Here are two very important links to help with Assessment Center preparation:

• NCAE: Using your membership log identification number, you can access sample prompts created by the CTL staff at NCAE. These prompts will actually simulate the nature of the test questions, but are not actual questions that have been released.

• Illinois State University: National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Resource Center: This site includes Assessment preparation for each certificate area. Click on the area of certification and choose an exercise. It will then show additional resources to assist the candidate in preparation.

1. General Information from the Assessment Center Orientation Booklet (available online)

• http://www.nbpts.org
• Select “Candidate Resource Center”
• Select “Certificate Knowledge Center” (on left side of page in panel)
• Scroll through boxes to find appropriate certification area
• Select “Assessment Center Information” under the certificate area
• Four (4) sections appear:   “Check Fees and Forms,
                                            “View Exercise Description”
                                            “Make an Appointment"
                                            “Prep for Test Day”

2. TUTORIAL – A Must See and Do

• Complete first five (5) steps above
• When the four (4) sections appear under “Assessment Center Information,” select #4, “Prep for Test Day”
• Select “Take Tutorial”

3. Exercise Descriptions for your Assessment

• Complete first five (5) steps above
• Select #2, “View Exercise Descriptions”
• Select your certificate area and DOWNLOAD

4. Scoring Rubrics

• Complete first four (4) steps above
• Select “Scoring Guide” (PDF) for your certificate area—includes scoring materials for Portfolio entries and Assessment exercises, plus released Assessment Center Prompts
• Examine the score of a 4 and 2 for each AC prompt.

5. Retired Prompts from Assessment Center Exercises

• Complete first (4) steps above
• Select “Scoring Guide”
• Find “Table of Contents” (p. 3, perhaps)
• Find “Selected Assessment Center Exercises”—identify page locations.
• Go to appropriate pages and download the two (2) retired prompts. High value!!

A. Organize your study of the 6 areas given for your certificate in the Assessment Center Orientation link (linked from the Candidate Resource Center) on the national website (www.nbpts.org)

Make a table with the following information.  For each area (a) summarize the knowledge you are asked to show, (b) generate a list of study resources you can use to study the content, (c) generate 2-4 sample questions you might be asked (look at the phrasing of the guidelines), (d) identify the standards that pertain to the area, and (e) identify language from the standards that you can use as you respond to each area.
 
 

	Area 1	Area 2	Area 3	Area 4	Area 5	Area 6
Summary
Study Resources
Sample Questions
Standar & page #
Language from the standards

B. Take Notes.  Once you have completed the table and reviewed it with a peer, adding and changing where necessary, take study notes for each area.

• Use chart paper to chart responses to the questions you have asked.

• Indicate areas where you have questions or are unsure. Later you can go back to colleagues or resources to clarify or enlarge your thinking for the areas where you have questions.

• Be sure to identify the source for the information you are using in answering the questions. (e.g. a certain book, a certain standard, your experience).

• Do your best to limit the study notes to two chart papers for each area.  This should help you narrow down the studying to what’s important.

C. Make sure you are studying for the entire grade span of your certificate.  What does each area look like for each age group? Cluster the age group into groups of 2-3 years and make a table. For instance, for the Early Adolescent range, you might choose 11-12, 13-14, 15

Compare and Contrast: What does each area look like for each age group? (same/different)
 
 
 

D. Practice the online tutorial so that you are able to quickly move around the screen and know the test format, and so you can develop a strategy for attacking the test.

Practice:

• Moving around the screens/the program
• Understand that each sub question is linked to the scoring criteria given at the beginning of each section.
• Practice your pacing.  Understand that each section gets 30 minutes, and so if there are 3 scoring criteria, then there will most likely be 3 subsections.  That gives you approximately 8 minutes for each subsection, and 6 minutes to read the prompts total.
• Plan to summarize your points on each subsection before elaborating your answers on the first subsection.  You may not get to finish an answer to one entire section in 30 minutes.  You need to give assessors the chance to know your main ideas for each subsection in case you don’t finish in time.  A possible strategy is to write a topic sentence to each subsection.  Then go back and fill each section in with more thoroughness and depth.
• Don’t write an essay! This is not an essay test.  After your first sentence, feel free to use bullets (* or >) and lists as well as sentences to elaborate your answers.

• Take with you your Authorization to Test, two valid forms of ID, and your sheet barcode labels.
• Prior to the day of testing, know what you can take with you.  Read information on website.
• Prepare for distractions.  As a result of a staggered assessment schedules, people will be moving and taking breaks at different times.  Not all test takers will be NBCs
• Bring a snack in your bag to eat during the test breaks.  Don’t let low blood sugar be the reason you don’t do your best.
• If you don’t finish with the given time, your screen will freeze.  Don’t worry and don’t let this intimidate you.  Know it’s coming and when it happens, remain calm.
• If you struggle on one section, don’t’ let it paralyze you.  Each 30 minute exercise is worth 6.7 %
• For each question, make sure you’ve answered all the questions—all subsections.  Always go to the bottom of each area’s questions.