Washington Educator Skills Test–Basic (WEST–B) Home Page

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2007–2008
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Program Overview

In 2000 the Washington State Legislature passed HB 2760, which created the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB). In addition to its authority and responsibilities related to high standards for Washington educators, the PESB has authority for assessing the basic skills and content knowledge of prospective teachers applying to educator preparation programs and applicants for residency certification in Washington State.

Before Registering to Test
After Registering to Test
The Day of the Test
Scores and Score Reporting
Alternative Testing Arrangements
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Question Why do we need a basic skills test?
Answer As Washington established higher standards for what all students should know and be able to do, more is required of our teachers as well. Although all of our state-approved higher education teacher preparation programs have basic skills requirements for admission to their programs, these requirements vary considerably. The governor, legislature, state board of education, and superintendent of public instruction proposed establishing a single, uniform means of assessing basic skills competency of all teaching candidates statewide.
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Question Why was the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) given this responsibility?
Answer The PESB is composed primarily of education practitioners, including teachers, administrators, educational staff associates, and representatives from higher education teacher training programs, committed to upholding the highest standards for education professionals. As a board of some of our state's finest educators, they understand well what it takes to be a good teacher and are therefore best positioned to determine what is appropriate with regard to assessing the basic skills required to teach in Washington State.
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Question What do the results tell us?
Answer Primarily, the results tell us whether an individual meets the state-established level of basic skills competency required of teachers to be certified. This provides the public with assurance that all teachers have basic skills in reading, mathematics, and writing needed to teach in Washington schools. The results also provide us with insight into the caliber of individuals who wish to pursue teaching in Washington.
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Question Who set the passing score? How was it set?
Answer Legislation authorizes the Professional Educator Standards Board to set the passing score on the assessments for prospective teachers. The PESB established a standards-setting process to get recommendations from Washington educators regarding an appropriate passing score. Through this process educators examined the content of the test, the difficulty of the questions, and the examinees' performance to determine the level of performance needed to pass the basic skills test. With the benefit of this recommendation, the Board set a passing score.
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Question What if someone doesn't pass the test?
Answer On a case-by-case basis, higher education educator preparation programs may admit individuals who have not achieved the minimum passing scores on the basic skills assessment; however, most institutions require passage of all three subtests of the assessment before the field experience. Also, they will not receive residency certification until they pass all three subtests. Applicants for a residency teaching certificate must achieve the minimum passing score or meet one of the criteria for exemption from the test. Individuals will also have unlimited opportunities to retake one, two, or all three subtests.
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Question After I have passed the Reading, Mathematics, and Writing subtests on the WEST–B, will I have to take the test again?
Answer At this time there is no expiration date for WEST–B scores. Once a candidate has achieved a passing score on each of the three subtests (Reading, Mathematics, and Writing), the candidate has met the WEST–B requirement for teacher certification in Washington State.
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BEFORE REGISTERING TO TEST
Question Who is required to test?
Answer See "Who Is Required to Take the Test?" for information about who is required to test.
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Question Where can I find materials that will help me prepare to test?
Answer See "Preparing for the Test" for information about where you can find test-preparation materials.
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Question When can I test?
Answer See "Test Dates" for a list of available test dates and their corresponding registration deadlines. See "Test Sites" for details about test area availability on each test date. (A particular test area may not be available on a particular test date.)
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Question Where can I test?
Answer See "Test Sites" for a list of test areas and for details about test date availability for each test area. (A particular test date may not be available for a particular test area.)
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Question What are the test fees, and what methods of payment are acceptable?
Answer See "Test Fees and Payment Policies" for a complete list of test fees and any related service fees and for information about acceptable methods of payment and the policies that apply to the processing of your payment.
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Question How do I register to test?
Answer See "Registration Options" for an overview of the various registration methods available to you and for information about when you may use each method to register.
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Question How do I register for the test if I don't have a social security number?
Answer Please call NES at (800) 784-4999 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific time, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
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Question At what times are tests administered, and how much time will I have to test?
Answer See "Test Selection" for test session reporting and dismissal times and test session length.
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Question If I test on one date and do not receive my test scores until after the regular registration deadline for the next test date, am I then required to pay the late or emergency registration fee when I register to take the test again on that next test date?
Answer See the "Testing on Consecutive Test Dates" section in "Test Fees and Payment Policies" for details about conditions under which you may not be required to pay the late registration fee when registering to test on consecutive test dates.
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AFTER REGISTERING TO TEST
Question How do I confirm my registration?
Answer

The way in which your registration is confirmed depends on the method that you used to register to test.

  • If you registered on the Internet, you will receive your admission ticket by e-mail after your registration has been processed and you have been assigned to a specific test site.
  • If you registered by U.S. mail or by telephone, you will receive your admission ticket by U.S. mail after your registration has been processed and you have been assigned to a specific test site.
To confirm your registration status, select "Confirm or Modify Registration" at the top of this Web page and follow the instructions provided. You will be required to provide your date of birth and your ID number (found on your admission ticket and/or e-mail registration confirmation) to view your registration information.

See "Confirming Your Registration" for more information about how to confirm your registration status and what to do if you are unable to confirm your registration status.
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Question How do I change my registration?
Answer See "Changing Your Registration" for details about how and when you may change your registration (e.g., your test date, your test area) or withdraw your registration and how to correct or update personal information that appears on your admission ticket (e.g., your mailing address).
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Question I did not receive an admission ticket. What should I do?
Answer If you know your WEST–B ID number, select "Confirm or Modify Registration" to confirm your registration status and request another copy of your admission ticket. You may request that the copy be sent by e-mail or by U.S. mail and e-mail. If you are unable to receive a copy of your admission ticket before your test date, you may use this service to print the admission information you need to bring to the test site to be admitted to the test administration.

If you do not know your WEST–B ID number, contact NES (see "Contact Information").
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Question I lost my admission ticket. May I still be admitted to the test site without it?
Answer Yes, you may still be admitted to the test site and permitted to test. However, you may first be required to complete additional paperwork, which could reduce your available testing time. See "What to Bring to the Test Site" for details about what you may be required to do or provide at the test site if you do not have your admission ticket.

If you know your WEST–B ID number, you may request another copy of your admission ticket online by selecting "Confirm or Modify Registration." If you are unable to receive a copy of your admission ticket before your test date, you may use this service to print the admission information you need to bring to the test site to be admitted to the test administration.
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Question My name has recently changed and now does not match the name that appears on my identification. What should I do?
Answer See the identification policy in "What to Bring to the Test Site" for details about what you may be required to do or provide at the test site if the name on your identification differs from the name in which you registered.
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Question Will I be permitted to use a calculator on the test?
Answer You are not permitted to use a calculator for the test. See "Test Site Rules" for complete information about unauthorized aids and prohibited materials at the test site.
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THE DAY OF THE TEST
Question I was absent from the test administration. Will I receive a refund?
Answer If you are absent, you will not receive a refund or credit of any kind. You will need to register and pay again to test at a future administration.
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Question If, after testing, I would like to submit a comment about my testing experience, how should I do that?
Answer If you have comments about the test site or the conditions under which you took a test, please submit your comments in a letter sent to National Evaluation Systems (NES) at the address indicated in "Contact Information." Your letter should be received by NES no later than seven days after your test date.
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SCORES AND SCORE REPORTING
Question When will my scores be available?
Answer See "Test Dates" for an overview of test dates and their corresponding score report dates. See "Release of Your Test Scores" for details about different ways in which your scores are made available to you. For instance, your unofficial scores are available on the Internet for a two-week posting period, but you must provide your date of birth and ID number (found on your admission ticket and/or e-mail registration confirmation) to access them, and for security reasons, you may view them only once. Your official score report is sent to you by U.S. mail. Unofficial scores are not an acceptable substitute for an official score report. See "Score Reporting" for more information.
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Question Will I be able to access my unofficial scores on the Internet without my ID number?
Answer No. If you do not have your ID number (found on your admission ticket and/or e-mail registration confirmation), you will not be able to access your unofficial scores on the Internet. In addition, for security reasons, you will not be provided with your ID number upon request by telephone or e-mail after the test administration. Your official score report will be sent to you by U.S. mail.
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Question How are tests scored, and how do I read my official score report?
Answer You will receive with your official score report an explanation of how to read and interpret your scores. Also, you may access details about how to read and interpret your scores by selecting "Score Reporting" at the top of this Web page. In addition, see "WEST–B Passing Requirements" for information about test design and how passing scores or standards for the test are established.
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Question May I request that my test score be verified?
Answer Yes. See "Requesting a Score Verification" for complete information about available score verification services.
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Question May I request additional copies of my scores?
Answer Yes. See "Requesting Additional Copies of Your Test Results" for complete information about how to request additional copies of your scores.
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ALTERNATIVE TESTING ARRANGEMENTS
Question How do I request alternative testing arrangements for a disability?
Answer See "Registering for Alternative Testing Arrangements" for complete information about how to submit a request for alternative testing arrangements for a disability (physical or other than physical).
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Question May I submit my request for alternative testing arrangements on the Internet?
Answer No. If you register on the Internet, you will need to submit by fax or U.S. mail, after completing your registration on the Internet, your Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form and any required documentation. If you register by U.S. mail, your Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form and any required documentation should be submitted with your registration materials. See "Registering for Alternative Testing Arrangements" for additional important information about how to request alternative testing arrangements.
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Question May I still request alternative testing arrangements after the regular registration deadline?
Answer Yes. However, because of the time that it takes to review requests adequately, and because of test-site and staffing constraints, there is no assurance that requests received after the regular registration deadline can be accommodated.
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Question The last time that I tested, my request for alternative testing arrangements was granted. Do I need to submit the paperwork again each time I register?
Answer You must complete and submit an Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form each time that you register. However, if you submit all required documentation the first time that you request alternative testing arrangements, this documentation will be kept on file for one year. So, if you register for subsequent test dates during that year, you need only submit your registration, correct payment, and a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form as long as your disability and the recommended accommodations have not changed.
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Question May I submit a request to test on an alternative test date for religious reasons?
Answer See the "Registering for an Alternative Test Date for Religious Reasons" section in "Registering for Alternative Testing Arrangements" for complete information about how to register for an alternative test date for religious reasons.
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