Praxis II Subject Matter Examinations

Praxis II is one of Connecticut's subject matter tests and is designed to ensure that prospective teachers are knowledgeable in their fields. Connecticut uses the Educational Testing Services (ETS) Praxis II test as its content exam for certification applicants in biology, chemistry, earth science, English, general science, family and consumer sciences, mathematics, music, physics and technology education. There are no waivers or substitute exams for Praxis II.

Some areas of certification require more than one exam. Please see the chart on page 12 of the catalog to confirm what testing requirements exist for your area/areas of certification. (Applicants seeking certification in any world language are required to take the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) described on page 13 of the catalog.)

Praxis II is administered seven times during the academic year. ARC applicants are not recommended for certification until all Praxis II exams are passed. Although Praxis II results are not required as part of the admission process, it is strongly recommended that all required exams are taken and passed in a timely manner to assist with securing employment upon completion of the ARC Program.

To register online for the Praxis II exam(s), please visit www.ets.org/praxis. You also may call 609/771-7395 to request a registration bulletin and a Praxis II registration form.

IMPORTANT: You must have your Praxis II scores sent by ETS to both ARC and the Connecticut State Department of Education. Use the following codes:

Preparation for the Praxis II Examinations

You may prepare for the Praxis II exam in various ways. Some helpful resources are:

• Test-At-A-Glance reviews are available at the ETS website, www.ets.org. These samples are free and provide test questions and test-taking strategies.

• Individual study guides and kits are available through ETS. These guides and kits include full-length sample tests, test-taking strategies, explanations of correct answers to each question and scoring keys and instructions. You can practice taking a real test. Kits also include a free copy of General Information and Study Tips. To order, call 609/771-7243 or order online at www.ets.org.

Other nationally-distributed study guides may be purchased at larger bookstores which carry preparation guides for standardized tests, including Amazon. Remember to focus on your subject matter. Review college textbooks and other materials related to your field of study.

Praxis II Exams Required for ARC Certification Offerings

ACTFL Language Testing

The Connecticut State Department of Education uses exams administered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) to evaluate the proficiencies of world language applicants (Oral Proficiency Interview or OPI and the Writing Proficiency Test or WPT). The OPI is offered in 64 languages while the WPT is offered in 20 languages. A list of available exams may be accessed at www.languagetesting.com. There are no examinations required for Latin.

OPI assesses an applicant’s functional speaking ability. It takes the form of a carefully structured conversation between a trained and certified interviewer and the person whose speaking proficiency is being assessed. The interview is interactive and continuously adapts to the speaking ability of the person being tested. It is a face-to-face or telephone interview which lasts 10 to 30 minutes.

WPT assesses an applicant’s functional writing ability. It requires the examinee to read prompts in English and compose written responses in the target language without the aid of dictionaries or grammar references. The WPT takes the form of a carefully constructed assessment with four requests for written responses dealing with practical, social and professional topics that are encountered in informal and formal contexts. The examinee is given 90 minutes to read the directions and complete the test. A minimum score of “intermediate high” is required to meet Connecticut certification requirements.

If the OPI and WPT are taken to meet ARC’s entrance requirements for a world language, a minimum score of “advanced-mid” is required on both exams. These scores will provide world language applicants who are native speakers or fluent in a second language the equivalent of 24 semester hours of academic credit, in cases of credit deficiencies. These score results must be submitted by the ARC application deadline. Official results should be reported to ARC by the ACTFL organization.

Candidates who meet the foreign language college credit requirements at the time of application must be prepared to eventually take both the OPI and WPT, but are not required to take these exams by the application deadline. If the OPI and WPT are taken to satisfy the certification requirements for a world language, a minimum score of “intermediate high” is required on both exams.

Applicants pursuing certification in any world language must take and pass both the OPI and the WPT.

If the OPI is needed to meet ARC’s entrance requirements, it must be taken and passed by the application deadline. Registration for the ACTFL exams is done through Language Testing International by phone (914/963-7110, extension 2) or online at www.languagetesting.com/acad_ct1.cfm.