
| Transfer |
26% |
75% |
| Idea Relationships |
|
|
| BSC |
20% |
80% |
| Transfer |
20% |
80% |
| Critical Reasoning |
|
|
| BSC |
31% |
69% |
| Transfer |
24% |
76% |
| Study Skills |
|
|
| BSC |
38% |
62% |
| Transfer |
37% |
63% |
| Note: There are 427
test results in the Bridgewater State College group and 192
test results in the Transfer group. |
Writing Skills Among Undergraduates (all administrations)
|
None, few, some
answers correct |
Many, most answers
correct |
| Mechanics |
|
|
| BSC |
24% |
76% |
| Transfer |
19% |
81% |
| Grammar & Usage |
|
|
| BSC |
41% |
59% |
| Transfer |
37% |
63% |
| Summary Exercise |
|
|
| BSC |
54% |
46% |
| Transfer |
46% |
54% |
| Composition |
|
|
| BSC |
29% |
71% |
| Transfer |
25% |
75% |
| Note: There are 467
test results in the Bridgewater State College group and 212 test
results in the Transfer group. |
Student Performance on Open Response Items
Open response items on the subject area tests measure:
 depth
and breadth of knowledge in the subject area
understanding
of fundamental concepts of the discipline
familiarity
with field-specific methodologies
Students are expected to demonstrate understanding of the field by applying
knowledge and skills rather than by reciting facts.
Open response items are scored on the extent to which they
achieve
the purpose of the assignment
are
appropriate and accurate in the application of knowledge
provide
high-quality and relevant supporting evidence
demonstrate
soundness of argument and knowledge of the field
Student Performance on Subject Area Subskills
(all administrations)
|
None, few, some answers right |
Many, most answers right |
| Early
Childhood (n=112) |
|
|
| Language & Literacy Development |
76% |
24% |
| Learning Across the Curriculum |
51% |
49% |
| Child Development/Early Childhood |
41% |
59% |
| Note: Figures are
reported only for subject areas with five or more test results. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
None, few, some answers right |
Many, most answers right |
| Elementary
Education (n=392) |
|
|
| Language Arts |
42% |
58% |
| Mathematics |
27% |
73% |
| Social Studies |
60% |
40% |
| Science |
62% |
38% |
| Arts, Health, Physical Education |
52% |
48% |
| Child Development/Interdisciplinary |
22% |
78% |
| Note: Figures are
reported only for subject areas with five or more test results. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
None, few, some answers right |
Many, most answers right |
| Middle
School (n=64) |
|
|
| Language Arts |
50% |
50% |
| Mathematics |
52% |
48% |
| Social Studies |
34% |
66% |
| Science |
33% |
67% |
| Arts, Health, Physical Education |
19% |
81% |
| Students/Learning Environment |
39% |
61% |
| Note: Figures are
reported only for subject areas with five or more test results. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
None, few, some answers right |
Many, most answers right |
| Physical
Education (n=19) |
|
|
| Physical Development & Motor
Learning |
37% |
63% |
| Health-related Physical Fitness |
26% |
74% |
| Movement & Sport Activity |
11% |
90% |
| Cognitive, Social, Personal Development |
11% |
90% |
| Professional Knowledge |
32% |
68% |
| Note: Figures are
reported only for subject areas with five or more test results. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
None, few, some answers right |
Many, most answers right |
| Special
Education (n=94) |
|
|
| Understanding Special Needs Students |
27% |
73% |
| Promoting Student Growth &
Achievement |
19% |
81% |
| The Collaborative Learning Community |
56% |
44% |
| Note: Figures are
reported only for subject areas with five or more test results. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
None, few, some answers right |
Many, most answers right |
| Biology
(n=8) |
|
|
| Scientific Inquiry |
13% |
88% |
| Cells & Cell Theory |
0% |
100% |
| Characteristics of Organisms |
13% |
88% |
| Human Biology |
13% |
88% |
| Heredity & Evolution of Life |
25% |
75% |
| Matter & Energy in Ecosystems |
0% |
100% |
| Note: Figures are
reported only for subject areas with five or more test results. |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
None, few, some answers right |
Many, most
answers right |
| Earth Science (n=6) |
|
|
| Scientific Inquiry |
50% |
50% |
| Astronomy |
83% |
17% |
| Meteorology |
67% |
33% |
| Geology and Oceanography |
0% |
100% |
|
|
|
| |
|
None, few, some answers right |
Many, most answers right |
| English
(n=29) |
|
|
| Listening & Speaking |
31% |
69% |
| Writing |
48% |
52% |
| Reading |
55% |
45% |
| Language & Literature |
69% |
31% |
| Note: Figures are
reported only for subject areas with five or more test results. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
None, few, some answers right |
Many, most answers right |
| History
(n=35) |
|
|
| Historical Concepts & Skills |
60% |
40% |
| World History |
31% |
69% |
| U.S. & Massachusetts History |
34% |
66% |
| Note: Figures are
reported only for subject areas with five or more test results. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
None, few, some answers right |
Many, most answers right |
| Mathematics
(n=22) |
|
|
| Math. Reasoning & Communication |
59% |
41% |
| Numeration & Number Systems |
41% |
59% |
| Algebraic Relations & Functions |
50% |
50% |
| Geometry & Measurement |
55% |
46% |
| Statistics & Probability |
50% |
50% |
| Trig. Foundations of Calculus |
59% |
41% |
| Note: Figures are
reported only for subject areas with five or more test results. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
None, few, some answers right |
Many, most answers right |
| Spanish
(n=5) |
|
|
| Listening Comprehension |
0% |
100% |
| Reading Comprehension |
0% |
100% |
| Linguistics and Languages Structures |
40% |
60% |
| Cultural Understanding |
20% |
80% |
| Note: Figures are
reported only for subject areas with five or more test results. |
|
|
|
|
|
None, few, some answers right |
Many, most answers right |
| Visual
Arts (n=11) |
|
|
|
Creative Expression |
18% |
82% |
| Art & Culture |
36% |
64% |
| Visual Arts & Other Disciplines |
9% |
91% |
| Note:
Figures are
reported only for subject areas with five or more test results. |
Pass Rates of BSC Students by Number of Attempts
| Of the 715 students who have passed the
reading test: |
|
|
Of the 107 students who have not passed
the reading test: |
| 87.4% |
(624) |
passed on the first attempt |
67.3% |
(72) |
have tried only once |
| 10.2% |
(73) |
passed on the second attempt |
26.2% |
(28) |
have tried twice |
| 2.1% |
(15) |
passed on the third attempt |
4.7% |
(5) |
have tried three times |
| 0.3% |
(2) |
passed on the fourth attempt |
1.9% |
(2) |
have tried four times |
| |
|
Of the 704 students who have passed
the writing test: |
Of the 116 students who have not passed
the writing test: |
| 84.9% |
(598) |
passed on the first attempt |
55.2% |
(64) |
have tried only once |
| 10.7% |
(76) |
passed on the second attempt |
30.2% |
(35) |
have tried twice |
| 3.4% |
(24) |
passed on the third attempt |
10.3% |
(12) |
have tried three times |
| 0.9% |
(6) |
passed
on the fourth attempt |
3.4% |
(4) |
have tried four times |
| 0.0% |
(0) |
passed
on the fifth attempt |
0.9% |
(1) |
has tried five times |
| 0.1% |
(1) |
passed
on the sixth attempt |
|
|
|
| |
|
Of
the 460 students who have passed
the subject area test: |
Of the 115 students who have not passed
the subject area test: |
| 80.9% |
(372) |
passed on the
first attempt |
43.5% |
(50) |
have tried only once |
13.7% |
(63) |
passed on the
second attempt |
35.7% |
(41) |
have tried twice |
2.4% |
(11) |
passed on the
third attempt |
14.8% |
(17) |
have tried three times |
| 1.7% |
(8) |
passed on the
fourth attempt |
3.5% |
(4) |
have tried four times |
| 1.3% |
(6) |
passed on the
fifth attempt |
0.9% |
(1) |
have tried five times |
| |
|
|
1.7% |
(2) |
have tried six times |
For more information
consult the Massachusetts Department of Education website: http://www.doe.mass.edu/teachertest
Click on Communication and Literacy Skills
Test Sample Test Items and Responses to see sample questions and answers from the
Reading and Writing tests.
Click on Test Objectives to see
descriptions of the skills assessed in each test
Click on Massachusetts Teacher Tests: Test Information Booklet
to see test objectives and sample questions from the
literacy and subject area tests.
|
July 1998