Section 3: Overview and Exam Framework
TX PACT: English Language Arts and Reading: Grades 7–12 (731)
Exam Overview
| Exam Name | TX PACT: English Language Arts and Reading: Grades 7–12 |
|---|---|
| Exam Code | 731 |
| Time | 3 hours and 15 minutes total appointment time
|
| Number of Questions | 125 selected-response questions |
| Format | Computer-administered test (CAT) |
The TX PACT: English Language Arts and Reading: Grades 7–12 (731) exam is designed to assess whether a test taker has demonstrated the requisite knowledge and skills for admission to an educator preparation program. The 125 selected-response questions are based on the English Language Arts and Reading: Grades 7–12 exam framework. Questions on this exam range from grades 7–12. Your final scaled score will be based only on scored questions.
Domains and Competencies
| Domain | Domain Title | Approx. Percentage of Exam |
|---|---|---|
| I | Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, and Reading Various Text Forms | 23% |
| II | Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | 23% |
| III | English Language Conventions, Composition, Writing Process, and Research | 19% |
| IV | Modes of Writing | 23% |
| V | Oral and Visual Communication | 12% |
Pie chart of approximate domain weightings outlined in the table above.
The content covered by this exam is organized into broad areas of content called domains. Each domain covers one or more of the standards for this field. Within each domain, the content is further defined by a set of competencies. Each competency is composed of two major parts:
- The competency statement, which broadly defines what an individual should know and be able to do in order to perform effectively in a Texas-approved educator preparation program.
- The descriptive statements, which describe in greater detail the knowledge and skills eligible for testing.
Domain I—Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, and Reading Various Text Forms
Competency 001—Understand strategies for developing vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension.
For example:
- Use knowledge of syntactic rules and word structure and contextual analysis skills to help identify word meanings.
- Determine the denotative and connotative meanings of words and phrases, including the meanings of homonyms, synonyms, and antonyms.
- Relate words and phrases that are derivatives and borrowings to their origins in other languages.
- Recognize the historical, social, cultural, regional, and technological influences that have helped shape the English language.
- Connect unfamiliar words and phrases with familiar words, phrases, concepts, and experiences.
- Recognize an appropriate reading strategy to use for a particular text and purpose.
- Recognize appropriate research-based reading comprehension strategies to use before, during, and after reading.
Competency 002—Understand strategies for reading informational texts.
For example:
- Recognize the characteristics of various types of informational texts, such as newspapers, textbooks, online encyclopedias, and webzines.
- Use knowledge of the organizational features and structure of an informational text to help enhance comprehension of the text.
- Identify the main idea, purpose, and intended audience of an informational text.
- Distinguish between general statements and specific details presented in an informational text.
- Assess the relevance, importance, and sufficiency of evidence, examples, and reasons provided to explain a concept or process presented in an informational text.
- Assess the credibility, objectivity, and reliability of various sources used in an informational text.
- Recognize an accurate summary of an informational text.
- Interpret graphic features used in informational texts, such as tables, graphs, and charts.
Competency 003—Understand strategies for reading persuasive texts.
For example:
- Recognize the characteristics of various types of persuasive texts, such as editorials, propaganda, and print and Web pop-up advertisements.
- Use knowledge of the organizational features and structure of a persuasive text to help enhance comprehension of the text.
- Identify the main idea, purpose, and intended audience of a persuasive text.
- Distinguish between facts and opinions presented in a persuasive text.
- Assess the relevance, importance, and sufficiency of evidence, examples, and reasons provided to support an argument presented in a persuasive text.
- Assess the credibility, objectivity, and reliability of various sources used in a persuasive text.
- Analyze the use of rhetorical devices and techniques in a persuasive text, such as repetition, exaggeration, and logical, emotional, and ethical appeals.
- Interpret graphic features used in persuasive texts, such as photographs and illustrations.
Competency 004—Understand strategies for reading technical and functional texts.
For example:
- Recognize the characteristics of various types of technical texts, such as warranties and contracts, and various types of functional texts, such as timetables and application forms.
- Use information presented in technical texts to gain knowledge and develop skills, such as learning and exercising consumers' and citizens' rights.
- Use information presented in functional texts to confirm facts and perform tasks, such as planning travel or applying for a job.
- Interpret graphic features used in technical texts, such as flowcharts and schematics, and in functional texts, such as keys/legends and diagrams.
Domain II—Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
Competency 005—Understand strategies for analyzing and interpreting various forms of literary nonfiction, fiction, and drama.
For example:
- Recognize the characteristics of various forms of literary nonfiction, fiction, and drama, such as the critical biography, political essay, psychological novel, and tragic play.
- Analyze the use of rhetorical, dramatic, and literary devices and techniques, such as analogy, soliloquy, and foreshadowing, in a work of literary prose.
- Analyze the use of point of view, tone, voice, and mood in a work of literary prose.
- Analyze the use of structural elements, such as denouement and flashback, in a work of literary prose.
- Analyze word choice and the use of words and word combinations in a work of literary prose.
- Analyze plot, setting, and characterization in a work of literary prose.
- Interpret central ideas or themes in a work of literary prose.
Competency 006—Understand strategies for analyzing and interpreting various forms of poetry.
For example:
- Recognize the characteristics of various forms of poetry, such as the epic, ode, sonnet, ballad, villanelle, and tanka.
- Analyze the use of poetic devices, such as allusion, paradox, symbolism, imagery, and irony, in a work of poetry.
- Analyze the use of figures of speech, such as simile, metaphor, personification, and metonymy, in a work of poetry.
- Analyze the use of point of view, tone, voice, and mood in a work of poetry.
- Analyze the use of stanzaic and metrical structures and verse forms, such as the quatrain, iambic pentameter, and free verse, in a work of poetry.
- Analyze the use of formal rhyme schemes and sound devices, such as alliteration and assonance, in a work of poetry.
- Interpret central ideas or themes in a work of poetry.
Competency 007—Understand the major characteristics of literatures from around the world.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of major literary genres, styles, and trends associated with literatures from around the world.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the formal, stylistic, and thematic characteristics of major works and writers of literatures from around the world.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the formal, stylistic, and thematic characteristics of major movements and periods in literatures from around the world.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the formal, stylistic, and thematic characteristics of major literary genres and works from the oral tradition.
Competency 008—Understand the major historical, social, cultural, and political aspects of literatures from around the world.
For example:
- Examine in literary works references to major historical events and to major social, cultural, and political movements and institutions that have influenced the development of literatures from around the world.
- Examine in literary works the expression of diverse values, attitudes, and ideas of peoples from various regional, ethnic, and cultural groups.
- Examine how writers from diverse cultural backgrounds and various historical periods have commented on major historical events and influenced public opinion about and understanding of major social, cultural, and political issues through their literary works.
- Examine how social, cultural, and political issues, such as issues relating to age, gender, ethnicity, and human rights, are explored in classical and contemporary literary works.
Domain III—English Language Conventions, Composition, Writing Process, and Research
Competency 009—Understand the conventions of Standard American English and the elements of effective composition.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the conventions of spelling and capitalization to use when developing text.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the conventions of punctuation to use when developing text.
- Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate word usage and grammatical sentence structure to use when developing text.
- Recognize methods of developing an introduction to a text that draws a reader's attention, specifies a topic, and provides a thesis.
- Recognize methods of developing the body of a text that presents, emphasizes, links, and contrasts ideas in a clear, concise, and coherent manner.
- Recognize methods of developing a conclusion to a text that provides a summary or resolution, suggests a course of action, or offers a personal commentary.
Competency 010—Understand the writing process.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the appropriate form of writing to use for a particular purpose and audience.
- Recognize methods of generating and organizing ideas for writing.
- Recognize methods of drafting text to show logical development of a central idea or theme through the use of relevant supporting details.
- Recognize methods of revising text to eliminate wordiness, redundancy, distracting details, and extraneous information.
- Recognize methods of editing text to generate interest and clarify meaning, such as varying sentence length and structure, maintaining parallelism, and using appropriate transitions.
- Recognize methods of proofreading and preparing text for publication.
Competency 011—Understand the elements of effective and appropriate research.
For example:
- Recognize methods of selecting and refining a topic for research.
- Recognize methods of composing specific, open-ended questions for a research topic.
- Recognize methods of identifying and locating multiple and various sources of information for a research topic.
- Recognize methods of assessing the credibility, objectivity, and reliability of sources of information.
- Recognize methods of gathering and organizing information from sources systematically.
- Recognize methods of paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting information from sources appropriately and of integrating a paraphrase, summary, or quotation effectively into a text.
- Recognize methods of citing or acknowledging sources of information appropriately in a text.
Domain IV—Modes of Writing
Competency 012—Understand strategies for narrative writing.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the forms and purposes of narrative writing, such as describing an event or relating a personal experience.
- Recognize methods of selecting and limiting a subject for narrative writing.
- Recognize methods of selecting an effective organizational approach to use in narrative writing, such as chronological order, flashback, or in medias res.
- Recognize methods of selecting effective and appropriate sensory details and using specific nouns and strong verbs to convey precisely the unique aspects of a subject.
- Recognize methods of selecting an appropriate style, tone, and voice and appropriate diction to use in narrative writing for a particular purpose and audience.
Competency 013—Understand strategies for expository writing.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the forms and purposes of expository writing, such as explaining a factual subject, providing or requesting information, or interacting socially or professionally.
- Recognize methods of selecting and limiting a subject for expository writing.
- Recognize methods of formulating a specific question to address through expository writing and of developing a thesis statement that provides a focus for writing.
- Recognize methods of selecting an effective organizational approach to use in expository writing, such as cause-and-effect, problem-and-solution, or chronological order.
- Recognize methods of selecting effective and appropriate supporting details to use in expository writing, such as statistics and examples.
- Recognize methods of developing expository writing that is direct, simple, and succinct.
Competency 014—Understand strategies for persuasive writing.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the forms and purposes of persuasive writing, such as stating an opinion or influencing beliefs.
- Recognize methods of establishing a clear position or controlling idea in persuasive writing.
- Recognize methods of selecting an effective organizational approach to use in persuasive writing, such as logical order or order of importance.
- Recognize methods of selecting effective and appropriate supporting details to use in persuasive writing, such as facts, reasons, and appeals.
- Recognize methods of anticipating questions, concerns, and counterarguments for points made in persuasive writing and of incorporating effective responses to them into the writing.
- Recognize methods of selecting a style, tone, voice, and diction to use in persuasive writing that conveys respect for the reader.
Competency 015—Understand strategies for critical or analytical writing.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the forms and purposes of critical or analytical writing, such as critiquing or interpreting a literary work or works.
- Recognize methods of formulating a specific question to address through critical or analytical writing and of developing a thesis statement that makes a significant claim or conveys a purpose for writing.
- Recognize methods of selecting an effective organizational approach to use in critical or analytical writing, such as order of increasing complexity or comparison and contrast.
- Recognize methods of developing a cogent analysis of a literary work, such as incorporating specific words and phrases from a literary work to support a claim made in critical or analytical writing.
- Relate characters, themes, and points of view from one literary work to characters, themes, and points of view from other literary works.
Domain V—Oral and Visual Communication
Competency 016—Understand strategies for effective listening and speaking and for participating in group discussions.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics and purposes of various types of listening and barriers to listening effectively.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the social norms and conventions involved in interpersonal communication and how these are influenced by factors such as self-concept, cultural or socioeconomic background, age, and gender.
- Recognize methods of participating actively in conversations and group discussions, such as restating, clarifying, and using nonverbal cues.
- Recognize methods of incorporating effective and appropriate language styles, rhetorical devices, and vocal techniques into speeches on various topics and for various purposes, audiences, and occasions.
Competency 017—Understand strategies for effective viewing and presenting and for analyzing various media.
For example:
- Analyze messages, meanings, biases, and themes conveyed through visual images in various media and in various combinations of media.
- Examine how elements of visual images used in various media can be manipulated to change personal behavior and influence public opinion.
- Examine how personal experience and prior knowledge can affect an individual's interpretation of visual images in various media.
- Recognize methods of establishing a clear purpose for a presentation and of organizing and modifying a presentation to correspond to the characteristics of a particular audience.
- Recognize methods of incorporating effective and appropriate visual images or aids into a presentation and of using effective and appropriate technologies and media to give a presentation.
- Demonstrate knowledge of legal, ethical, copyright, and source citation issues related to viewing and presenting media.