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Test Information Guide

Overview and Test Objectives:
Field 802: Reading Specialist

Test Overview

Table outlining the test format, number of questions, time, and passing score.
Format Computer-based test (CBT) and online-proctored test; 100 multiple-choice questions, 2 open-response items
Time 4 hours (does not include 15-minute CBT tutorial)
Passing Score 220

The test objectives specify the content to be covered on the test and are organized by major content subareas. The chart below shows the approximate percentage of the total test score derived from each of the subareas.

Pie chart of approximate test weighting outlined in the table below.

Test Objectives

Table outlining test content and subject weighting by sub area and objective.
Subareas Range of Objectives Approximate Test Weighting
Multiple-Choice
1 Foundational Literacy Development 01–04 20%
2 Literacy Components and Instructional Resources 05–08 20%
3 Literacy Assessment and Evaluation 09–12 20%
4 Theoretical, Professional, and Language Foundations 13–16 20%
80%
Open-Response
5 Integration of Knowledge and Understanding
Foundational Reading Skills 17 10%
Reading Comprehension 18 10%
20%

 

Subarea 1–Foundational Literacy Development

Objective 0001: Demonstrate knowledge of concepts of print and evidence-based practices for explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction in this area.

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Objective 0002: Demonstrate knowledge of phonological awareness and evidence-based practices for explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction in this area.

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Objective 0003: Demonstrate knowledge of the role of phonics in word recognition and spelling and evidence-based practices for explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction in these areas.

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Objective 0004: Demonstrate knowledge of ways to promote reading fluency at the word, sentence, and passage levels; and evidence-based practices for explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction in this area.

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Subarea 2–Literacy Components and Instructional Resources

Objective 0005: Demonstrate knowledge of ways to evaluate and select appropriate curriculum and print/digital texts.

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Objective 0006: Demonstrate knowledge of ways to promote writing skills and evidence-based practices for explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction in this area.

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Objective 0007: Demonstrate knowledge of evidence-based practices for providing explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction in comprehension, vocabulary, speaking and listening, and research skills.

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Objective 0008: Demonstrate knowledge of evidence-based practices for literacy across content areas (reading and writing processes that are common across disciplines), including disciplinary literacy (literacy to engage in reading and writing processes unique to each academic discipline).

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Subarea 3–Literacy Assessment and Evaluation

Objective 0009: Demonstrate the ability to identify strengths, challenges, and concurrent factors in literacy among culturally and linguistically diverse student populations.

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Objective 0010: Demonstrate the ability to identify strengths, challenges, and concurrent factors in literacy among students with reading difficulties or disabilities.

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Objective 0011: Demonstrate knowledge of the purposes, attributes, strengths, limitations, and administration of various types of assessment.

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Objective 0012: Demonstrate the ability to use assessment data to identify students at risk for reading difficulties and to inform appropriate instruction, and apply knowledge of the structure and purposes of flexible multi-tiered systems to support the needs of all students.

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Subarea 4–Theoretical, Professional, and Language Foundations

Objective 0013: Demonstrate and apply knowledge of evidence-based concepts of language and literacy development, including how the brain learns to read and neurobiological and/or cognitive impacts on reading development.

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Objective 0014: Demonstrate knowledge of the components of language and evidence-based practices for explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction that develop students' language acquisition.

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Objective 0015: Demonstrate knowledge of the reciprocal relationships of language and literacy components that contribute to skilled reading.

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Objective 0016: Demonstrate knowledge of culturally responsive collaborative leadership and adult learning theories and strategies.

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Subarea 5–Integration of Knowledge and Understanding

Objective 0017: Prepare an organized, developed analysis on a topic related to the development of foundational reading skills.

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Objective 0018: Prepare an organized, developed analysis on a topic related to the development of reading comprehension.

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