Spanish K–12

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Competencies and Skills and Blueprint

The test design below describes general testing information. The blueprints that follow provide a detailed outline that explains the competencies and skills that this test measures.

Test Design

table describing the format of the test, including test time, number of questions, and required passing score
Format Computer-based test (CBT)
Number of Questions Approximately 75 multiple-choice questions, 1 essay, 5 speaking assignments
Time 2 hours and 30 minutes
Passing Score A scaled score of at least 200

 

Competencies, Skills, and Approximate Percentages of Questions

Pie chart of approximate test weighting outlined in the table below.



table describing the competencies, skills, and approximate percentage of each competency's weight toward overall test score
Competency Approximate Percentage of Multiple-Choice Questions
1 Proficiency in presentational and interpersonal modes of communication (Speaking) *
2 Proficiency in presentational and interpersonal modes of communication (Writing) *
3 Proficiency in interpretive listening 25%
4 Proficiency in interpretive reading 25%
5 Knowledge of practices, products, and perspectives of Spanish-speaking cultures 12%
6 Knowledge of language structure 13%
7 Knowledge of effective teaching and learning strategies based on second language acquisition principles 25%

* The speaking section comprises 25% of the total score; the writing section comprises 15% of the total score.

Competencies and Skills

Competency 1—Proficiency in presentational and interpersonal modes of communication (Speaking)

  1. Give a series of classroom instructions.

  2. Narrate, describe, or explain using a variety of moods and tenses.

  3. Express and defend an opinion.

  4. Communicate on topics relating to personal interests, academic disciplines, or global issues.

  5. Respond to situations of everyday life (e.g., make requests, obtain information, seek assistance).

Competency 2—Proficiency in presentational and interpersonal modes of communication (Writing)

  1. Demonstrate the ability to write in an organized and logical manner on a specific topic (e.g., global issues, family, travel) using details and examples to support ideas.

  2. Use appropriate register, vocabulary choice, tone, and idiomatic expressions for a specified audience and purpose.

  3. Demonstrate mastery of spelling, structure, and punctuation.

Competency 3—Proficiency in interpretive listening

  1. Demonstrate comprehension of authentic broadcasts on everyday topics and current events.

  2. Demonstrate comprehension of authentic conversations of a routine social nature concerning everyday topics and current events.

  3. Demonstrate comprehension of the essential points of a discussion or speech on a topic in a specific field of interest.

  4. Demonstrate comprehension of verbal instructions.

Competency 4—Proficiency in interpretive reading

  1. Demonstrate comprehension of written material on a familiar topic (e.g., sports, travel, movies, theatre, food, music).

  2. Demonstrate comprehension of authentic articles on current topics and official documents.

  3. Identify main ideas and key details in written sources.

  4. Make inferences and predictions from written sources.

Competency 5— Knowledge of practices, products, and perspectives of Spanish-speaking cultures

  1. Demonstrate general knowledge of practices of Spanish-speaking cultures (e.g., social behavior, customs, traditions), including how they are influenced by geography and history.

  2. Demonstrate general knowledge of products of Spanish-speaking cultures (e.g., social, political, and economic systems), including how they are influenced by geography and history.

  3. Demonstrate general knowledge of perspectives of Spanish-speaking cultures (e.g., beliefs, values), including how they are influenced by geography and history.

Competency 6—Knowledge of language structure

  1. Determine the correct usage of verb conjugations and tense or mood selection.

  2. Determine the correct usage of interrogatives (e.g., qué vs. cuál, cómo vs. qué, dónde vs. adónde).

  3. Determine the correct usage of prepositions (e.g., por, para, en, a).

  4. Determine the correct usage of verb pairs that have similar meanings in English (e.g., ser vs. estar, saber vs. conocer, pedir vs. preguntar, tocar vs. jugar).

  5. Determine correct agreement (e.g., gender, number, subject-verb).

  6. Determine the correct usage of pronouns (e.g., subject, object, reflexive).

  7. Determine the correct usage of adjectives (e.g., shortened, position, comparative, superlative, demonstrative).

  8. Determine the correct usage of definite and indefinite articles.

  9. Determine correct word usage and syntax.

Competency 7— Knowledge of effective teaching and learning strategies based on second language acquisition principles

  1. Identify and apply research-based theories and practices of language acquisition instruction (e.g., immersion, affective filter, comprehensible input).

  2. Determine effective instructional strategies (e.g., cooperative learning, use of realia, interdisciplinary approaches, total physical response, project-based teaching, scaffolding) for promoting student proficiency in interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication.

  3. Determine effective strategies for actively promoting cultural competency through Spanish-language instruction.

  4. Determine effective strategies for meeting the needs of diverse Spanish-language learners.

  5. Determine effective applications of technology and resources to facilitate Spanish-language acquisition.

  6. Determine a variety of assessment tools for monitoring student progress, achievement, and learning gains in the three modes of communication (i.e., interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational).

  7. Interpret learning outcomes and assessment results to adjust instruction and facilitate the learning process.