Section 3: Overview and Exam Framework
TX PACT: LOTE Spanish: Early Childhood–Grade 12 (713)

Exam Overview

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Table outlining the test format, number of questions, time, and passing score.
Exam Name TX PACT: LOTE Spanish: Early Childhood–Grade 12
Exam Code 713
Time 3 hours and 30 minutes total appointment time
  • 15 minutes for CAT tutorial and compliance agreement
  • 3 hours and 15 minutes testing time
Number of Questions 100 selected-response questions, 1 constructed-response question, and 1 presentational speaking assignment
Format Computer-administered test (CAT)

The TX PACT: LOTE Spanish: Early Childhood–Grade 12 (713) exam is designed to assess whether a test taker has demonstrated the requisite knowledge and skills for admission to an educator preparation program. The 100 selected-response questions, 1 constructed-response question, and 1 presentational speaking assignment are based on the LOTE Spanish: Early Childhood–Grade 12 exam framework. Questions on this exam range from grades Early Childhood–Grade 12. Your final scaled score will be based only on scored questions.

Domains and Competencies

Table outlining test content and subject weighting by sub area and objective.
Domain Domain Title Approx. Percentage of Exam
I Interpretive Listening 15%
II Interpretive Reading 15%
III Language Structures 13%
IV Cultural Understanding 15%
V Presentational Writing 20%
VI Presentational Speaking 22%
Pie chart of approximate test weighting, detailed in the table above.

The content covered by this exam is organized into broad areas of content called domains. Each domain covers one or more of the standards for this field. Within each domain, the content is further defined by a set of competencies. Each competency is composed of two major parts:

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Domain I—Interpretive Listening

Competency 001—Demonstrate literal comprehension of a variety of formal and informal oral messages in Spanish from across the Spanish-speaking world.

For example:

  1. Identify the main idea of an oral message.
  2. Identify supporting details in an oral message.
  3. Identify a sequence of events in an oral message.
  4. Recognize a cause-and-effect relationship described in an oral message.
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of customary greetings, leave-takings, comments, and questions likely to be encountered in a social situation.
  6. Select an appropriate response to a spoken question or comment.
Competency 002—Demonstrate inferential and analytical comprehension of a variety of formal and informal oral messages in Spanish from across the Spanish-speaking world.

For example:

  1. Draw conclusions based on information presented in an oral message.
  2. Characterize the tone or mood of a speaker.
  3. Determine the intended audience of an oral message.
  4. Infer the relationship between speakers in a conversation.
  5. Determine the social or cultural context of an oral message.
  6. Analyze a speaker's assumptions, intent, or point of view.
  7. Analyze the communicative and discourse strategies used in an oral message.
  8. Evaluate the social and cultural appropriateness of language used in an oral message.

 

Domain II—Interpretive Reading

Competency 003—Demonstrate literal comprehension of a variety of authentic materials written in Spanish from across the Spanish-speaking world.

For example:

  1. Identify the main idea of a passage.
  2. Identify supporting details in a passage.
  3. Identify a sequence of events in a passage.
  4. Recognize a cause-and-effect relationship described in a passage.
  5. Select an accurate summary of a passage.
Competency 004—Demonstrate inferential and analytical comprehension of a variety of authentic materials written in Spanish from across the Spanish-speaking world.

For example:

  1. Draw conclusions based on information presented in a passage.
  2. Discern an implied cause-and-effect relationship in a passage.
  3. Infer the intended audience of a passage.
  4. Assess an author's tone or mood in a passage.
  5. Analyze an author's assumptions, intent, or point of view.
  6. Distinguish between fact and opinion in a passage.
  7. Interpret often-used figurative language (e.g., metaphors, similes, symbols, imagery) and common idiomatic expressions used in a passage.
  8. Analyze the structure of an author's argument and the sufficiency and reliability of evidence presented in support of an argument.

 

Domain III—Language Structures

Competency 005—Understand the language structures of Spanish.

For example:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the phonology of Spanish (e.g., sound system, phonological processes).
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of the morphology of Spanish (e.g., inflectional endings, word formation).
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of the syntax of Spanish (e.g., word order).
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of the pragmatics and sociolinguistics of Spanish (e.g., register, social norms).
  5. Demonstrate knowledge of linguistic variations within Spanish.
  6. Compare and contrast the language structures of Spanish and English.
Competency 006—Apply knowledge of the language structures of Spanish.

For example:

  1. Transform sentences or short passages in Spanish according to given instructions (e.g., transforming the tense or mood of a sentence or passage, transforming a positive statement into a negative one).
  2. Analyze sentences in Spanish to determine grammatically correct words to complete them.
  3. Analyze short passages in Spanish to determine grammatically correct phrases or sentences to complete them.
  4. Identify the appropriate pragmatic or sociolinguistic use of words and phrases in Spanish.
  5. Correct morphological and syntactic errors in Spanish.
  6. Correct pragmatic and sociolinguistic errors in Spanish.

 

Domain IV—Cultural Understanding

Competency 007—Understand the geography and major developments in the history of the Spanish-speaking world and their cultural impact.

For example:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of major political, economic, social, and cultural trends and developments that have shaped the history and perspectives of the Spanish-speaking world.
  2. Analyze the roles of major historical events and key eras in the Spanish-speaking world and their influence on the development and evolution of their respective cultures.
  3. Analyze the roles of major figures in the history of the Spanish-speaking world and their influence on the development and evolution of their respective cultures.
  4. Recognize the major physical and geographic features of Spanish-speaking regions and the roles that these features have played in the development and evolution of Spanish-speaking cultures.
Competency 008—Understand the practices, products, and perspectives of Spanish-speaking cultures and how they relate to one another.

For example:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of characteristic practices of daily life and customs in Spanish-speaking cultures and ways in which such practices reflect the perspectives of Spanish-speaking cultures.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of products used in daily life in Spanish-speaking cultures (e.g., food products, household items) and ways in which they reflect the perspectives of Spanish-speaking cultures.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of major cultural institutions and practices (e.g., social relationships, major holidays and festivals, educational systems, patterns of work and leisure) of Spanish-speaking cultures and ways in which such institutions and practices reflect the perspectives of Spanish-speaking cultures.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of major works, genres, and authors of literature written in Spanish and ways in which they reflect the perspectives of Spanish-speaking cultures.
  5. Demonstrate knowledge of major works, achievements, characteristic forms, and key individuals in the arts and sciences (e.g., visual and performing arts, architecture) of Spanish-speaking cultures and ways in which they reflect the perspectives of Spanish-speaking cultures.
  6. Identify major regional differences in the practices, products, and perspectives of various Spanish-speaking cultures.
  7. Compare and contrast the practices, products, and perspectives of Spanish-speaking cultures with the practices, products, and perspectives of non-Spanish-speaking cultures.

 

Domain V—Presentational Writing

Competency 009—In response to a prompt, demonstrate the ability to construct a coherent, well-developed passage in Spanish that effectively communicates a message.

For example:

  1. Fulfill the purpose of the prompt in a manner that is appropriate for the given audience.
  2. Organize ideas in a logically sequenced, well-connected, and consistently clear fashion.
  3. Demonstrate development of ideas that are well supported with relevant details.
  4. Demonstrate a consistent control of syntax and grammar, making only minor mistakes that do not interfere with the comprehensibility of ideas.
  5. Use contextualized vocabulary and idiomatic expressions as appropriate.
  6. Use correct spelling, diacritical marks, and punctuation.

 

Domain VI—Presentational Speaking

Competency 010—In response to a prompt, demonstrate the ability to deliver coherent, well-developed discourse in Spanish that effectively communicates a message

For example:

  1. Fulfill the purpose of the prompt in a manner that is appropriate for the given audience.
  2. Organize ideas in a logically sequenced, well-connected, and consistently clear fashion.
  3. Demonstrate development of ideas that are well supported with relevant details.
  4. Demonstrate a consistent control of syntax and grammar, making only minor mistakes that do not interfere with the comprehensibility of ideas.
  5. Use contextualized vocabulary and idiomatic expressions as appropriate.
  6. Maintain a strong flow of speech, with few, if any, nonproductive pauses or hesitations.
  7. Demonstrate intelligible pronunciation and intonation.
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