Assessment of Professional Knowledge Practice Test [FREE]
Preparing for the APK Test (057)?
In this article, we’ll provide you with all the fundamental information you need to take the first step in preparing for the Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Primary Education (PK–5) (057). Below, we detail what you can expect on the exam and how to approach your preparation. Remember, this is just the beginning! Directly below, we offer a full-length timed practice test for you to try out. This is part of our complete prep package, which includes additional practice tests, study guides, and more tools to ensure you’re fully prepared for test day.
What’s On The Exam
Here’s a simplified overview of what you need to know for the Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Primary Education (PK–5) (057):
Child Development, Diversity, and Learning
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- Be prepared to understand how students grow and develop, recognizing the variations in the stages of child development and learning.
- Make sure to know all about developmental milestones across physical, cognitive, linguistic, and social-emotional domains, and their implications for early learning and instructional decisions.
- Familiarize yourself with the interconnectedness of a student’s development across various domains and how this affects their overall performance.
- Learn how to apply diverse instructional strategies and approaches based on developmental characteristics and needs.
- Understand the roles of play, social interaction, and hands-on experiences in promoting cognitive development and integrating these into various educational activities.
Assessment, Instruction, and the Learning Environment
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- Know how to use both formal and informal assessment tools to guide instruction and track student progress.
- Get a grip on curricular and instructional planning methods and how these promote student development and achievement.
- Understand various instructional approaches and how to implement them to achieve educational goals.
- Recognize the importance of motivation and communication in engaging students and enhancing their learning experience.
The Professional Environment
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- Learn to establish effective partnerships and collaborate with families, colleagues, and community members to support student development.
- Understand the roles, expectations, and ethical standards for professional educators and strategies for ongoing professional growth and self-reflection.
Proctoring Details
When scheduling your exam, it’s important to understand the formats available and what to expect on the test day. Here’s our TeacherPreps breakdown of the key elements for both computer-based and online-proctored versions of the test:
Computer-Based Testing (CBT):
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- Duration: The total appointment time is 3 hours and 15 minutes, which includes 15 minutes for a CBT tutorial and a nondisclosure agreement, plus 3 hours of actual testing time.
- Breaks: Restroom breaks are permitted during testing. However, please note that the time taken for breaks is counted as part of your available testing time.
- Assessment Dates: Appointments are available year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. You can find a test center and check real-time seat availability through the designated exam service website.
- Assessment Sites: Test centers are located throughout Ohio and nationwide, providing flexibility in choosing a convenient location.
Online Proctoring:
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- Duration: Like CBT, the total appointment time for an online-proctored exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes, including 15 minutes for a tutorial and a nondisclosure agreement, followed by 3 hours of testing time.
- Breaks: No breaks are allowed during online-proctored exams. It’s important to prepare accordingly and ensure you are ready to complete the exam without interruptions.
- Assessment Dates: Online exams are administered by appointment during one-week testing windows each month. This provides flexibility to select a date and time that best fits your schedule.
Both testing formats have a qualifying score of 220 and require a fee of $109. Whether you choose to take the exam at a testing center or from a remote location, planning ahead and understanding these logistics will help you avoid last-minute surprises and set you up for success on your test day.
Study Tips
When preparing for the Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Primary Education (PK–5) (057), it’s essential to understand not only the content but also the structure of the questions you’ll encounter. Here are some insightful tips to guide you through the types of questions and strategies for tackling a multiple-choice standardized exam:
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Understand the Question Stem: Each question is designed to test specific competencies related to child development, diversity, and learning. Focus on the stem of the question to determine what is really being asked. Identify key words and phrases that define the focus of the question, such as “primary benefit” or “most effective.”
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Look for Keywords: Keywords in the stem or the answer options can often guide you to the correct choice. Words like “best,” “most effective,” or “primary” indicate that the question requires you to evaluate the effectiveness of different options.
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Eliminate Clearly Wrong Answers: Use the process of elimination to narrow down your choices. Discard any answer options that are clearly inconsistent with the information provided or the key terms highlighted in the question.
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Consider All Information: Questions may integrate multiple areas of knowledge. For example, a question might link concepts from child psychology with effective teaching strategies. Make sure your preparation covers the interdisciplinary links between different competencies.
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Practice with Timed Tests: Since the exam is timed, practice completing questions within a set period to enhance your time management skills. This will help you get comfortable with the pressure of working within a limited time frame.
Understand Different Types of Questions:
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- Scenario-based Questions: These questions provide a scenario and ask you to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations. Focus on how the information presented in the scenario relates to the concepts you have studied.
- Direct Questioning: Some questions might ask directly about theories or principles. For these, a clear understanding of foundational knowledge is crucial.
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Review Incorrect Answers: When practicing, spend time reviewing not just the questions you got wrong but also why the correct answers are right. This will deepen your understanding and help you avoid similar mistakes in the future.
By focusing on these aspects of question analysis and test-taking strategy, you’ll be better prepared to handle the various types of questions on the Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Primary Education (PK–5) (057) and improve your chances of achieving a high score.