NYSTCE Literacy (065) Test

The Literacy (065) test is computer-based and offered year-round by appointment, Monday through Saturday, at test centers in New York State and across the country. It is a single test with two parts: 90 selected-response questions and one constructed-response assignment, all completed in one sitting.

The selected-response questions together make up 80% of your score and the constructed response makes up 20%. The framework suggests about 135 minutes for the selected-response questions and up to 60 minutes for the written assignment.

Your result is one total scaled score from 400 to 600, and you need 520 to pass. There is no separate passing score for the written assignment, so strong performance on one part can make up for a weaker performance on the other. Each selected-response question counts equally, and the score is based on the number you answer correctly, with no penalty for a wrong answer, so answer every question.

The constructed response is scored on a four-point scale. A 4 shows thorough command of the relevant knowledge and skills, a 3 shows general command, a 2 shows partial command and a 1 shows little or no command. Scorers judge three performance characteristics: completeness (did you address every part of the assignment), accuracy (did you apply literacy knowledge correctly and effectively) and depth of support (did you back your ideas with relevant examples, details and sound reasoning). A response that is off topic, unreadable, not in English or too short to score is marked unscorable, and a blank response earns no credit.

The written assignment gives you one or more excerpts from professional literature, such as a journal article or research report about literacy instruction. You draw a conclusion from the excerpts about features of effective instruction or intervention, choose a grade level, design and describe an instructional or small-group intervention activity that reflects your conclusion, and explain why the activity is likely to work, citing information from the excerpts. A typical response is about 400 to 600 words. Section 8 of this guide walks through the assignment step by step.

• Classroom and intervention scenarios that ask for the most appropriate first step, strategy or grouping for a student or group
• Assessment data such as oral reading records, fluency scores, spelling samples, screening results and writing samples to interpret
• Short text excerpts to judge for complexity or to plan instruction around
• Research findings that ask which conclusion or instructional approach the evidence best supports
• Coaching, data-team, family and school-leadership situations that test the role of the literacy professional

• Your official score report is posted on the score report date for your testing period, listed on the NYSTCE website.
• The report shows your total score, whether you passed and how you performed on each competency.
• If your score falls just below 520, check the waiver policy: candidates within half a standard error of measurement of the passing score may apply for a waiver.