Study Guide

Overview and Test Objectives
Field 801: Early Childhood

Test Overview

Format Computer-based test (CBT); 100 multiple-choice questions, 2 open-response items
Number of Questions
  • Subarea I: 30–32 multiple-choice questions
  • Subarea II: 18–20 multiple-choice questions
  • Subarea III: 49–51 multiple-choice questions
  • Subarea IV: 2 open-response items
Time 4 hours (does not include 15-minute CBT tutorial)
Passing Score 216

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

Subareas Range of Objectives Approximate Test Weighting
Multiple-Choice
I Knowledge of Child Development 01–02 25%
II Knowledge of Children's Literature and the Writing Process 03–04 15%
III Core Knowledge in the Content Areas 05–07 40%
80%
Open-Response*
IV Integration of Knowledge and Understanding 08 20%

*The open-response items may relate to topics covered in two or more of the subareas above. Responses to the open-response items are expected to be appropriate and accurate in the application of subject-matter knowledge, to provide high-quality and relevant supporting evidence, and to demonstrate a soundness of argument and understanding of the field.

 

Subarea I–Knowledge of Child Development

Objective 0001: Understand child development from prenatal through the early elementary years.
Objective 0002: Understand child development and learning in students with disabling conditions or exceptionalities.

 

Subarea II–Knowledge of Children's Literature and the Writing Process1

Objective 0003: Understand children's literature, including genres, literary elements, and literary techniques.
0004: Understand principles and concepts of writing for various purposes.

1. Knowledge of the following content will be measured on a separate Foundations of Reading test for all prospective Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education teachers: 1) reading theory, research, and practice; 2) development of an oral and reading vocabulary; 3) theories on the relationship between beginning writing and reading; 4) approaches and practices for developing skills in using writing tools; and 5) theories of first- and second-language acquisition and development.

 

Subarea III–Core Knowledge in the Content Areas

Objective 0005: Understand principles and concepts of mathematics.
Objective 0006: Understand principles and concepts of history and social science.
Objective 0007: Understand principles and concepts of science and technology/engineering.

 

Subarea IV–Integration of Knowledge and Understanding

Objective 0008: Prepare an organized, developed analysis that relates child development to two or more of the following: language arts, mathematics, history and social science, and science.