ESOL K–12
For Testing until 12/31/2023

Test Format and Sample Questions

The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) K–to12 subject area test consists of approximately 80 multiple-choice questions. You will have two and one-half hours to complete the test.

Each question will contain four response options, and you will indicate your answer by selecting A, B, C, or D.

The table below presents types of questions on the exam and directs you to examples of these formats among the sample items that follow.

Table of Question Formats

Type of Question	Sample Question
Direct question Choose the response option that best answers the question.	Question 1
Sentence completion Select the response option that best completes the sentence.	Question 2
Scenario Examine a situation, problem, or case study. Then answer a question, make a diagnosis, or recommend a course of action by selecting the best response option.	Question 3

Sample Questions

The following questions represent both the form and content of questions on the examination. These questions will acquaint you with the general format of the examination; however, these sample questions do not cover all of the competencies and skills that are tested and will only approximate the degree of examination difficulty.

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Competency 1—Knowledge of culture as a factor in English language learners' ( ELLs E L Ls ') learning

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following cultural beliefs about education would most likely lead a high school ELL E L L  to participate actively in a small group discussion about a literary work?

Choose an answer

1. Teachers are knowledgeable experts whose ideas should not be challenged.
2. Independent work is the best indication of students' academic progress.
3. Analytical thinking and clarity of self-expression are important academic skills.
4. A classroom activity must produce tangible results in order to be worthwhile.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 1—Knowledge of culture as a factor in English language learners' ( ELLs E L Ls ') learning

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

ELLs E L Ls  who speak English at home, at school, and with friends and no longer observe the traditions, beliefs, and lifestyle of their heritage cultures are exhibiting

Choose an answer

1. accommodation.
2. assimilation.
3. enculturation.
4. pluralism.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 2—Knowledge of language as a system

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

In a 3^rd-grade class, there are two new students who have recently moved to the US from Botswana. On the playground, the two students are conversing in their L1, Xhosa, and making distinct clicking sounds. Several children came up to them and began mimicking the clicking sounds. The teacher used this moment to explain to the class about the sounds of Xhosa.

Which of the following universal principles of language would the teacher use to inform the teacher’s explanation to the class?

Choose an answer

1. Language is rule-governed.
2. Language is variable.
3. Language is creative.
4. Language is dynamic.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 2—Knowledge of language as a system

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

In the word unreasonableness, the underlined part is the

Choose an answer

1. prefix.
2. compound.
3. root.
4. suffix.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 2—Knowledge of language as a system

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

"The minister married my cousin."
"They're moving sidewalks."

Misinterpretation of the statements above is the result of

Choose an answer

1. lexical anomaly.
2. overextension.
3. redundancy.
4. structural ambiguity.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 3—Knowledge of language acquisition and development

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following theories explains conscious error correction during oral L2 production?

Choose an answer

1. input hypothesis
2. monitor hypothesis
3. affective filter hypothesis
4. natural order hypothesis

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 3—Knowledge of language acquisition and development

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Most students in a 6^th-grade sixth grade  beginning-level ESOL E S O L  class use the morpheme -ed to create the past tense form of all verbs, including irregular ones. These students are applying which of the following L2 L 2  transitional strategies?

Choose an answer

1. positive transfer
2. overgeneralization
3. simplification
4. avoidance

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 3—Knowledge of language acquisition and development

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following bilingual education program models is designed to develop a high level of competence in two languages by both non-native English speakers and native English speakers?

Choose an answer

1. enrichment immersion
2. dual immersion
3. early-exit transitional
4. transitional

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 3—Knowledge of language acquisition and development

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

An ELL E L L  is assigned the task of writing a narrative about an animal. The student asks the teacher, "What is puppy, you know, little one baby, for cat?" This is an example of

Choose an answer

1. circumlocution.
2. overgeneralization.
3. simplification.
4. hypothesis testing.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 4—Knowledge of second language literacy development

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A 1^st-grade first grade  ELL E L L  spells the word found as "fawnd." This is an example of

Choose an answer

1. pseudo-words
2. self-generated words.
3. auditory discrimination.
4. pseudo-letters.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 4—Knowledge of second language literacy development

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Based on research in second language literacy development, which of the following statements is true?

Choose an answer

1. oral-language development precedes literacy development
2. oral-language development follows literacy development
3. oral-language development impedes literacy development
4. oral-language development supplements literacy development

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 4—Knowledge of second language literacy development

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Teachers can help ELLs E L Ls  develop reading comprehension in English by

Choose an answer

1. teaching students to recognize cognates.
2. having students use echo reading.
3. reading the text aloud slowly but fluently.
4. drilling the students on high frequency words.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 5—Knowledge of ESL E S L /ESOL E S O L  research, history, public policy, and current practices

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

According to research, the positive academic outcomes of two-way immersion programs can be explained by

Choose an answer

1. students’ time on task in English.
2. provision of additive bilingualism.
3. early exit policies.
4. use of bilingual scripted reading programs.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 5—Knowledge of ESL E S L /ESOL E S O L  research, history, public policy, and current practices

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A class of 25 ELLs E L Ls  spends the academic school day with the same teacher. This is an example of a(an)

Choose an answer

1. pull-out model.
2. inclusion model.
3. transitional bilingual education model.
4. self-contained model.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 6—Knowledge of standards-based ESOL E S O L  and content instruction

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following is appropriate listening comprehension content for ELLs E L Ls  who have mastered basic structural forms but who are lacking in vocabulary development?

Choose an answer

1. oral stories with reference to accompanying pictures
2. vocabulary word lists for memorization
3. samples of current radio talk show dialogues
4. scrambled dialogues for students to reorder

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 6—Knowledge of standards-based ESOL E S O L  and content instruction

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Using a variety of grouping configurations in a content area class in which some students are ELLs E L Ls  facilitates the language learning of these students because ELLs E L Ls  should

Choose an answer

1. practice listening and speaking to a variety of English speakers.
2. hear new information more than once in order to remember it.
3. compare ideas with peers who share the same heritage language.
4. listen to the intonation and pitch of native English speakers.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 6—Knowledge of standards-based ESOL E S O L  and content instruction

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

In a multilevel ESOL E S O L  classroom, the teacher should

Choose an answer

1. use average test results to guide teaching.
2. have identical teaching objectives for all students.
3. tailor activities to individual language needs.
4. administer the same tests to all students.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 6—Knowledge of standards-based ESOL E S O L  and content instruction

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A high school sheltered English class contains ELLs E L Ls  who have varying proficiency levels. The teacher would like to differentiate instruction during class discussions of the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Which of the following strategies would best achieve this goal?

Choose an answer

1. assigning ELLs E L Ls  to literature circles composed of students with similar levels of English language proficiency
2. assigning ELLs E L Ls  to homogeneous literature circles composed of students who share the same heritage language
3. providing ELLs E L Ls  with written discussion questions that differ in linguistic difficulty but not in content
4. providing ELLs E L Ls  with written discussion questions translated into their heritage languages

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 7—Knowledge of resources and technologies

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

An ESOL E S O L  teacher is selecting texts to use in a multicultural literature unit for intermediate-level ELLs E L Ls . Which question should the teacher consider first when evaluating a potential text for the unit?

Choose an answer

1. Is the cultural content of the text familiar to these students?
2. Is the text appropriately authentic for these students?
3. Is the subject matter of the text relevant to these students' lives?
4. Is the linguistic difficulty of the text appropriate for these students?

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 7—Knowledge of resources and technologies

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following technology-based activities would most enhance instruction for an ELL E L L ?

Choose an answer

1. synchronized blogging
2. individual Internet research
3. collaborative Webquest
4. individual interactive whiteboard activity

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 8—Knowledge of planning standards-based instruction of ELLs E L Ls 

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following describes a student-centered classroom environment for diverse learners?

Choose an answer

1. Setting clear goals for students, making sure the students understand the goals, and presenting a sequence of well organized assignments.
2. Providing whole-class activities for students to develop communication and decision-making skills.
3. Giving students clear, concise explanations and illustrations of the subject matter and asking frequent questions to see if the students understand the work.
4. Offering students frequent opportunities to practice what they have learned through multiple activities.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 8—Knowledge of planning standards-based instruction of ELLs E L Ls 

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

ELLs E L Ls  with limited L1 L 1  literacy benefit most from

Choose an answer

1. self-selected study topics.
2. flash cards for vocabulary.
3. workbooks for grammar.
4. lower-level reading materials.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 8—Knowledge of planning standards-based instruction of ELLs E L Ls 

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

In which of the following situations is reteaching necessary?

Choose an answer

1. a beginning-level ELL E L L  masters the skill taught by the instructor at a minimal level
2. a high-intermediate ELL E L L  masters the skill taught by the instructor at a minimal level
3. a beginning-level ELL E L L  masters the skill taught by the instructor at grade level
4. a high-intermediate ELL E L L  masters the skill taught by the instructor at grade level

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 9—Knowledge of assessment issues for ELLs E L Ls 

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

When conducting an initial assessment of an ELL E L L 's English literacy skills, the most important factor to take into consideration is the

Choose an answer

1. student's level of literacy in the home language.
2. types of fiction and nonfiction books the student likes to read.
3. educational background of the student's parents/guardians.
4. student's skills in related areas such as letter formation.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 9—Knowledge of assessment issues for ELLs E L Ls 

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

What information would school personnel find most beneficial in determining whether an ELL's E L L's  difficulty in learning English is caused by a learning disability?

Choose an answer

1. indications of culture shock, gender, and organization of learning tasks
2. evidence of emotional problems, age, and English language proficiency
3. indications of low self-esteem, limited perceptional skills, and metacognitive deficits
4. evidence of poverty, use of verbal and nonverbal clues, and language learning aptitude test scores

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 9—Knowledge of assessment issues for ELLs E L Ls 

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following must occur before an ELL E L L  can be referred for testing for ESE services?

Choose an answer

1. The student must take a language dominance test.
2. The student's teachers must all sign the referral.
3. The student must have received individual tutoring.
4. The student's parents/guardians must give their permission.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 10—Knowledge of language proficiency assessment

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Proposition 227 in California, Proposition 203 in Arizona, and Question 2 in Massachusetts resulted in

Choose an answer

1. limiting bilingual education.
2. providing additional resources to ELLs E L Ls .
3. maintaining native language programs in reading and writing.
4. allowing parental choice in ESOL E S O L  program models.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 10—Knowledge of language proficiency assessment

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A general education science teacher approaches an ESOL E S O L  teacher with concerns about an advanced-level ELL E L L . The student is able to participate in class discussions but has performed poorly on the first few science tests. Which of the following recommendations would be most appropriate for the ESOL E S O L  teacher to make first?

Choose an answer

1. Assess the student's level of prior knowledge about the content of the lessons.
2. Design language lessons that can be incorporated into content instruction to strengthen the student's related academic language skills.
3. Arrange for the student to receive peer tutoring from a native English speaker.
4. Meet with the student's parents/guardians to discuss strategies that they can use to improve their support for the student's at-home learning.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 11—Knowledge of classroom-based assessment for ELLs E L Ls 

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Based on an English writing sample obtained from a newly arrived ELL E L L , a high school ESOL E S O L  teacher notes the student writes simple English phrases using phonetic spelling and conventional punctuation. The teacher may accurately deduce that the student is in what stage of writing?

Choose an answer

1. emergent
2. beginning
3. intermediate
4. advanced

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 11—Knowledge of classroom-based assessment for ELLs E L Ls 

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following types of assessment is most effective in evaluating the extent to which ELLs E L Ls  make use of specific reading strategies?

Choose an answer

1. criterion-referenced achievement test
2. self-monitoring checklist
3. norm-referenced proficiency test
4. holistic scoring rubric

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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