Resources for Faculty and Educator Preparation Programs

Test Preparation and Program Planning: Information and Resources

Test Information

On the Tests page, you and your candidates can find:

  • General program and test information
  • Licensure/certification requirements information
  • Links to test-specific information pages

Review information About the Tests.

Helping Candidates Prepare

Make sure candidates know how to make the most of these preparation tools and how to request testing accommodations if needed:

  • Test frameworks
    Define test content
  • Study guides
    Provide general test information, test-taking strategies, test frameworks, sample questions, test directions, and constructed-response rubrics
  • Practice tests
    Provide sample test questions and explanations of correct responses plus candidates receive comprehensive, immediate feedback on their performance and a realistic online experience similar to an actual computer-based testing environment
  • Right Start learning courses
    Provide candidates with a diagnostic assessment to evaluate their knowledge, self-paced learning modules aligned to test content, multiple practice assessment attempts to check their understanding, and a customized course dashboard to review their results
  • Prep videos and computer-based testing tutorials
    Provide information to help candidates prepare effectively and become familiar with the computer-based test experience and testing center
  • Candidate alternative testing arrangements
    Learn about available testing accommodations for candidates with documented physical, learning, or cognitive disabilities

Worksheets and Handouts

Candidate Readiness Profile Word document.
Have the candidate complete this before your first planning meeting—includes instructions and useful information for candidates and advisors

Objective-to-Course Matching Chart: Word document. aligning course content with test objectives
For use by

  • Candidates—to assess how completed coursework aligns to test objectives and to identify gaps
  • Educator preparation programs—to assess alignment of course offerings to test objectives

Study Outline Chart Word document.
Provided for candidates in the Testing Tips (for National Evaluation Series™ tests) and Test-Taking Strategies (for WEST and Paraprofessional tests) preparation materials, with instructions for use in the "Develop a study plan to focus your studies" section

Interpreting Score Report Information and Assisting Candidates

Score report explanation

Helping your candidates interpret their test results
Information on interpreting candidate score report information and advising candidates on future preparation

Annotated Score Reports
View sample score reports for National Evaluation Series™ tests that represent the type of score reports candidates will receive and that includes explanations about important score-related information.

Educator Preparation Program Planning and Use of Data

These resources may be used in program planning and describe how to understand and use candidates' performance information.

Understanding and Analyzing Program Data
Information about reports provided to educator preparation programs and the state education agency

ResultsAnalyzer™ Information
Information about how to use this online tool to view, analyze, and complete reports using test results data

Test Schedule and Score Report Dates

Purchasing Vouchers

Vouchers are available for purchase to provide candidates with full or partial credit toward fees for test registration and preparation resources.

  • Preparation programs may purchase vouchers in order to assist candidates whose test fees were incorporated into tuition.
  • State agencies may offer vouchers to candidates in support of a specific policy, such as providing them to candidates who meet certain state eligibility criteria to retake a test.
  • Vouchers can be purchased in any quantity and in any dollar amount, determined by the state agency or preparation program.
  • Candidates are able to use vouchers as a form of payment when registering for an exam. Note that vouchers must be applied during the initial registration; they cannot be applied retroactively to existing registrations.
  • Vouchers are valid for one year. The effective dates of the vouchers may be determined by the purchaser.
  • Voucher usage may be tracked upon request in order to identify any unused vouchers prior to expiration. The unused vouchers may then be renewed and redistributed to candidates, ensuring their use.
  • Preparation product voucher purchases are not refundable.
  • All voucher purchases are final and ineligible for refund.

To purchase test registration vouchers: Please complete and submit a Voucher Request Form. PDF

To purchase Right Start vouchers: Please complete and submit a Right Start Voucher Request Form. PDF

Note: For National Evaluation Series™ assessments that have practice tests available at the time of test registration, candidates will receive the related practice test at no additional cost with registration. The practice test will be added to candidates' carts automatically during registration. The Washington Educator Skills Test–Basic® (WEST–B®) practice tests are available free of charge; however, the WEST–B practice tests are not included with registration.

Fee Waivers for NES Tests

Fee waivers may be available for college students who meet the eligibility criteria indicated below. Candidates may receive only one fee waiver per year. Requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

For a candidate to be eligible for a fee waiver, they must meet the following conditions:

  • They must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
  • They must be currently receiving financial aid.
  • They must meet certain eligibility income guidelines.

To apply for a fee waiver, submit a completed Fee Waiver Request Form PDF before registering to test.

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