III. MTEL Writing Test

C. Writing Test Information: Information and Preparation Strategies

The MTEL writing subtest contains four sections: a grammar and usage section, a dictation passage, a summary essay, and a written composition on a specified topic of general interest. Each of the four sections counts equally toward the one hundred point possible score on the writing subtest. Seventy points are needed to pass the test.

Test Sections

The first event of the morning test session is the Dictation exercise of the writing subtest. The dictation exercise is called a test of written mechanics. An audio-taped passage of approximately 150 to 200 words is read three times: the first time in a reading voice at moderate speed, the second time in clusters of two to five words at slow speed, and the last time in a reading voice at moderate speed. Candidates must record exactly what words are spoken, using edited standard American English, including standard punctuation and capitalization.

The Grammar and Usage section of the writing subtest has three separate parts. (1) One part contains three to five grammar terms to define, for example, “preposition,” or “gerund.” A complete definition is required; an illustration or example of the term may raise point scores, but it is not an acceptable answer without a full and complete definition. The use of complete sentences is not essential for this section (2) The second part of the grammar and usage section consists of several written passages that contain grammatical usage and/or sentence structure errors, such as misplaced modifiers or misused object pronouns. Candidates are asked to read each passage, identify the errors, and select sentence corrections from a multiple choice format (3) The third part of this section is a sentence correction exercise. Each sentence contains one or more errors (almost always two to three errors). Candidates are asked to read sentences, identify errors, and rewrite the sentences in correct, edited form. Complete sentences are required for this section.

The third and fourth parts of the writing subtest consist of two essay exercises that have different formats and requirements. The Written Summary Essay ask has a passage of several paragraphs in length. The test taker is asked to summarize the passage in her own words. The summary essay must reflect correct grammar and usage. The summary should be a paraphrase of the original passage: this essay should be entirely in the words of the test taker (avoid quotations from the passage), but must accurately represent the original passage and meet the length requirement as specified in the test instructions.

The Written Composition Essay assignment requires the candidate to write a well-organized, coherent, and persuasive essay. This composition is usually written in support of one side of a controversial issue. Standard, edited American English grammar and usage are required. The essay should follow the classic, five-paragraph essay form, with an introduction in which the main idea (your position on the issue) is expressed; a body in which that position is supported, both by appeals to logic and other appropriate appeals; and finally, a conclusion in which the main point of your essay is repeated, perhaps with additional insight. The essay is not graded by which side of the argument is chosen: reasonable people could disagree about any of these topics. However, the essay is graded on how well it works to persuade a reader who may disagree with the position taken.

The writing subtest tends to take at least three hours to complete. Candidates who have taken and passed this subtest recommend that it be taken separately from the reading subtest. Candidates also tend to have higher passing rates on the afternoon subject tests if they take those tests either in isolation from other tests or following a morning reading subtest, not following the morning writing subtest.

The complete text of the test objectives for the writing subtest http://www.doe.mass.edu/mtel/

A. Initial Preparation: Carefully Review the Test Objectives
B. Grammar and Usage: An Interactive Tutorial
C. Writing a Strong Summary Essay in Four Manageable Steps
D. Writing a Strong Composition Essay in Five Manageable Steps