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Exam Overview
The APK Primary (PK-5) is a computer-based test. You can take it at a Pearson VUE test center year-round by appointment, or at home by online proctoring during one-week testing windows each month.
Key Facts About the OAE APK Primary (PK-5) Test
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | OAE Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Primary (PK-5) |
| Test code | Field 057 |
| Multiple-choice questions | 100, worth 80% of the score |
| Written assignments | 2: one Work Product (10%) and one Case Study (10%) |
| Answer choices | Four on every multiple-choice question |
| Testing time | 3 hours |
| Total appointment | 3 hours 15 minutes, including a 15-minute tutorial and nondisclosure agreement |
| Passing score | 220 (scaled score range 100 to 300) |
| Fee | $109 |
| Reference materials | None provided |
The Three Domains
The test framework groups ten competencies into three domains. The following table shows how much of the total score each domain carries.
Domains and Weights
| Domain | Competencies | Share of Total Score |
|---|---|---|
| I Child Development, Differences, and Learning | 0001 to 0003 | 24% multiple choice plus the Work Product (10%) |
| II Assessment, Instruction, and the Learning Environment | 0004 to 0008 | 40% multiple choice plus the Case Study (10%) |
| III The Professional Environment | 0009 to 0010 | 16% multiple choice |
Put another way, about 30 of the 100 multiple-choice questions come from Domain I, about 50 from Domain II and about 20 from Domain III. Domain II is the heart of the test: assessment, planning, instruction, motivation and classroom management together carry half of all multiple-choice questions plus a written assignment.
The Two Written Assignments
Each written assignment asks for a response of about 150 to 250 words, typed into a box on screen. You may not use reference materials.
Both are scored on a four-point scale for three qualities: purpose (how fully you complete the assignment), professional knowledge (how accurately and effectively you apply it) and rationale and support (how sound your reasoning is and how specific your support is). A response that is off topic, unreadable, mostly in another language or not your own work is unscorable, and a blank response earns no credit.
How the Test Is Scored
Your multiple-choice score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly, with no penalty for a wrong answer, so answer every question. A few questions may be unscored items being tried out for future tests, and you will not know which ones. Your multiple-choice and written scores combine into one scaled score from 100 to 300, and you pass with 220 or higher.
Your score report also shows a performance index for each domain, from four plus signs (well above the passing level) to one plus sign (well below it). These indices are useful for planning a retake but are based on different numbers of questions, so read them with care.
What Kinds of Questions to Expect
- Classroom scenarios, usually one to four sentences, ending with a question such as "Which of the following would be most effective?" or "The teacher should give highest priority to which of the following?"
- Short teacher-student dialogues, lists of teacher questions or descriptions of a graphic organizer, followed by a question about purpose or effectiveness
- Small data sets, such as a group's benchmark scores or a student's progress-monitoring points, asking for the best instructional decision
- Direct knowledge questions on child development theory, assessment terms, instructional models, Ohio standards documents, special education law, confidentiality and mandated reporting
Testing Options and Score Reports
At a test center, restroom breaks are allowed but the clock keeps running. Online, you test in one session with no breaks, so plan accordingly. Test-center candidates receive a receipt of completion at the end of the appointment. Official results are released on the score-report dates posted on the OAE website for each delivery mode, and the scores are sent to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and to any institution you named.
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