Test Information Guide
Overview and Test Objectives
Field 191/291: Vocational Technical Literacy Skills Test
Test Overview
| Format |
Computer-based test (CBT) and online proctored test Reading Subtest (191)
Writing Subtest (291)
|
|---|---|
| Number of Questions |
Reading Subtest (191)
Writing Subtest (291)
|
| Time | 4 hours for one or both subtests (does not include 15-minute CBT tutorial) |
| Passing Score | 240 on each subtest |
The Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) are designed to measure a candidate's knowledge of the subject matter contained in the test objectives for each field. The MTEL are aligned with the Massachusetts educator licensure regulations and, as applicable, with the standards in the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks.
The test objectives specify the content to be covered on the test and are organized by major skill areas. The chart below shows the approximate percentage of the total test score derived from each of the skill areas.
The Vocational Literacy Skills Test is designed to assess each candidate's communication and literacy skills as required by the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993 and specified in the Chapter 74 Manual for Vocational Technical Educator Licensure and Relicensure. Candidates taking the test are asked to demonstrate that they have the communication and literacy skills necessary for effective instruction and communication between school, students, and parents.
Test Objectives
Reading Subtest (191)
Pie chart of approximate test weighting outlined in the table below.
| Skills | Approximate Test Weighting |
|---|---|
| Multiple-Choice | |
| Word Meaning | 15% |
| Main Idea and Detail | 15% |
| Writer's Purpose | 15% |
| Idea Relationships | 15% |
| Critical Reasoning | 15% |
| Graphs, Tables, and Charts | 25% |
| 100% | |
Objective 0001: Determine the meaning of words and phrases in written material.
- For example: recognizing the meaning of commonly used words; determining the meaning of unfamiliar words or words with multiple meanings in the contexts in which they appear; recognizing the correct use of commonly misused words (e.g., their/there/they're, to/too); and identifying appropriate synonyms or antonyms for words.
Objective 0002: Recognize the main idea and supporting details in written material.
- For example: identifying the main idea of written material; identifying information, facts, and details that support, illustrate, or elaborate on the main idea; and identifying an accurate summary, outline, or graphic representation of information presented in written material.
Objective 0003: Identify a writer's purpose, audience, point of view, and intended meaning.
- For example: recognizing a writer's purpose for writing (e.g., to persuade, to describe); recognizing the audience that written material addresses; and using the content, word choice, and phrasing of written material to determine a writer's opinions, intended meaning, or point of view.
Objective 0004: Recognize the relationship among ideas in written material.
- For example: identifying the order of events or steps described in written material; identifying cause-and-effect relationships; and making generalizations or drawing conclusions from ideas or information presented in written material.
Objective 0005: Use critical reasoning skills to evaluate written material.
- For example: determining the relevance of specific facts or examples to a writer's argument; recognizing qualifying language; distinguishing between fact and opinion in written material; assessing the credibility, objectivity, or bias of a writer; and evaluating a writer's reasoning and identifying flaws.
Objective 0006: Understand information presented in graphs, tables, and charts.
- For example: interpreting information from tables, line graphs, bar graphs, and pie charts; recognizing appropriate representations of written information in graphic or tabular form; and drawing conclusions based on information presented in a graph, table, or chart.
Writing Subtest (291)
Pie chart of approximate test weighting outlined in the table below.
| Skills | Approximate Test Weighting |
|---|---|
| Multiple-Choice | |
| Unity and Focus | 11% |
| Use of Verbs and Nouns | 11% |
| Use of Pronouns and Modifiers | 11% |
| Use of Sentence Structure and Punctuation | 11% |
| Use of Capitalization and Spelling | 11% |
| 55% | |
| Open-Response* | |
| Written Composition Exercise Written Summary Exercise |
45% |
*The open-response items require candidates to prepare written responses to demonstrate mastery of vocabulary, grammar, mechanics, summarizing, and development of ideas in essay form on specified topics.
Objective 0007: Recognize examples of unified and focused writing.
- For example: writing for a specific purpose or audience; recognizing appropriate word choice; identifying effective organization of written material; recognizing unnecessary shifts in point of view; recognizing distracting details or material irrelevant to the main idea; identifying effective topic sentences; and providing support for the main idea.
Objective 0008: Apply knowledge of the use of verbs and nouns in standard American English.
- For example: recognizing the standard use of verbs (e.g., subject-verb agreement, verb tense, consistency of tense) and nouns (e.g., plural and possessive forms) in written material.
Objective 0009: Apply knowledge of the use of pronouns and modifiers in standard American English.
- For example: recognizing the standard use of pronouns (e.g., pronoun-antecedent agreement, pronoun cases, possessive pronouns, relative and demonstrative pronouns) and modifiers (e.g., adverbs, adjectives, prepositional phrases) in written material.
Objective 0010: Apply knowledge of the use of sentence structure and punctuation in standard American English.
- For example: identifying sentence fragments and run-on sentences; and recognizing instances in which incorrect or extraneous punctuation has been used or necessary punctuation has been omitted.
Objective 0011: Apply knowledge of the use of capitalization and spelling in standard American English.
- For example: identifying the use of standard initial capitalization and standard capitalization with proper words and titles; and recognizing standard spelling of commonly encountered words presented in context.
Objective 0012: Demonstrate the ability to prepare a written response in an appropriate form on a given topic.
- For example: preparing a written response on a given topic for a specified audience, purpose, and occasion; using appropriate and accurate vocabulary, mechanics, and grammar, according to the conventions of standard American English; and creating a well-organized and well-developed composition.
Objective 0013: Demonstrate the ability to outline or summarize a given piece of written material.
- For example: preparing an outline or summary of the main ideas and essential points of a given piece of written material, using the appropriate conventions of standard American English.