English Language Arts Exam Snapshot
Time Allowed:
180 minutes for multiple-choice;
60 minutes for writing component
Format:
Multiple-choice; writing component
Number of Questions:
150 multiple-choice questions; 1 writing component
On-Screen Exhibits:
(available as relevant)
None
Passing Score:
Proficient: 270
Distinguished: 307
Writing component: 4
Exam Summary:
(The number of questions answered
correctly is converted to a scaled score
ranging from 0 to 500. Writing
component scores range from 0 to 6.)
Content Domains
Approximate
Percentage of
Examination
Comprehension of Texts
72%
Oral and Written Language
Development
23%
Instructional Knowledge and
Professional Skills
5%
About This Exam
The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence believes that highly skilled English Language Arts
teachers should possess a comprehensive body of knowledge that is research-based and promotes student
achievement. The English Language Arts exam is designed to assess a candidate’s ability to interpret literary and
expository texts, as well as speech, writing, and research skills. Topics assessed are typically covered in college level
English and English literature courses. This exam also contains a writing component that will evaluate a candidate’s
ability to clearly interpret literary works. Candidates will be asked to compose their written response without access to
any writing aids such as spelling and grammar tools.
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English Language Arts Exam Snapshot
Comprehension of Texts
Comprehension of Texts (...continued)
Vocabulary
•
Evolution of the English language
•
Etymology of words
•
Literal and figurative meanings of words
•
Antonyms, synonyms, homophones,
homonyms, and homographs
•
Instructional techniques for increasing student
vocabulary
•
General and specialized dictionaries, thesauri,
and glossaries
Interpretation of Expository Text
•
Historical and philosophical contexts that
shaped literature
•
Literary schools, movements, periods, and
figures in the history of English and American
literature
•
Ambiguities, subtleties, contradictions,
paradoxes, ironies, incongruities,
overstatements, and understatements present
in text
•
Major critical approaches to literature
•
Elements of literary language
•
Strategies for improving reading
comprehension
Oral and Written Language
Development
•
Central ideas and details of text
Standard English Language Conventions
•
Modes and methods of expository writing
•
Parts of speech
•
Elements of persuasion and logical reasoning
•
Principles of grammar and punctuation
•
Inferences, conclusions, and generalizations
Speech
•
Rhetorical features and historical significance
of celebrated speeches, essays, and political
documents
Interpretation of Literary Texts
•
Development of major literary genres and
sub-genres
•
Satire, parody, allegory, pastoral, narrative,
comedy, tragedy, farce, novel, and various
poetic forms
•
Major ideas and supporting evidence as
presented in spoken messages
•
Tone and emotion of a speech
•
Types of arguments
•
Sources of logical fallacies
•
Traditional rules and formats of debate
Writing Strategies and Applications
•
Prewriting strategies
•
Stages of the writing process
•
Principles of composition
Setting, plot, theme, and characterization
•
Transitional words and phrases
Literary elements of great literary texts
•
Active and passive voice
•
Compound and compound-complex
sentences
•
Parallel structure
•
Poetic conventions of verse
•
Chorus, asides, dramatis personae, and
character foils
•
•
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English Language Arts Exam Snapshot
Writing Strategies and Applications (...continued)
•
Quotations, paraphrasing, and citations
•
Clear evaluation of student writing
Research Strategies
•
Formulation of research questions suitable for
inquiry
•
Print and electronic research resources
•
Conventional citation practices
Instructional Knowledge and
Professional Skills
•
Definitional and contextual approaches to
vocabulary development
•
Instruction and assessment of functional
vocabulary power
•
Cultivation of independent reading habits
•
Familiarity with literature appropriate for
middle school and high school students
•
Development of eloquence of style
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