Master in Teaching

Decorative graphic

State Required Admissions Tests

Required Admissions Tests: WEST-B and WEST-E

Passing a basic-skills assessment (reading, writing and mathematics) and passing one or more specific content area assessments is required for completion of all Washington-approved teacher preparation programs and admission to MiT.

WEST-B: The Washington Educator Skills Test-Basic is a basic skills assessment comprised of three subtests on reading, writing and mathematics for admission to teacher preparation programs in Washington. The WEST-B is administered by Evaluations Systems Group of Pearson Education, Inc. and is given six times annually. The minimum passing score is 240 out of 300 points on each section. Applicants must pass all three subtests to be admitted to the MiT program. All sections do not have to be taken on the same test date. Retakes on failed sections are allowed.

WEST-E: The Washington Educator Skills Tests-Endorsements are tests of content knowledge required for each endorsement for Washington teaching certificates. They are an admissions requirement for Evergreen’s MiT program. The WEST-E tests are given by Pearson. The Elementary Education WEST-E has two subtests, one covering English language arts, social studies and the arts, and one covering math, the sciences and health and fitness. Applicants must take and pass both elementary subtests for an endorsement in Elementary Education.

Contact www.west.nesinc.com or (800)784-4999 for registration dates, information and study guides for the WEST-B and the WEST-E tests. Registration deadlines are generally five weeks in advance of each testing date.

Those desiring to meet the early admissions deadline will need to take tests in September or December of 2012. The last test date to meet the April 3rd application deadline for the Fall 2013 cohort is February 9, 2013. Applicants without both test scores are occasionally conditionally admitted on a per case basis. Please make every attempt to complete your admissions testing prior to the deadline.

The Elementary Education, English Language Arts, Mathematics and Social Studies WEST-E tests are only available in computerized format at Pearson Professional Centers one week per month throughout the year. Washington locations include: Lacey, Renton, Seattle, Spokane Valley and Yakima. Electronic testing for the WEST-E tests listed above is also available at 225 other test locations including Beaverton and Salem, Oregon and Burnaby, British Columbia. See www.pearsonvue.com/west.

The testing period for paper tests is five hours total. You may sign up for one or two WEST-E tests on the same day, or one WEST-E test and the reading and math WEST-B subtests, or just the three WEST-B subtests.  Testing periods for computerized tests varies.

French, German, Spanish and Japanese candidates for fall 2013 will take the Designated World Languages WEST-E in addition to the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) or computerized interview (OPIC) and the Written Proficiency Test (WPT) from www.languagetesting.com. These proficiencies must be passed at the advanced low level.

Bilingual Education endorsement candidates will take the Bilingual Education WEST-E and the ACTFL . The ACTFL OPI or OPIc and WPT must be passed at the advanced mid-level.

WEST-E Subject Asessments for fall 2013 MiT Applicants

Endorsement/test name and test code offered by www.west.nesinc.com unless noted:

  • Bilingual Education (050) and ACTFL OPI or OPIc and WPT from www.languagetesting.com
  • Biology (022)
  • Chemistry (023)
  • Earth and Space Science (024)
  • Elementary Education
    Subtest 1: Mathematics, Science, Health and Fitness (005)
    Subtest 2: English Language Arts, Social Studies, Fine Arts (006)
  • English Language Arts (020)
  • English Language Learners (051)
  • French - Designated World Language WEST-E (100) and  ACTFL OPI or OPIc and WPT from www.languagetesting.com
  • German - Designated World Language WEST-E (100) and  ACTFL OPI or OPIc and WPT from www.languagetesting.com
  • History (027)
  • Japanese – Designated World Language WEST-E (100) and  ACTFL OPI or OPIc and WPT from www.languagetesting.com
  • Mathematics (026)
  • Middle Level Humanities
    Subtest 1: English Language Arts (010)
    Subtest 2: Social Studies (011)
  • Middle Level Mathematics (012)
  • Middle Level Science (013)
  • Physics (025)
  • Reading (030)
  • Science (021)
  • Social Studies (028)
  • Spanish - Designated World Language WEST-E (100) and  ACTFL OPI or OPIc and WPT from www.languagetesting.com
  • Special Education (070)
  • Theatre Arts (032)
  • Visual Arts (033)

Out of State Applicants

In lieu of the WEST-B, out-of-state applicants may take the paper or computer version of the Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST) from the Educational Testing Service, the CBEST, or the Oregon State Essential Academic Skills Test.  Passing scores for the PPST are at least 177 for reading, 176 for math and 174 for writing.  CBEST scores must be at least 37 for reading, math and writing, and a composite score of 123 or better.

Though the Praxis, CBEST and Oregon Essential Academic Skills tests are acceptable WEST-B substitutes for out-of-state candidates, applicants are still encouraged to take the WEST-E tests at a Washington state location, or for the June test date, one of the five locations in other states which include: LaGrande, OR; San Francisco and Los Angeles, CA: New York, NY: and Phoenix, AZ. As noted above: The Elementary Education, English Language Arts, Mathematics and Social Studies WEST-E tests are only available in computerized format at Pearson Professional Centers. If you are seeking an endorsement in any of these subject areas, you will need to take the necessary WEST-E test at a Pearson testing center before the April 3rd deadline.