Introduction

New national arrangements for the quality and its assessment have been introduced into higher education systems in many parts of the world recently. For instance, individuals seeking a New York State certificate for teaching the academic subjects in the secondary grades 7 through 12, i. e. , English, a language other than English, mathematics, a science (biology, chemistry, earth science, physics), or social studies, must achieve qualifying scores on the Teacher Certification Examinations as part of the requirements for certification. Certification Examinations are criterion – referenced and objective-based tests that measure a candidate's knowledge and skills in relation to an established standard rather than in relation to the performance of other candidates.

This preparation guide is designed to help familiarize Belarusian teachers with the content and format of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), the Assessment of Teaching Skills- Written (ATS-W) and the Content Specialty Test (CST) for the Teacher Certification Examinations program (USA). The explicit purpose of these tests is to help identify candidates for certification who have demonstrated the level of knowledge and skills that are important for performing the responsibilities of a teacher in public schools. The tests measure knowledge and skills in the liberal arts and sciences, in teaching theory and practice, and in the content area of the certificate title. Test questions matched to the objectives were developed using, in part, textbooks; learning standards and cur­riculum guides; teacher education curricula; and certification standards. The knowledge and skills assessed by the LAST are acquired throughout the academic career of a teacher. A primary means of preparing for the LAST is the collegiate preparation of the candidate in general education including the following areas: scientific and mathematical processes, historical and scientific awareness, artistic expression and the humanities, artistic expression and the humanities, communication skills, written analysis and expression.

This test preparation book reflects the new test guidelines and revised teacher certification requirements. It shows how to set up a test preparation schedule and introduces you to some general test preparation techniques, special test taking strategies and multiple-choice test strategies that will help you improve your score. Review sections contain a comprehensive subject review of the topics included on the LAST. Core and extended reviews provide a clear overview of subject matter and help you prepare for the items on the LAST. Glossary also will give you some idea of the kinds of words you may encounter on the examination.

You are entering teaching during a time of tremendous opportunities. The next generation wants to be prepared for a vastly different, technological world. Tests like the LAST are designed to measure a candidate’s professional competence in relation to an established standard. The professional standard that our foreign language teaching community should be introduced to perform the responsibilities of a teacher worldwide.

1	QUALITY STANDARDS

DISCUSSION