Test Design and 
Test Framework

Field 260: World Language: Spanish

Recommendation for individuals using a screenreader: please set your punctuation settings to "most."

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 65 multiple-choice questions, 2 constructed-response assignments
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 Constructed-Response Assignments subarea weight as percent of total test score
Subarea 1—Interpretive Listening 2 18 5  This cell intentionally blank  21 percent
Subarea 2—Interpretive Reading 2 18 4  This cell intentionally blank  21 percent
Subarea 3—Language Acquisition and Instruction 2 16 4  This cell intentionally blank  18 percent
Subarea 4—Presentational Writing 1  This cell intentionally blank   This cell intentionally blank  1 20 percent
Subarea 5—Presentational Speaking 1  This cell intentionally blank   This cell intentionally blank  1 20 percent
Totals 8 52 13 2 100 percent

 A C T F L  Proficiency Guidelines:
For Spanish, examinees are expected to demonstrate proficiency at least at a level equivalent to the Advanced-Low level as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages ( A C T F L ) proficiency guidelines.

Subarea 1 — Interpretive Listening

Objective 0001—Demonstrate literal comprehension of a variety of culturally authentic spoken communications (e.g., announcements, dialogues, documentaries, poetry).

For example:

Objective 0002—Infer meaning and analyze information from a variety of culturally authentic spoken communications (e.g., announcements, dialogues, documentaries, poetry).

For example:

Subarea 2 — Interpretive Reading

Objective 0003—Demonstrate literal comprehension of a variety of culturally authentic printed and digital materials (e.g., e-mails, posters, Web sites, maps, graphs, periodicals, novels).

For example:

Objective 0004—Infer meaning and analyze information from a variety of culturally authentic printed and digital materials (e.g., e-mails, posters, Web sites, maps, graphs, periodicals, novels).

For example:

Subarea 3 — Language Acquisition and Instruction

Objective 0005—Apply knowledge of the process of second-language acquisition and how it relates to the language learner in the classroom.

For example:

Objective 0006—Apply teaching and assessment strategies that provide students with opportunities to communicate in the target language in meaningful and authentic ways and that promote students' ability to reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines.

For example:

Subarea 4 — Presentational Writing

Objective 0007—Apply knowledge of target-language structures and writing conventions to compose an effective, coherent, and clear response to a prompt.

For example:

Subarea 5 — Presentational Speaking

Objective 0008—Apply knowledge of target-language structures and speaking conventions to deliver an effective, coherent, and clear spoken response to a prompt.

For example: