From the Back Cover
ARE YOU READY TO TEACH IN NEW MEXICO?
THEN USE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE ON THE MARKET TODAY. NMTA (New Mexico Teacher Assessments) Basic Skills Test (Field 01)
The Most Complete Subject Review
Everything you need to know for the NMTA (New Mexico Teacher Assessments) Basic Skills (Field 01) exam,
prepared by leading specialists in teacher education. Comprehensive review chapters cover all the subjects and skills tested on the NMTA Basic Skills Test.
The Best Practice Available
A full-length practice exam based on the official NMTA Basic Skills Test – balanced to include every topic and type of question you can expect on the actual exam.
Total Explanations of Questions & Answers
Our NMTA Basic Skills practice exam comes with detailed feedback on every question. We don’t just say which answers are right – but explain why the others are wrong, so you’ll be prepared on test day!
Proven Test-Prep Methods
REA’s focused NMTA content and practical advice have helped millions succeed on their exams. With our step-by-step plan, you can score high on the NMTA and get certified to teach in New Mexico!
Federal Guidelines for NCLB Compliance
You can expect that candidates with NCLB-compliant credentials will enjoy preferential status in hiring. In New Mexico, this means you need to pass the NMTA. Maximize your exam performance and master the NMTA with the unrivaled certification expertise that only REA can offer.
Get the World’s Most Advanced NMTA Software
REA’s New Mexico Teacher Assessments TestWare combines a realistic test environment with the most powerful scoring analysis and diagnostic tools available. With every practice test you take, you’ll gain knowledge and confidence for the real exam. Automatic scoring and instant reports help you zero in on the topics and types of questions that give you trouble now, so you’ll succeed on the NMTA!
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Introduction
With this book in hand, you've taken an important step toward becoming a certified teacher in the state of New Mexico. REA's all-new NMTA teacher certification test prep is designed to help you get into a New Mexico classroom. The instructive chapters in this book provide complete coverage of the NMTA Assessment of Teacher Basic Skills with in-depth reviews of every topic and area appearing on the exam. A full-length practice test carefully modeled after actual NMTA exams will hone your test-taking skills. All practice test answers are explained in thorough detail to provide you with a greater understanding of the exam's content and difficulty. When you finish preparing with this book, you will be well-equipped with all the knowledge, practice, and strategies needed to succeed on this important exam.
About the Test
What is the NMTA used for?
The New Mexico educator licensure system is based on the attainment and demonstration of competencies adopted by the Public Education Commission (PEC). The New Mexico Teacher Assessments (NMTA) are required for individuals seeking initial New Mexico licensure. Additional information about educator licenses and endorsements is available at the PED Website at http://www.ped.state.nm.us.
If you are applying for a New Mexico educator license for the first time, you must complete a fingerprint background check. Fingerprints must be taken by a law enforcement agency or other agency with staff trained to take fingerprints. You may request fingerprint cards by contacting the Educator Ethics Bureau at (505) 827-6649, or you may contact a local school district.
Am I required to take this test if I hold a teaching certificate from another state?
You may be allowed New Mexico teacher licensure under the state's reciprocity option. First you must possess a bachelor's and/or master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. You must also possess a valid, standard certificate/license from another state, and can provide proof of passage of a teacher competency exam for that out-of-state license, or you can provide evidence of having satisfactorily taught under that out-of-state license. For online information about this option, visit the New Mexico Public Education's Professional Licensure Unit at www.sde.state.nm.us/div/ais/lic.
How is the test content determined?
The New Mexico Staff Accountability Plan of 1981 mandated assessment as part of the state's teacher licensure requirements. In response to this mandate, the State of New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) selected National Evaluation Systems, Inc. (NES) to fulfill the requirements for a testing program by developing and administering the NMTA. The purpose of the NMTA is to help identify candidates for licensure who have demonstrated the level of knowledge and skills that is important in performing the job of a teacher in New Mexico public schools.
The NMTA test addresses areas covered by the Public Education Department Teacher Competencies and Indicators and other state policy documentation. The test is criterion-referenced and competency-based. A criterion-referenced test is designed to measure a candidate's knowledge and skills in relation to an established standard rather than in relation to the performance of other candidates.
Test questions are developed using educational materials relevant to New Mexico, including textbooks, New Mexico's curriculum frameworks, teacher education curricula, and licensure standards. The questions are reviewed by committees of New Mexico's teachers, teacher educators, and other content and assessment specialists.
Who administers the NMTA?
The NMTA is administered by National Evaluation Systems (http://www.nmta.nesinc.com). NES is one of the largest testing firms in the United States.
When is the NMTA test offered? How long is the testing time?
The NMTA test is offered five times a year. Each test administration consists of two sessions: a morning session beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at approximately 12:30 p.m., and an afternoon session beginning at 1 p.m. and ending at approximately 5:30 p.m. For current information about scheduling and test sessions, see the most recent version of the New Mexico Teacher Assessments Registration Bulletin.
Additional information is available from the New Mexico Public Education Department, to which NES is under contract. The department can be contacted as follows:
New Mexico Public Education Department
300 Don Gaspar
Santa Fe, NM 87501-2786
Phone: (505) 827-5800
Website: www.ped.state.nm.us
Is there a registration fee?
Yes. In fact, there are several fees. Additional service fees are added for late registration, emergency registration, and changes in registration. Check with NES for fees and payment options.
How to Use this Book
What do I study first?
We recommend beginning your study with the comprehensive chapter reviews. It is important to read over each review, noting crucial test-taking suggestions and insights. By studying each review thoroughly, you will reinforce basic skills that are vital to performing well on the NMTA. After reviewing, take the practice test. This is the best way to acquaint yourself with the actual exam's format, procedures, and level of difficulty. An added bonus to taking these practice tests is knowing what to expect on exam day.
Wisely scheduling your study time is also a key component to your success on the NMTA. To best utilize your study time, follow our flexible NMTA study schedule at the end of this chapter. The schedule is based ideally on a seven-week program, but can be condensed if needed.
When should I start studying for the NMTA test?
It is never too early to start studying for your NMTA test. Time is your ally here. The earlier you begin, the more time you will have to sharpen your skills and focus your efforts. Do not procrastinate! Cramming is not an effective way to study, since it does not allow you enough time to learn what will be required of you. It takes time to learn the tested areas and test format. Make the most of your time while you have it. Use it well to master the essentials necessary to pass.
Format of the NMTA test
What is the basic format of the NMTA?
The NMTA is designed to measure fundamental communication and mathematical skills that the state of New Mexico requires of its classroom teachers. To do this, the NMTA assesses three broad areas of knowledge and skills: Reading Comprehension, Written Communication, and Mathematics. The entire test contains a total of 100 selected-response (multiple-choice) questions and one constructed-response assignment. Selected-response questions provide you with four answer choices. The constructed-response assignment is a written essay of 300-600 words on the assigned topic. Your essay will be evaluated on the following criteria:
o The extent to which you address the topic and your appropriate use of language and style.
o The clarity with which you state and maintain your main idea or point of view.
o The clarity of your writing and the logical sequence of your ideas.
o Your use of depth and specificity involving supporting details.
o Effective use of sentence structure, punctuation, spelling, and grammar usage. Errors here will count against you.
About the Subject Reviews
The subject reviews in this book are designed purposefully to provide you critical insight into the content and form of the NMTA. For smarter study, we break down this part of test preparation into more manageable "chunks." Before you begin reviewing, it is important to note that your own schooling experience has taught you most of what is needed to answer the questions on the actual NMTA. Our review is written to help you fit and shape information acquired over the years into a context ideally suited for taking the NMTA.
You may also be taking test preparation classes for the NMTA or have purchased other study guides and textbooks. Reviewing class notes and textbooks along with our subject reviews will provide you with an even better foundation for passing the NMTA.
Scoring the NMTA
Your results for your NMTA are reported using a score range of 100 to 300. A scaled total test score of 240 represents the scaled minimum passing score for the test. Subareas of your test will have different numbers of test questions depending on the subject. It is not possible to average your performance across subareas to arrive at the total test score. Your total test score is based on the total number of test questions you answered correctly. You do not lose any points for wrong answers. Each selected-response question counts the same toward the total test score. You do not have to pass a test's subarea to meet the minimum passing score.
The constructed-response assignment is scored by at least two qualified educators with relevant professional backgrounds. The scorers receive extensive training in standardized scoring procedures and take a qualifying assessment to ensure they are up to the task. A score is assigned based on a scale that describes various levels of performance. Scorers judge the knowledge and skills contained in each response while focusing on a set of characters as defined by New Mexico educators. If a candidate's response is blank, unrelated to the assigned topic, of insufficient length, illegible or incomprehensible, written in any language other than English, or otherwise unscorable, the candidate will receive a score of "U" (unscorable) and may not pass the test. The score for the constructed-response assignment is converted to a scale of 100 to 300, with 240 or above representing acceptable performance.
Unofficial scores for the NMTA test will be available on the Internet by 4 p.m. MT on the official examinee score report mailing date. Refer to the test registration schedule on the back cover of the NMTA Registration Bulletin for further information. Unofficial scores are available ...
