subject: How to Make the Most of Your NYSTCE Test Preparation for the ATS-W [print this page] Your NYSTCE Test Preparation is vital in your efforts to take one of the toughest teacher certification tests around. And with a notoriously difficult ATS-W section of the exam, this means that potential New York teachers should ensure that they've optimized their NYSTCE preparation as much as possible.
Besides, your NYSTCE test preparation won't just prepare you to answer those tough questions they'll keep you calm and worry-free when the grip of testing anxiety starts to tighten its hold!
If you want to learn how to make the most of your NYSTCE test preparation, then you'll need to arm yourself with the very best NYSTCE prep possible. And as a recent study revealed that more potential New York teachers fear the ATS-W section more than any other, ideal NYSTCE preparation starts and ends with sharpening up your writing skills!
So get out your pencil, grab your notebook and get ready to produce a score-boosting essay!
When Working on Your NYSTCE Test Preparation, Remember Your Reader
When writing any essay (especially one that must be completed within forty minutes!) it can be easy to forget that it will be scored by a real person. Yes, that's right; instead of being scored by a computer, your essay will be read by actual scorers. Don't let this intimidate you, as this is one of the best advantages you have.
These test scorers are your audience, but they're unique in that they don't care what stance you take on an essay topic. They only care about three things: if you have enough evidence to make your argument compelling, if you acknowledge and argue against potential disagreements, and if your argument is communicated in a clear and concise manner.
Once you understand the needs of your audience, your NYSTCE study guide review becomes much simpler!
During Your NYSTCE Test Prep, Avoid The Passive Voice At All Costs!
If you're having flashbacks to high school grammar, then you know that using the passive voice can get serious points marked off of your essay. For example, the following sentence "She ate her spinach every day" is much more active and direct than "The spinach was eaten every day by her". The latter sentence is extremely awkward, and will also suck away valuable points from your overall score. Even if you don't have confidence in your argument, write as though you do!
Do Not Whip Out New Vocabulary on Your NYSTCE Preparation Exam
You might be tempted to whip out larger and more "wordy" vocabulary in order to impress the scorers of tests. Take these words of advice: don't do it!
Test scorers want to see clear and concise communication. If you bog down your essay with advanced vocabulary just for the sake of impressing the scorers, you risk the overall effectiveness of your essay. Use the vocabulary that you're comfortable with to get your maximum amount of points.
