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| Introduction | |
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| About This Book | |
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| REA���s TExES Bilingual Generalist EC���6 (192) test is a comprehensive guide designed to assist you in preparing to take the TExES (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards) test which is required for teaching in Texas. To enhance your chances of success in this important step toward your career as a teacher in Texas schools, this test guide presents an accurate and complete overview of the TExES Bilingual Generalist, EC���6 (192) identifies all of the important information and its representation on the exam provides a comprehensive review of every domain presents sample questions in the actual test format provides diagnostic tools to identify areas of strength and weakness provides a full-length practice test based on the most recently administered TExES test replicates the format of the official exam, including level of difficulty supplies the correct answer and detailed explanations for each question on the practice test, which enables you to identify correct answers and understand why they are correct and, just as important, why the other answers are incorrect | |
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| This guide is the result of studying many resources. The editors considered the most recent test administrations and professional standards. They also researched information from the Texas Education Agency (TEA), professional journals, textbooks, and educators. This guide includes the best test preparation materials based on the latest information available | |
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| Who Administers the Test? | |
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| The TExES is developed and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) in cooperation with the Texas State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and the Texas Education Agency. A test development process was designed and is implemented to ensure that the content and difficulty level of the test are appropriate and based on a state aim of aligning the school curriculum from grade to grade, from kindergarten through college | |
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| When Should the TExES Be Taken? | |
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| The test should be taken just before or after graduation for those seeking certification right out of school. The TExES is a requirement to teach in Texas, so if you are planning on being an educator, you must take and pass this test. The TExES is usually administered five times a year at several locations throughout Texas. The usual testing day is Saturday, but the test may be taken on an alternate day if a conflict, such as a religious obligation, exists. The TExES Registration Bulletin offers information about test dates and locations, as well as registration information and how to make testing accommodations for those with special needs. To receive a registration bulletin, contact: ETS— TExES Educator Certification P.O. Box 6001 Program Princeton, NJ 08541-6001 Phone: (800) 205-2626 Email: texes-excet_inquiries@ets.org | |
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| Registration bulletins are also available at education departments of Texas colleges and universities. The Texas State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) can be reached at (888) 863-5880 or (512) 469-3008 or via e-mail at sbec@sbec.state.tx.us. You can also find information about the test and registration on the SBEC website at www.sbec.state.tx.us/ | |
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| Is There a Registration Fee? | |
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| To take the TExES, you must pay a registration fee. If you are using the registration form, all fees must be paid in full by personal check, cashier���s check, or money order payable to ETS. All payments must be made in U.S. dollars. Funds must be from a U.S. bank | |
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| How to Use This Book | |
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| How Do I Begin Studying? | |
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| Review the organization of this test preparation guide | |
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| To best utilize your study time, follow our TExES Independent Study Schedule. The schedule is based on a seven-week program, but can be condensed to four weeks if necessary | |
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| Take the diagnostic test online at www.rea.com/texes | |
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| Review the format of the TExES | |
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| Review the test-taking advice and suggestions presented later in this chapter | |
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| Pay attention to the information about domains, content, and topics on the test | |
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| Spend time reviewing topics that stand out as needing more study | |
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| Take the practice test, review the explanations to your answers carefully, study the competencies that your scores indicate need further review | |
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| Follow the suggestions at the end of this chapter for the day before and the day of the test | |
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| When Should I Start Studying? | |
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| It is never too early to start studying for the TExES. The earlier you begin, the more time you will have to sharpen your skills. Do not procrastinate! Cramming is not an effective way to study, since it does not allow you the time needed to learn the test material | |
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| Studying for the TExES Bilingual Generalist Test | |
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| It is very important for you to choose the time and place for studying that works best for you. Some individuals may set aside a certain number of hours every morning to study, while others may choose to study at night before going to sleep. Other people may study during the day, while waiting in line, or even while eating lunch. Only you can determine when and where your study time will be most effective | |
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| Be consistent and use your time wisely. Work out a study routine and stick to it. When you take the practice tests, simulate the conditions of the actual test as closely as possible. Turn your television and radio off, and sit down at a quiet table free from distraction. As you complete each practice test, score your test and thoroughly review the explanations to the questions you answered incorrectly; however, do not review too much at any one time. Concentrate on one problem area at a time by reviewing the question and explanation, and by studying our review until you are confident that you have mastered the material | |
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| Keep track of your scores. By doing so, you will be able to gauge your progress and discover general weaknesses in particular sections. Give extra attention to the reviews that cover your areas of difficulty, as this will build your skills in those areas | |
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| Format of the Test | |
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| The TExES Bilingual Generalist EC���6 (192) includes 185 scorable multiple-choice items and approximately 15 non-scorable items. Your final scaled score will be based only on scorable items. All multiple-choice questions are designed to assess your knowledge of the domains and related skills mentioned above and reviewed in this book. In general, the multiple-choice questions are intended to make you think. You are expected in most cases to demonstrate more than an ability to recall factual information; you may be asked to think critically about the information, analyze it, consider it carefully, and compare it with knowledge you have, or make a judgment about it | |
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| Answering the multiple-choice questions is straightforward. You will have four choices labeled A, B, C, and D. You must mark your choice on a separate answer sheet. You should have plenty of time in which to complete the test, but be aware of the amount of time you are spending on each question so that you allow yourself time to complete the whole test. Although speed is not very important, a steady pace should be maintained when answering questions. Using the practice tests will help you prepare for this task | |
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| About the Review Sections | |
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| The reviews in this book are designed to help you sharpen the basic skills needed to approach the TExES, as well as provide strategies for attacking the questions. Each teaching competency is examined in a separate chapter. The skills required for all six-competency areas are extensively discussed to optimize your understanding of what the 192 Bilingual Generalist EC���6 test covers | |
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| Your schooling has taught you most of what you need to answer the questions on the test. The education classes you took should have provided you with the know-how to make important decisions about situations you will face as a teacher. Our review is designed to help you fit the information you have acquired into specific competency components. Reviewing your class notes and textbooks together with our competency reviews will give you an excellent springboard for passing the exam | |
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| Test-Taking Tips | |
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| Although you may not be familiar with tests like the TExES, this book will help acquaint you with this type of exam and help alleviate your test-taking anxieties. Listed below are ways to help you become accustomed to the TExES, some of which may be applied to other tests as well | |
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| Become comfortable with the format of the TExES. When you are practicing, stay calm and pace yourself. After simulating the test only once, you will boost your chances of doing well, and you will be able to sit down for the actual TExES with much more confidence | |
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| Read all of the possible answers. Just because you think you have found the correct response, do not automatically assume that it is the best answer. Read through each choice to be sure that you are not making a mistake by jumping to conclusions | |
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| Use the process of elimination. Go through each answer to a question and eliminate as many of the answer choices as possible. By eliminating two answer choices, you have given yourself a better chance of getting the item correct since there will only be two choices left from which to make your guess. Do not leave an answer blank; it is better to guess than to not answer a question on the TExES test | |
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| Place a question mark in your answer booklet next to answers you guessed, then recheck them later if you have time | |
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| Work quickly and steadily to avoid focusing on any one problem too long. Taking the practice test in this book will help you learn to budget your precious time | |
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| Learn the directions and format of the test. Familiarizing yourself with the directions and format of the test will not only save time, but will also help you avoid anxiety (and the mistakes caused by getting anxious) | |
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| Be sure that the answer circle you are marking corresponds to the number of the question in the test booklet. Since the test is multiple-choice, it is graded by machine, and marking one wrong answer can throw off your answer key and your score. Be extremely careful | |