Good Evening: I'm new to the site. I took the VCLA this Friday and earned a 71% on the Reading subtest and a 91% on the Writing subtest. Unfortunately, I ran out of time and was unable to complete either of the essays (summary or argument.) Are these passing scores? Will I be able to pass the Writing subtest without the essays? Thank you for your responses.
If you didn't do the essays, I don't see how you can pass the writing portion; the minimum scores are fairly high as I recall, although you can pass if your cumulative score is high enough. When I took it, you could split your test into two parts, so you shouldn't need To retake the reading section. You get the scores in ~2 weeks, so you'll have to wait and see how the scaled score shakes out. Good luck!
Thank You Thanks so much! I REALLY appreciate your feedback. If I only have to retake the writing that will be a blessing!!! I scored a 91% on the writing subtest. I just ran out of time and could not complete the essays.
I'll agree with mollydoll: chances are you'll need to retake the writing section. Have you already been teaching English somewhere?
Thanks for your feedback. Yes, but I've only taught English and communication on the college level. I really want to teach middle and high school students. I got "side-tracked" teaching college courses during my graduate studies. LOL!
Ah: then you're almost certainly overthinking the tasks here. You've got company, by the way: remarkably many people struggle with the basic-skills tests not because they don't possess the skills but because they're good enough that they expect the tests to be deeper than they are. Teacher basic skills tests are looking for you to demonstrate that you can manage an organized essay with a clear thesis, good word choice and syntactic variation, and decent mechanics: in other words, some variation on The Five Paragraph Essay, Plus Or Minus One. (One hears people bellyache about this, but in fact The Five-P is a very useful template for quick-and-dirty writing: I remind clients that it will save them time and grief when they're writing IEPs, reports to the district office, letters to parents, and the like.) Breathe, please, okay?
I passed the VCLA, by the grace of GOD! Although I earned just under a 235 for the writing, my composite score for both the Reading & Writing was a 485...even without the essays.
I also ran out of time and couldn't even start writing summary or the argument. . I've got 85% from both subtests of VCLA. I am really worried right now. Especially, English being my second language, I should have taken subtests separately. I hope as englteacher's, my composite score will be enough to pass it. Do you think I stand any chance? Thanks.
Welcome to A to Z, tanem. We've seen that englteacher passed with scores of 71% and 91% without finishing the essays. It won't surprise me to find that your scores of 85% and 85% will be high enough.
Hi TeacherGroupie, I passed the VCLA I am including my unofficial scores as a reference for future VCLA test takers Reading subtest 85%=280 Writing subtest 85% =224 (without summary and argument) Highest total score=504 (required passing score was 470) Thanks again
Englteacher, do you mind if I ask... what was your final score for reading? I scored a 74% in reading but am hoping my essays are enough to bring my composite score to passing. Thanks.
VCLA help! H Tanem Dear all, I just took the VCLA and scored 85% on the reading portion and 82% on the writing portion. I was told that 85% is about 280 points. 235 points are required in any of the exams to pass, as long as you score 470 points between the two. My question: Will the composition part (the score is not provided immediately) adds up to the 85% & 82% or it can take points against? I think I did a decent job, but I am just trying to see what to expect. It was a hard exam for me since I came to America at age 30. I wish good luck to those who are going to take the VCLA and I will be glad to share some tips. Thanks
profeloco, VCLA's Reading subtest consists of multiple-choice questions, and these will have been scored on the spot: nothing further will happen to your 85% on that subtest. Whether 85% will convert into 280 scaled points, or slightly more, or slightly less, remains to be seen. The Writing subtest consists of multiple choice questions plus some sentence-correction exercises - these account for 50% of available points - and two writing exercises: the summary is worth 20% of available points and the composition is worth 30%. The multiple choice questions were certainly scored at the time of testing and I suspect the sentence-correction exercises were too, so at the moment you have 82% of 50% of possible points in hand, and you're waiting on the other 50%. According to the score report explanation, http://www.va.nesinc.com/PDFs/VCLA_ISR_Explanation.pdf, one passes VCLA with a combined scaled score of 470 or better. If we assume that your 85% on the Reading subtest translates into 280 scaled points, you'd need only 190 scaled points on the Writing subtest, and your 82% there is certain to give you more than half of the points you need. I won't declare that you've passed, but I think your chances are pretty good.
I Just took the VCLA Friday. My raw scores were 77% on the reading subtest and 82% on the multiple choice questions for the writing subtest. I am really worried that I did not pass. Thanks, michellems1
Breathe, please, michellems1. Have you read through the whole of this thread? The original post sets out a scenario that sounds like yours.
Thank you and sorry for breaking the rules I am two grad. classes down, but can't continue with classes unless/until I pass the VCLA. Needless to say, I am a little anxious Thanks and sorry again!
As to the rules, now you know, and no further worries. As to your scores, I think you're not in bad shape (though of course much depends on how you did with the as-yet-unscored writing tasks).
It could mean that the version of VCLA you took was new enough that Pearson wants to see results from more test takers before deciding what raw score will correspond to the passing scaled score.
Hi! I've been reading the threads, and am also curious if you think I may have passed the reading with 71%. I know before the scores changed a couple years ago this was passing, but am unsure now. From the other threads it looks as though 74% is exactly 235, but wanted someone's opinion. Thanks!
Hey, I passed with a 487 on the second try and I will list my scores for the first and second test. 1st Test: Reading 82%, Scaled: 257 Writing 68%, Scaled: 206 (I barely completed the essays and was never able to proofread) 2nd Test: ONLY Writing 71%, Scaled:230 (I had plenty of time to complete essays and proofread) I only needed a 213 on the writing to pass but the time is what killed me. Focus on the practice tests on the VCLA website because that's all you need to study. The 4 practice exams will get you in the correct mindset for the exams.
I got an 82% and a scaled score of 257. If you scale your 77% using my score of 257/82 you will get a scaled 241. That will be passing by six points because it's 235 to pass on one exam BUT as long as you get a composite score of 470 you will pass overall. You could fail by a point but then pass by a point in the writing and be fine.
Doing the math based off of my score being an 82% with a scaled score of 257 you should be around a 241 scaled score which is passing..... You need a 235 scaled score to pass.
I am glad u posted and u have posted that same message before but I am looking for someone who can give me the extract number I don't want to assume anything but thank you
