1. The resources for this candidate support has been created and provided by CERRA utilizing materials from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. No materials or resources may be used for profit by an individual or an organization. Additionally, all facilitators should adhere to the ethical guidelines for supporting candidates found at 1

2. National Board Cohort
Meeting Seven

3. Preparing for the Assessment Center:
Component One
Candidate Support Providers should access the resources (videos and printable materials) at
Any slide with yellow and gray bands at the top came directly from NBPTS. Please be sure to give NBPTS credit for these slides.

4. Essential Questions How do I schedule my assessment?
What are the policies and procedures at the assessment center?
How can I prepare for the assessment center?
What questions will be asked at the assessment center?
What resources do I have available to help me?

5. Round the Room and Back Again!
Make a list of everything you know or you have heard about the assessment center.
To help candidates feel more comfortable about what they know or have heard about the assessment center you may conduct this activity or you have the option of conducting Activity 1.2. You do not need to conduct both activities.
The next few slides will help you as you guide participants in this activity. Use the WS9.A1.1 document to help conduct this activity.

6. Round the Room… Set your writing aside. Move around the room.
Share what you know or have heard.
Hear what others know or have heard.
When you can’t remember any more, or when time is called, return to your seat.
List as many ideas as you can remember.

7. And Back Again! Talk in small groups.
Share lists and add new ideas or information to your list.
Which ideas or comments seem to be the most important to remember?
What ideas or comments may need more clarification?

8. Discussion What ideas or comments were heard frequently?
What ideas or comments seemed the most ambiguous?
What items require more clarification?
What steps must you take to be successful at the assessment center?
What new learning do you have about the assessment center?

9. An Overview from NBPTS
You are asked to demonstrate knowledge of and pedagogical practices for teaching in your NB content area.
You must demonstrate knowledge of developmentally appropriate content, which is necessary for teaching across the full age range and ability level of your chosen certificate area. Note, this means that you can be assessed across the entire developmental range for your certificate.
This is assessed through the completion of three constructed response exercises and approximately 45 selected response items.

10. Before Scheduling Your Appointment
Review your “Authorization to Test” (ATT) received via .
Confirm that the information (name, address, NB ID number, certificate area, and possibly a specialty area) on your ATT is correct. Your first and last name must be exactly the same as your photo ID.
If you must make changes, refer to the instructions on page 3 of the “2017 Component 1: Content Knowledge Assessment Center Policy and Guidelines” book available on the NB website.
Don’t schedule assessment until the ATT is correct.
NBPTS will send the ATT after the full assessment fee payment deadline.
You must confirm that the information on the ATT is correct. First and last name must match your photo id exactly.
Verify that the specialist area for your certificate (if applicable) is correct. CTE, English as a New Language, Exceptional Needs Specialist, and AYA Science candidates should have a specialty area.

11. Before Scheduling Cont.
If you need accommodations, all requests must be preapproved.
Schedule your appointment as far in advance as possible. May and June months fill quickly.
The Request for Testing Accommodations form is available at:
The Request for Testing Accommodations form must be received by April 1 of the testing year for assessment center exercises.
Assessment Center appointments may be scheduled as late as 24 hours (one business day) in advance.

12. Schedule your Appointment
Online:
By phone:
Make sure you have your ATT in hand.
Add two leading zeros to your 8-digit NB ID#.
Determine 1st and 2nd choice testing centers beforehand.
You’ll receive a confirmation letter that includes the date and time of the assessment as well as directions to the Pearson site ( or snail mail). Check for correctness.
Visit the Pearson Vue website to view available testing centers.
Be sure to include the 2 zeros before your candidate id number and give your name exactly as it is written on ATT. For example, if the ID number is , the candidate will need to use
If an address was given the confirmation will be ed. Check letter – call Pearson with discrepancies.

13. Special Considerations
Testing Accommodations
Wait until you receive your confirmation of testing accommodations. Pearson will send a letter detailing the status of your requests.
You must call to schedule your appointment and ask to speak with Accommodations Program Coordinator.
The testing accommodations form is due April 1.

14. Changing/Canceling Appointments
Pearson website ( or by phone
Deadline is one business day (24 hours) prior to the assessment.
Penalties
Fail to test
Deferment
Withdrawal
Reschedule your appointment within your authorized testing window.
You must reschedule during the current testing window.
If you do not cancel 24 hours in advance – forfeit authorization to test, Customer Support at for reinstatement, charged $175 paid within 30 days. Once a candidate has been reinstated, they can register with Pearson Vue.
If you fail to test during the current cycle you will either forfeit the fees paid and will receive an NS (not scoreable) on your score report for Component 1. This assessment year will still count towards your five-year window to pursue certification and you will be required to pay to retake the component.

15. Test Day Arrive 30 minutes early. Dress in layers.
Sign “National Board Candidate Rules Agreement and Non-Disclosure Agreement”
Security – show photo ID, digital signature, photographed, palm vein scan.
Some candidates (EA/AYA Math and EAYA/EMC Music) will record some responses in a response booklet.
Response booklet, pencil, and erasable note board are provided.
Online scientific calculator provided for math and science candidates.
More than 30 minutes late – will not be admitted and will be considered absent.
The language for the “National Board Candidate Rules Agreement and Non-Disclosure Agreement” can be found at the end of the “Assessment Center Policy and Guidelines” document. If you do not sign this document, you will not be allowed to test. Candidates are encouraged to read the information about this document before going to the assessment center.
Security – identification purposes only
Accepted ID – (all non-expired) driver’s license, passport, state ID, national ID, military ID, alien registration card (all photograph and signature). Minor changes in name may be accepted with legal documents such as a marriage certificate.
Be prepared to lock up watches, purses, cell phones, etc. No notes allowed.
Follow onscreen instructions for response books
Always confirm that you have been given the correct response book

16. Testing Schedule Nondisclosure Agreement 5 minutes
Computer tutorial minutes
Selected Response Items minutes*
BREAK minutes
First Constructed Response minutes
Second Constructed Response minutes
Third Constructed Response minutes
* Some certificate areas will have 75 minutes for Selected Response Items
Candidates should also view the Assessment Center Policy and Guidelines documents. These documents can be found at:
Candidates are responsible for monitoring their own break time. The scheduled break is timed by the computer. If the candidate takes longer than the 10 minutes allotted, the time is deducted from the next exercise.
If you leave the testing room for any reason, you will have an electronic palm vein scan completed before leaving and upon your return.

17. Selected Response Items (SRIs)
Selected response items are multiple choice questions with four answer choices.
There will be a clock in the upper right corner of the screen to help you pace yourself.
Number of prompts displayed in right corner of screen (ex. 1 of 45) to help you monitor/pace.
You are not penalized for guessing.
Clock shows remaining time for exercise
The Navigator screen will display a list of the question numbers, the status of each question (i.e. incomplete, complete, unseen), and the questions you have flagged for review. You are not penalized for using the Navigator to view or answer SRIs out of order.
For mathematics and science exams, a scientific calculator will appear when you click on the calculator icon.

18. Selected Response Items Cont.
You can move to any question of the exam by using the Navigator button.
You can flag questions you may want to return to later by clicking the Flag for Review button.
For math and science exams, a scientific calculator is available on the screen.
Clock shows remaining time for exercise
The Navigator screen will display a list of the question numbers, the status of each question (i.e. incomplete, complete, unseen), and the questions you have flagged for review. You are not penalized for using the Navigator to view or answer SRIs out of order.
For mathematics and science exams, a scientific calculator will appear when you click on the calculator icon.

19. Constructed Response (CR) Exercises
There will be 3 exercises.
Each exercise will consist of one or more prompts or questions.
The number of prompts is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen (i.e. Prompt 1 of 3).
You may minimize the time remaining until only five minutes remain. At that point, the clock stays visible.
If there is a single-response prompt, the display will read “1 of 1.” For multiple prompts, the display will read “Prompts 1 of 4,” “Prompts 2 of 4,” and so on.

20. Constructed Response, cont.
The constructed response exercises are designed to elicit evidence of your content knowledge related to the focus of the exercise.
A scenario or student profile may be presented for you to consider before you respond.
The exercise may ask you to provide a specific number of examples as part of your response.
Provide depth and quality in your response.
Only submit the number of examples requested because scoring assessors will only evaluate the number requested.

21. Responding to Prompts
Before writing, read the entire descriptor, scrolling down to read all its parts initially.
Respond to all of the questions.
Stay focused; avoid getting off topic.
Write concisely, keeping aware of the time.

22. Scoring (SRIs) Selected response items are machine scored.
One point is awarded for a correct answer and zero points for an incorrect answer.
There are five interspersed field test items that do not contribute to your score.
The number of scoreable items answered correctly will be converted to and reported as a score between 0 and 4.25.

23. Scoring (CR)
Constructed response items are scored by trained assessors.
NBPTS uses a 12-point score scale for all constructed response items.
The score scale is based on four primary levels of performance (Levels 4, 3, 2, and 1), with plus (+) and minus (–) variations at each level.
The assigned scores correlate to the performance standard for National Board Certification as follows:
The highest assigned score for a constructed response item or a portfolio component is 4.25 (4+).
The lowest assigned score for a constructed response item or a portfolio component is 0.75 (1–); however, a score of zero is possible (see “Score Designations of ‘0’ and ‘NS’” in this document).
Level 4 and Level 3 performances represent accomplished teaching practice.
Level 2 and Level 1 performances represent less-than-accomplished teaching practice

24. Clear, consistent, and convincing
Scoring (CR) Cont.
Rubric Levels
Score Range
Quality of Evidence
Level 4
3.75–4.25
Clear, consistent, and convincing
Level 3
2.75–3.25
Clear
Level 2
1.75–2.25
Limited
Level 1
0.75–1.25
Little or no
Score Designations of “0” and “NS” If the space on your score report for a score assigned to a constructed response item or a portfolio component displays a “0” (zero), then one or more of the following applies:
For a constructed response item, your submitted response did not meet the requirements to receive the minimum score of 0.75 on a constructed response item.
If the space on your score report for a score assigned to a constructed response item or a portfolio component displays the “NS” (not scorable) designation, then one of the following may apply:
For a constructed response item,
-you did not schedule or attend your assessment center testing appointment.
-you did not open the selected response part of the exam and did not attempt any of the items.
-you did not open a constructed response item and did not view any prompts in the item.
-you were suspected of plagiarism or cheating.

25. How to Prepare
Review exercise descriptions and sample exercises in the Component One instructions found at
The Component One instructions include a scoring rubric.
Review Assessment Center Policies and Guidelines.
Review your Certificate Standards.
Use the tools on Pearson VUE website

26. Other Materials to Help with Preparation
Textbooks (students’ texts and teachers’ manuals)
Websites
Professional journals
Resources recommended by other educators
Other professionals

27. Dissect the Assessment Center Descriptions
Find the Assessment Center exercise description in the Component One: Content Knowledge At A Glance document.
Highlight key words or phrases in each description.
Identify applicable words or elements from NB standards.
What do I already know/do that I can use for this exercise?
What do I need to research or learn more about for this exercise?
What resources are available to me?
This slide is included as a way to introduce the activity. Presenters should model this work using the next two slides before asking the participants to engage in this activity.

28. Examples
In this exercise, you will use your knowledge of English language arts to identify literary genres and to analyze the connection between an author's choices and use of literary devices and meaning. You will discuss the genre, its purpose, and the theme and how the author's choices and use of literary devices affect the meaning of the text.
(Early Adolescence English/Language Arts – Component One – Constructed Response)
Presenters should use this as a model.
Early Adolescence English/Language Arts – Component One – Constructed Response)
Highlight key words or phrases in each description -
Identify applicable words or elements from NB standards – multiple teaching strategies
What do I already know/do that I can use for this exercise?
What do I need to research or learn more about for this exercise?
What resources are available to me?

29. Examples
In this exercise, you will use your content and pedagogical knowledge of math to identify a major math misconception or error in a given student's work, identify appropriate concepts/skills needed for the student to solve a problem accurately, provide an instructional strategy to address the student's misconception or error, and provide a rationale for the strategy.
(Early Childhood/Generalist – Component One – Constructed Response)
Presenters should use this as a model.
Early Adolescence English/Language Arts – Component One – Constructed Response)
Highlight key words or phrases in each description -
Identify applicable words or elements from NB standards – multiple teaching strategies
What do I already know/do that I can use for this exercise?
What do I need to research or learn more about for this exercise?
What resources are available to me?

30. Dissect the Assessment Center Descriptions
Find the Assessment Center exercise description in the Component One: Content Knowledge At A Glance document.
Highlight key words or phrases in each description.
Identify applicable words or elements from NB standards.
What do I already know/do that I can use for this exercise?
What do I need to research or learn more about for this exercise?
What resources are available to me?
Review the activity instructions. Have the participants work with an elbow partner or in same certificate area groups. Participants can use the Dissecting Descriptors handout to record their thoughts.

31. In Summary…
You may take an online tour of a Pearson Professional Center on the Pearson VUE website.
You may access the Web Tutorial and Sample Exercise on the Pearson VUE website to prepare for the assessment center. This contains representative NB content and navigation functions. You can scroll through an exercise for practice.

32. NB Assessment Resource
On the NB website:
“Component 1: Content Knowledge Assessment Center Policy and Guidelines”
16-page document that will serve as a valuable resource in preparing for the assessment center for first-time and retake candidates:
Authorization to Test
Scheduling/Rescheduling/Checking your appointment
Reviewing exercises/Accessing on-line preparation tools
Reporting to the assessment center and what to bring
Assessment rules, duration
Taking and completing the assessment

33. Resources www.boardcertifiedteachers.org
Assessment Center Policy and Guidelines
Guide to National Board Certification
Scoring Guide for Candidates
NB Customer Support TEACH (83224)