Preparing for Certification Exams

The NY Teacher Certification Examinations

NY State Teacher Certification Examinations are routinely offered throughout the year. Details about the certification exams including test dates and registration information can be found at www.nystce.nesinc.com. Fingerprinting is now a requirement for all examinees and will be conducted onsite. 

Preparing for the Examinations

The NY Teacher Certification Examinations

Below is a collection of resources to help you prepare for the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations. The examinations required of all teacher candidates include:

(1) edTPA Portfolio Assessment in the specific discipline area,
(2) Educating All Students (EAS), and
(3) Content Specialty Test (CST) in the specific area of certification.

The edTPA, the teacher performance assessment portfolio, which is generally completed during student teaching. In addition, students pursuing some certification types are required to take additional tests [for example Bilingual students are required to take the Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA). For specific requirements see www.nysed.gov].

The resources below will help students prepare for the EAS test. Additional resources for the CSTs will be added later. The resources include: (a) web-links and other online materials, (b) downloadable handouts and power-points, and (c) workshops offered by the School of Education.

CCNY WORKSHOPS FOR THE AST-W, EAS AND CST: MULTI-SUBJECT TESTS

The Learning & Technology Resource Center conducts workshops to prepare candidates for the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations. The workshops are conducted each semester for specific exams. See the schedule below for current workshops offered. Note: Currently enrolled CCNY students (including CWE students and CCNY alumni) are eligible to take these free workshops (see below) at the City College of New York.

Participants should review the 'Test Design Framework' and 'Test Examplars' for their particular test:

Click on the links below to access the Test Frameworks:     

  1. AST-Written (Elementary) Test Frameworks
  2. AST-Written (Secondary) Test Frameworks
  3. EAS Test Frameworks
  4. CST: MS – Birth – Grade 2
  5. CST: MS – Grade 1 – Grade 6
  6. CST: MS – Grade 5 to Grade 9
  7. CST: MS – Grade 7 to Grade 12  

Click on the links below to access the Test Examplars:

  1. AST-Written (Elementary) Test Exemplars
  2. AST-Written (Secondary) Test Exemplars
  3. EAS Test Exemplars
  4. CST: MS – Birth to Grade 2
  5. CST: MS – Grade 1 to Grade 6
  6. CST: MS – Grade 5 to Grade 9
  7. CST: MS – Grade 7 to Grade 12

CCNY Test Preparation Review Material
[ATS-W Test]

Follow the instructions below to access review materials for the AST-W Test

Enrollment: Open to all CUNY students, faculty and staff with enrollment code.

How to Enroll:

  1. Log in to Blackboard through the CUNY Portal. (If you have never used Blackboard before, you will need to set up an account)
  2. From the home page, the first page that appears after login, look for “Organization Search” on the lower-left-hand side of the screen.
  3. Enter ‘CUNY Teacher Education’ in the search box. Click GO.
  4. Scroll down to see the "CO-Teacher Education" organization.
  5. Click the gray down arrow under the organization ID in blue. Click ENROLL.
  6. This will bring you to the Self Enrollment page. In the box for Access Code, enter TEACHERED.
  7. Click Submit.
  8. On the next Self Enrollment screen, click OK.
  9. Prep materials are organized by exam in the green box on the left.

Currently enrolled CCNY students (including Teaching Fellows) are eligible to register for these workshops.

CCNY Test Preparation Schedule
[ATS-W TEST REVIEW]

Current Schedule with Online Registration: Click here

Currently enrolled CCNY students (including (Teaching Fellows and CWE students), and recent CCNY graduates, are eligible to register for this review session. Participants should select the session(s) for which they are eligible.

CCNY Test Preparation Schedule
[EAS TEST REVIEW]

Current Schedule with Online Registration: Click here

Currently enrolled CCNY students (including Teaching Fellows and CWE students), and recent graduates, are eligible to register for these sessions. Participants should select the session(s) for which they are eligible. 

WEBLINKS TO LEARN ABOUT THE EAS TEST

Exam Preparation Resources from CUNY portal

 

NYSTCE Certification Examination Website

www.nystce.nesinc.com

NYSTCE Computer-Based Testing Tutorial

 

NYSTCE Computer-Based Practice Tests
[each practice test has a fee of $29.95]

 

 DOWNLOADABLE HANDOUTS TO PREPARE FOR

THE EAS (EDUCATING ALL STUDENTS) TEST

Education All Students (EAS)Test

DOWNLOADABLE HANDOUTS

Title/
[Link to Download]

Published/
Prepared By

Description

Test Design and Frameworks
 

Source: New York State Teacher Certification Examination Inc.

Review the test frameworks carefully to know what are the performance indicators expected on this test.

NYSTCE Educating All Students Study Guide
 

Source: Teaching Fellows Office, New York City

A collection of helpful links and recommended resources for each component of the EAS test.

EAS Test Taking Strategies

Source: CUNY Teacher Ed Office

Powerpoint presentation on the EAS test.

EAS Study Guide Template
 

Source: CUNY Teacher Ed Office

Preparation material for the EAS test.

EAS Writing Rubric
 

Source: New York State Teacher Certification Examination Inc.

Review rubric criteria for writing expectations on the constructed response item.
 

Downloadable PDF to Prepare for the CST: Multisubject -
Part II Mathematics
Title/
[Link to Download]

Published/
Prepared By

 Description
CST:    

 

NY State Teacher Certification Exams Support for CUNY Teacher Education Candidates

Blackboard Organization Name:  CUNY Teacher Education

Organization Description: This organization is designed to support CUNY Teacher Education faculty and candidates in their preparation for the New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE). This organization contains publicly available materials from the NY State, as well as preparation materials designed by Hunter College, Lehman College, and CUNY's Office of Academic Affairs. Additional support will be provided as the NYSTCE are updated.

Enrollment: Open to all CUNY students, faculty and staff with enrollment code.

How to Enroll:

  1. Log in to Blackboard through the CUNY Portal. (If you have never used Blackboard before, you will need to set up an account)
  2. From the home page, the first page that appears after login, look for “Organization Search” on the lower-left-hand side of the screen.
  3. Enter ‘CUNY Teacher Education’ in the search box. Click GO.
  4. Scroll down to see the "CO-Teacher Education" organization.
  5. Click the gray down arrow under the organization ID in blue. Click ENROLL.
  6. This will bring you to the Self Enrollment page. In the box for Access Code, enter TEACHERED.
  7. Click Submit.
  8. On the next Self Enrollment screen, click OK.
  9. Prep materials are organized by exam in the green box on the left.