Basic Skills
Information and Registration
All undergraduate candidates enrolled in an educator preparation program must take and pass basic skills tests in reading, writing, and mathematics as prescribed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
**Notify the office of teacher certification if you satisfied basic skills testing with SAT, ACT or combined vendor option.**
Effective March 2016, candidates may combine individual tests from different vendors (Pearson, ETS, ACT & College Board) to meet the basic skills requirement. The policy is retroactive for all open applications. Candidates electing to use tests from different vendors cannot use the PAPA or CORE composite score options. They must meet the qualifying score for each individual test.
OR choose ONE of the single vendor options below:
PAPA (Pearson's Pre-Service Academic Performance Assessment)
PECT/PAPA Modules
Option 1 Score: Meet or exceed each minimum test score
Option 2 Score (not applicable when using combined test vendor option): Composite Score = 686; All areas must meet the minimum (see below), and the sum of the three scores must meet or exceed 686. Candidates must achieve the PAPA qualifying score (220) in at least 1(one) area and also reach the minimum composite score total.
PAPA Module 8001: Reading
Option 1 Score: 220
Option 2 Score: Minimum 193
PAPA Module 8002: Mathematics
Option 1 Score: 220
Option 2 Score: Minimum 197
PAPA Module 8003: Writing
Option 1 Score: 220
Option 2 Score: Minimum 192
Registration
When registering with Pearson, choose WCU from a drop down menu to send scores to us.
Register for the PAPA
CORE (ETS's Core Academic Skills for Educators Tests)
CORE Tests
CORE can be taken as a combined test (5751), or as individual sections (see CORE test numbers below).
Option 1 Score: Meet or exceed each minimum test score
Option 2 Score (not applicable when using combined test vendor option): Composite Score = 475; All areas must meet the minimum (see below), and the sum of the three scores must meet or exceed 475. Candidates must achieve the CORE qualifying score in at least 1(one) area and also reach the minimum composite score total.
5712: Reading
Option 1 Score: 156
Option 2 Score: 148
5722: Writing
Option 1 Score: 162
Option 2 Score: 158
5732: Mathematics
Option 1 Score: 150
Option 2 Score: 142
Registration
When registering with ETS, include your social security number and choose #8033 (PDE) and #2659 (WCU) as score recipients.
Core Academic Skills for Educators Tests Registration
ACT Tests
- ACT can be taken at any time or retaken to improve current score
- You must wait 30 days before re-taking a Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- No limit to the number of times a test can be taken
- Tests taken prior to September 2015 require a composite score of 23 on the American College Test Plus Writing (ACT) accompanied by a combined English/Writing score of 22 and a Math score of 21.
- Tests taken after September 2015 require separate scores of Reading - 22; Mathematics - 21; and Writing - 21.
- Score Reporting Information for ACT
Registration
Register for the ACTs
SAT Tests
- Tests taken prior to January 24, 2016 must meet or exceed a score of 500 on each individual section of the SAT (Critical Reading, Writing, and Mathematics)
- Tests taken after March 2016 must meed or exceed a score of 500 on the Reading and Mathematics section
- A Writing component is required for PA certification
- Score Reporting Information for SAT
Registration
Register for the SATs
