The NYSTCE Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills (NYSTCE ATAS) is the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) for accrediting teaching assistants seeking licensure. The exam covers Reading, Writing, Math, and Instructional Support. The exam evaluates the candidate's ability to assist classroom teachers in instructional interest and expertise. The NYSTCE ATAS also measures the core areas of subject matter expertise that teaching assistants must possess to provide instructional support.
How Long Is the NYSTCE ATAS?
The NYSTCE Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills (ATAS) 095 test is three hours long, and each subtest portion of the exam takes up a different contribution of the testing time allotted. The actual testing time for each section may also vary depending on the level of difficulty of the questions comprised in each section, and the prospective teaching assistant's level of skill in that section. Furthermore, there is no specific allotted time for each sub-portion of the exam, so examinees may complete them at their own pace, bearing in mind to allocate time to complete each section.
NYSTCE ATAS Exam Format
The NYSTCE Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills (ATAS) consists of 100 questions broken down into Reading, Writing, Math and Instructional Support subsections, each consisting of 27 questions except for the Instructional Support section, which consists of 19. Each of the four subsections constitutes the core subject areas required of prospective teaching assistants in the State of New York.
The material covered by each subsection consists of the following:
Reading
Determine appropriate word choice and meaning based on usage and context
Reading comprehension
Interpretation of information presented in graphical and tabular form
Writing
Demonstrate knowledge of parts of speech, such as verbs, pronouns, and modifiers, including adjectives and adverbs
Identify the appropriate use of parts of speech in a sentence, including subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage, and modifier usage
Understanding of correct sentence structure and punctuation
Appropriate usage of spelling and grammar
Math
Knowledge of basic number concepts, such as decimal placement, units of measurement and estimating measurements in word or graphical problems
Demonstrate facility with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
Knowledge of higher-level math concepts such as fractions, percentages, and conversions between them
Instructional Support
Demonstrate knowledge of learning strategies to support students in reading through repetition, instructional aids such as dictionaries and online resources, reading comprehension strategies such as content skimming, review and summary, and appropriate evaluation and assessment to gauge the success of these strategies.
Understanding of appropriate tools and resources to assist students in improving writing skills, such as reviewing work before submission, the use of dictionaries and library supports, writing for clarity and precision and the means to evaluate the success of strategies employed by teaching assistants to support classroom educators in improving writing among their students.
Knowledge of skills to demonstrate the practical application of mathematics in everyday life, reviewing mathematical problems for common errors to enhance learning through repetition and review, the use of instructional aids, such as rulers, calculators, etc., and the use of tools to evaluate and assess the application of these strategies by teaching assistants in support of classroom instructors' mathematics instruction.
NYSTCE ATAS Passing Score
To pass the NYSTCE ATAS exam, prospective teaching assistants must achieve a minimum scaled score of 220 across a range of possible scores from 100 to 300.
The scores are then reported as either a "Pass" or a "Did Not Pass". Scores are also provided for sub-portion performance to enable examinees to review their total test performance, but should not be interpreted on a pass/fail basis, as with the total test score.
Candidates will have to wait for their NYSTCE score report dates to see their official scores, however, upon completing the test, examinees may get a chance to review their preliminary scores. Scores will be available to examinees in their NYSTCE accounts for a total of two years.
NYSTCE ATAS Exam Logistics
The assessment of teaching skills for prospective teaching assistants seeking licensure through the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations can be taken up to one year following exam registration. The exam may be taken on Mondays through Saturdays year-round at Pearson testing center locations throughout the state of New York and throughout the nation as well. Examinees may go to the NYSTCE website for NYSTCE registration. The time of the test will be provided upon successful registration for the NYSTCE ATAS test.
Registering for the NYSTCE ATAS
Anyone is eligible to take the NYSTCE test for teaching assistants. However, it is the credentialing certification exam for prospective teaching assistants seeking licensure in the State of New York, so it is the most appropriate exam for that audience. Prospective teaching assistants may register for the exam on the website of the New York State Teacher Certifications Examinations for a fee of $54. Examinees seeking to register for the NYSTCE ATAS test should also check with their school district or educator licensing agency to learn of any additional requirements that may be necessary for exam registration.
If a test taker wishes to cancel their registration, they may do so by visiting their account on the NYSTCE website, no later than 24 hours in advance of the exam time and then follow the provided instructions to withdraw their registration. As of August 31, 2021, test takers who withdraw their registration in this manner, are eligible for full reimbursement of registration fees.
Test Day Policies
To be admitted into the testing center on exam day, examinees are required to bring with them a government-issued ID displaying their photograph and signature, such as an unexpired driver's license or passport.
Some accommodations are provided on test day without prior approval for examinees who need them, such as wheelchair access, enlarged font, and medication breaks, but other special accommodations for those with NYSTCE students with disabilities or mothers who are nursing, must be requested in advance with the appropriate documentation. If accommodations are not available at a given site, instruction will be provided at NYSTCE test sites where they are available.
Generally speaking, the list of items that a test taker may bring with them into the testing center is very limited. However, test takers may bring certain items to the testing center, but they must be stored in a locked storage area provided on-site or in one's vehicle; they are not necessarily allowed into the testing room. Examinees should also keep in mind that available storage space may be limited. And those items are as follows:
Cell phones
Jewelry, wallets, or purses
Calculators
Food and drink
Written materials of any kind
Headwear
Testing aids not preapproved or required by the testing site
Prohibited items include:
Tobacco products of any kind
Visitors
Any type of weaponry
While this list is comprehensive of most items that a test taker can't bring on test day, it's not necessarily complete, and examinees should communicate with their testing center in advance should they have any questions.
Exam Preparation
Finally, among the best strategies a test taker can use to prepare for the NYSTCE test for teaching assistant certification is to give oneself plenty of time in advance to prepare. Since test takers have up to one year to take the exam after registering, this should give test takers enough time to prepare for the exam. However, the best strategy is to have confidence. By utilizing the best NYSTCE practice test and study guides for one's test and the resources such as flashcards, prospective teaching assistants are sure to achieve the best possible score on the exam.
NYSTCE ATAS Study Guide
Fortunately, many resources are available to aid a prospective teaching assistant in preparing for the NYSTCE assessment of teaching assistant skills (ATAS) 095 test. Among these is access to a good NYSTCE ATAS study guide, such as the preparation guide made available at no cost through various websites. Additional study guides are also available for a fee online. These study guides cover the content that will be on the exam as well as the format. Study guides also usually include study strategies that can help examinees prepare for test day.
NYSTCE ATAS (095) Practice Test
Taking advantage of NYSTCE Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills practice tests enables a prospective teaching assistant to directly review the material covered by the exam, while also measuring their progress on reviewing the material over time. This allows a test taker to prioritize areas where further preparation is needed. As with finding a good NYSTCE study guide, test takers can also gain access to helpful and comprehensive NYSTCE ATAS practice tests online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What preparation materials are available for ATAS?
Preparation for the NYSTCE ATAS is painless if one takes advantage of the appropriate tools and resources. Thankfully, resources like study guides and practice tests are available to make preparation easy. Candidates can also take advantage of study groups, tutors, and flashcards to help prepare for the exam.
How do I become a teacher's aide in NY?
In order to become a teacher's aide in the State of New York, prospective teaching assistants must gain licensure through the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills exam, the NYSTCE ATAS. Prospective teaching assistants must achieve a passing score of 220 on a graded scale in order to support classroom educators in public schools in the State of New York.
What is on the ATAS test?
The New York State Teacher Certification Examinations Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills exam consists four primary subsections: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, and Instructional Support. Each section covers skills deemed essential for teaching assistance to possess.
How many questions are on the ATAS?
The NYSTCE ATAS exam consists of a 100 questions across four subsections, including Reading, Writing, Mathematics and Instructional Support. The four individual subsections each consist of 27 questions, except for the Instructional Support subsection, which consists of 19 questions.
What is on the ATSW exam?
The New York State Teacher Certification Examinations Assessment of Teaching Skills- Written (ATSW) exam complements the NYSTCE ATAS exam and consists of 80 questions. It is composed of both multiple choice and one constructed response question.
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