Test Design and 
Test Framework

Field 204: Middle Grades (5–8) Social Science

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The test design below describes general test information. The framework that follows is a detailed outline that explains the knowledge and skills that this test measures.

Test Design

Format Computer-based test (CBT)
Number of Questions 100 multiple-choice questions
Time* 3 hours, 15 minutes
Passing Score 240

*Does not include 15-minute CBT tutorial

Test Framework

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



Test Subarea Number of Test Objectives Number of Scorable Items Number of Non-Scorable Items subarea weight as percent of total test score
Subarea 1—Social Science Foundations 2 12 7 15 percent
Subarea 2—Disciplinary Literacy in Social Science 4 16 5 13 percent
Subarea 3—History 3 19 5 25 percent
Subarea 4—Geography 3 11 3 15 percent
Subarea 5—Political Science and Economics 3 11  This cell intentionally blank  20 percent
Subarea 6—Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology 2 11  This cell intentionally blank  12 percent
Totals 17 80 20 100 percent

Subarea 1—Social Science Foundations

Objective 0001—Understand basic concepts, sources, and methods in the social sciences and the use of analysis, interpretation, and evaluation.

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Objective 0002—Understand how to use the tools and methods of social science inquiry to conduct research and interpret findings.

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Subarea 2—Disciplinary Literacy in Social Science

Objective 0003—Apply knowledge of foundations of research-based disciplinary literacy instruction and assessment.

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Objective 0004—Apply knowledge of academic-language and vocabulary development to support students' disciplinary literacy development in the social science classroom.

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Objective 0005—Apply knowledge of reading comprehension to support students' disciplinary literacy development in the social science classroom.

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Objective 0006—Apply knowledge of the development of writing, listening, and speaking skills to support students' disciplinary literacy development in the social science classroom.

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Subarea 3—History

Objective 0007—Understand basic historical concepts, terms, explanations, and interpretations.

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Objective 0008—Understand major political, social, cultural, scientific, geographic, and economic developments; and analyze patterns of continuity and change in the United States and Illinois.

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Objective 0009—Understand major political, social, cultural, scientific, geographic, and economic developments; and analyze patterns of continuity and change in different regions of the world.

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Subarea 4—Geography

Objective 0010—Understand geographic representations, tools, and technologies and the physical and human characteristics of places and regions.

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Objective 0011—Understand the relationship between cultural experiences and perceptions of places and regions and how human and physical processes influence spatial distributions.

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Objective 0012—Understand human interactions with the physical environment; the role of science and technology in modifying physical and human environments; and the nature and significance of global interdependence.

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Subarea 5—Political Science and Economics

Objective 0013—Understand basic political concepts and systems, constitutional government in the United States and Illinois, the rule of law, and the rights and responsibilities of individual citizens in the United States and Illinois.

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Objective 0014—Understand the organization and functions of government in the United States at the national, state, and local levels; the formation and implementation of public policy; and the role of international organizations and global connections in world affairs.

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Objective 0015—Understand economic concepts and systems and the operation of the  U S  and world economies.

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Subarea 6—Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology

Objective 0016—Understand concepts, terms, and theories related to human behavior and development.

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Objective 0017—Understand concepts, terms, and theories related to the study of cultures; the structure and organization of human societies; and the process of social interaction.

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