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Exam Overview
The APK Middle Childhood (4-9) test is delivered on computer, either at a Pearson VUE test center or online with a remote proctor. Testing at a center is available year-round by appointment. Online proctoring is offered by appointment during one-week windows each month.
The following table summarizes the test.
Test at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Field number | 002 |
| Selected-response questions | 100 multiple-choice questions, four choices each (80% of score) |
| Constructed-response assignments | 1 Case Study and 1 Work Product (10% each) |
| Appointment time | 3 hours 15 minutes (15-minute tutorial plus 3 hours of testing) |
| Breaks | Test center: restroom breaks allowed but the clock keeps running; online: no breaks |
| Reference materials | None provided or allowed |
| Passing score | 220 on a scale of 100 to 300 |
| Fee | $109 |
Domains and Weights
The framework has three domains and ten objectives. The following table shows how the score is divided and roughly how many of the 100 selected-response questions come from each domain.
Domains, Objectives and Weights
| Domain | Objectives | Share of score | About how many questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Student Development and Learning | 0001-0003 | 24% | 30 |
| II. Assessment, Instruction, and the Learning Environment | 0004-0008 | 40% plus the 10% Case Study | 50 |
| III. The Professional Environment | 0009-0010 | 16% plus the 10% Work Product | 20 |
The ten objectives are:
- 0001 Human development and how to use it to support every student's development and learning
- 0002 Learning processes and the factors that affect learning
- 0003 Student differences and responsive, inclusive learning environments
- 0004 Assessment and its use in instruction
- 0005 Curriculum and instructional planning
- 0006 Instructional approaches
- 0007 Motivation and communication
- 0008 Classroom structure and management
- 0009 Partnerships with families, colleagues and the community
- 0010 Professional roles, legal and ethical responsibilities, and professional growth
Exam Tip: Domain II is half of the selected-response section and also contains the Case Study. If your study time is short, put it there first, but do not skip Domain III: questions on laws, ethics and family partnerships are some of the easiest points to earn with focused study.
How the Test Is Scored
Your selected-response score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly. There is no penalty for guessing, so answer every question. A few questions may be pilot items that do not count toward your score; you will not know which ones, so treat every question as scored.
Each written assignment is scored holistically on a 4-point scale by trained scorers. They look at three performance characteristics: Purpose (did you do what the assignment asked), Professional Knowledge (did you apply accurate, relevant knowledge of teaching and learning) and Rationale and Support (did you explain why, with specific, relevant reasoning). A response that is blank, off-topic, unreadable or mostly not your own work cannot be scored. The selected-response and constructed-response results are combined into one scaled score, and 220 is the passing score.
What Kinds of Questions to Expect
Most selected-response questions place you in a school situation. A sixth-grade teacher notices something, a team plans a unit, a parent raises a concern, and you choose the best action, the most likely outcome or the principle the teacher is applying. The rest test direct knowledge, such as a limitation of a type of test or the conditions that make intrinsic motivation most likely.
Many wrong answers are reasonable teaching practices that do not fit the exact situation. The detail that decides the question is often the student's developmental stage, a disability or language need, the lesson goal, or what should happen first.
Common Trap: Choosing the answer that sounds most impressive or most thorough. The best answer is the one that fits the specific student and goal in the question, often the simplest effective step.
What Happens After the Test
At a test center you receive a receipt of completion when you finish; online-proctored candidates do not. Official scores are released on published score report dates and are sent to you and to the institutions you chose when you registered. If you do not pass, you may retake the test after the waiting period stated in the OAE testing policies.
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