Test Results Reporting for Institutions
Test results for the NYSTCE are provided to New York State institutions of higher education with educator preparation programs approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). See "Institution Codes" for a list of the institutions approved to receive NYSTCE test scores.
Test results are made available to institutions on the Institution Score Reporting Web site—a secure, password-protected Web-based data transmission system that allows New York State institutions to receive score report information quickly and efficiently. Institution contacts are notified by e-mail when reports and data files are available.
The Institution Score Reporting Web site enables institution contacts to download reports and data files to be saved on the institution's computer system or network. The downloadable files are available in two formats:
- PDF documents are versions of the reports that can be viewed or printed.
- ASCII files are data files containing the test results. These files can be downloaded and imported into software databases or applications that are unique to each institution.
Because test results are confidential and need to be protected in a secure manner, the contact person at each institution restricts access to the files—both electronic and hard copy versions. To protect the privacy of examinees, reports do not display examinees' complete nine-digit social security numbers.
The NYSTCE program offers institutions the following reports:
Alphabetical Examinee Score Roster and Examinee Score Roster by Test
- based upon the population of test takers who indicate an affiliation with your institution when registering to take a NYSTCE test
- provided after each test administration, or test administration period for the School Leadership Assessments
- includes individual test taker scores
- results based on a single test administration, or test administration period for the School Leadership Assessments
- data displayed for each test: for your institution by individual test taker, for your institution in aggregate, and for your sector and statewide in aggregate
- most appropriately used by institutions to monitor individual candidate testing and performance and to supplement monitoring of program performance through an Annual Institution Test Results Report for Title II Program Completers (described below) (not applicable to the School Leadership Assessments, CQST, and ATAS)
Annual Institution Test Results Report for Title II Program Completers
- based upon the population of program completers as identified by your institution to Evaluation Systems and NYSED through Title II reporting (not applicable to the School Leadership Assessments, CQST, and ATAS)
- data displayed for each test: for your institution in aggregate, and for your sector and statewide in aggregate
- most appropriately used by institutions to monitor program performance
Refer to the following sections for a more detailed description of the purpose and use of NYSTCE institution reports.
Test Results Reported After Each Test Administration
New York State institutions and the NYSED receive the following reports after each NYSTCE test administration:
- The Alphabetical Examinee Score Roster, which provides an alphabetical list of examinees associated with an institution and their passing status for the tests taken at the administration. For the School Leadership Assessments, passing status for the assessment is also provided.
- The Examinee Score Roster by Test, which provides (1) a summary by test of examinee test results for an institution along with a statewide summary of test results by test for the administration (or test administration period for the School Leadership Assessments), and (2) a roster by test of examinees associated with an institution and their test results
Please note that information regarding examinee institution affiliation is obtained from examinees as self-reported information during the test registration process. Examinees indicate the college or university at which they are currently matriculated (enrolled in a degree program) or have been matriculated at any time since September 2, 1993 (September 2, 2004, for the School Leadership Assessments). Examinees who request that their scores not be released to their institutions are not included in reports to institutions. To protect examinees' privacy, only the last five digits of their social security numbers are displayed on the reports.
Individual examinee test scores are confidential and are for the purpose of New York State educator certification only.
Reading the Alphabetical Examinee Score Roster
For each institution, the Alphabetical Examinee Score Roster provides an alphabetical list of examinees from that institution who tested on the specified test administration date (or test administration period for the School Leadership Assessments). The report lists each examinee's name, the last five digits of his or her social security number, educational status, the test status (P=Pass, F=Did not pass), and the test taken. For the School Leadership Assessments, the report also provides passing status for the assessment. The first page of this report summarizes guidelines and cautions regarding the data on this report.
Sample Report (all tests except the School Leadership Assessments)
Following is a sample of the Alphabetical Examinee Score Roster. Refer to the table below for a description of the data contained in this report.
Sample Report (School Leadership Assessments)
| Area of Report | Report Field | Field Description |
|---|---|---|
| Institution and test date (or test administration period for the School Leadership Assessments) |
|
Lists the institution's name and the test administration date or test administration period for which results are reported. |
| Examinee test results |
|
Lists the names of all examinees (in alphabetical order) who tested on the date indicated. For each examinee, the report provides his or her social security number (last five digits only), educational status, test status (P=Pass, F=Did not pass), and test taken on the date indicated. For the School Leadership Assessments, the pass/fail status for the assessment is also provided. |
Reading the Examinee Score Roster by Test
The Examinee Score Roster by Test provides rosters of examinees and their individual test results organized by test as well as a summary of institution results with comparisons to statewide results for each test. For each test, information is provided regarding
- the composition of the test, including the approximate number of test items per subarea;
- the number of examinees from the institution, institution sector (i.e., CUNY, SUNY, and Independent), and statewide who tested; the mean scaled score; the number and percentage of examinees who passed; the number and percentage of examinees who did not pass; and the mean scaled subarea results (see "Test Frameworks" for subarea designations for each test); and
- the names and social security numbers (last five digits only) of examinees along with their passing status, their total test scaled score, and subarea results.
Reporting Scale
Test results for the NYSTCE are calculated on a scale of 100 to 300, with the passing score equal to a scaled score of 220.
Sample Report
Following is a sample of the Examinee Score Roster by Test. Refer to the table below for a description of the data contained in this report.
| Area of Report | Report Field | Field Description |
|---|---|---|
| Institution and test date (or test administration period for the School Leadership Assessments) |
|
Lists the institution's name and the test administration date or period for which results are reported. |
| Composition of the test |
|
Lists each subarea of the test and the approximate number of multiple-choice questions (or constructed-response assignments) in each. See "Test Frameworks" for subarea designations for each test. |
| Institution performance versus sector and statewide results |
|
Provides a comparison of institution results with institution sector results (i.e., CUNY, SUNY, Independent) and statewide testing results on the performance of examinees on the test. For each group, the report lists the number of examinees who tested, the mean of the examinees' total test scaled scores, the number and percent of examinees who passed, the number and percent of examinees who did not pass, and the mean scaled subarea results. |
| Results by testing candidate |
|
Provides individual examinee results for the test indicated, including the examinee's name, last five digits of his or her social security number, passing status, total test scaled score, and subarea results. |
Annual Institution Test Results Report for Title II Program Completers
At the end of the program year, New York State institutions and the NYSED receive the Annual Institution Results Report for Title II Program Completers, which provides an annual summary by test of examinee test results for an institution. Please note that this report is based on the population of program completers for the academic year as identified to Evaluation Systems and the NYSED by each teacher preparation institution through Title II reporting.
This report presents summarized data for program completers, as defined by Title II, Sections 207 and 208 of the Higher Education Act. Program completers are students who have met each educational requirement of a teacher preparation program in a NewYork State institution of higher education during the academic year regardless of whether they actually received a degree or whether they applied for a certificate in New York State. These are individuals preparing for initial teaching certificates in New York State and do not include individuals preparing only for nonteaching titles (e.g., administrator and counselor titles).
Identification of program completers for the academic year is based on information provided by New York State institutions of higher education as part of data collection to meet Title II reporting requirements, and is not affected by any information provided by test takers regarding institution affiliation.
Reading the Annual Institution Test Results Report for Title II Program Completers
The Annual Institution Test Results Report for Title II Program Completers provides a summary of institution results with comparisons to institution sector and all institutions for each test. For each test, information is provided regarding
- the composition of the test, including the approximate number of test items per subarea; and
- the number of program completers from the institution, institution sector, and all institutions who tested; the percentage of examinees who passed; the mean scaled score; and mean scaled subarea results (see "Test Frameworks" for subarea designations for each test).
Reporting Scale
Test results for the NYSTCE are calculated on a scale of 100 to 300, with the passing score equal to a scaled score of 220.
Sample Report
Following is a sample of the Annual Institution Test Results Report for Title II Program Completers for Test 002 Multi-Subject. Refer to the table below for a description of the data contained in this sample.
| Area of Report | Report Field | Field Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting period, Institution and Institution type |
|
Lists the institution name and the program year for which results are reported. |
| Composition of the test |
|
Lists each subarea of the test and the approximate number of multiple-choice questions (or constructed-response assignments) in each. See "Test Frameworks" for subarea designations for each test. |
| Summary of institution performance versus sector and statewide results |
|
Provides a summary of institution results with comparisons to institution sector and all institutions for the program year. For the institution, institution sector, and all institutions, the report lists the number of takers, the percentage of examinees who passed, the number of examinees used to calculate the means, the mean of the examinees' total test scaled scores, and the mean of the examinees' scaled subarea scores. |
Following is a sample of the Summary page found at the end of the Annual Institution Test Results Report for Title II Completers. Refer to the table below for a description of the data contained in this sample.
| Area of Report | Report Field | Field Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting period, Institution and Institution type |
|
Lists the institution name, institution type, and the program year for which results are reported. |
| Summary of institution performance versus sector and statewide results |
|
For each test field, provides a summary of institution results with comparisons to institution sector and all institutions for the program year. For the institution, institution sector, and all institutions, the report lists the number of takers and the percentage of examinees who passed. |
Analyzing Annual Institution Test Results Report for Title II Program Completers to Improve Program Performance
Test results may be used to analyze areas of strength and weakness for an institution's candidates and to enable an institution to identify any adjustments to the curriculum that might help improve their students' performance on the NYSTCE tests.
An institution might take the following steps to best utilize annual test results:
- Begin by obtaining a copy of the test framework for the NYSTCE test results being reviewed. NYSTCE frameworks are available as PDF files from the NYSTCE Web site by selecting "Test Frameworks."
- For each test, review your institution's passing percentage and mean total test scaled score (on a scale of 100 to 300, with the passing score equal to a scaled score of 220). How does this performance compare to your institution's goals? How does this performance compare to all institution results?
- For each test, review your institution's performance by subarea (see "Test Frameworks" for subarea designations for each test). Are there any subareas in which average performance is less than 220? Are there any subareas for which average performance is markedly lower than for other subareas? Are your institution's results by subarea higher, lower, or comparable to results for all institutions?
- Based on your analysis, are there particular areas of content in which test results for your institution's educator candidates are lower than desired? If so, these are possible areas of adjustment for your program's curriculum. Based on your analysis of test results, are there additional courses that are needed for NYSTCE candidates? Is there particular content that is not being adequately covered within courses?
- After you review your program's overall results, you may wish to supplement this review with a more detailed data analysis. To do so, you may wish to utilize the ASCII data files (described in "Using the Test Results Data Files") that are provided to you on the Institution Score Reporting Web site. ASCII data may be sorted, merged, or filtered in other ways appropriate for an institution to yield meaningful results.
Using the Test Results Data Files
In addition to receiving test results in a format that can be viewed or printed, institutions receive test results data as ASCII files. The ASCII file layout, which defines each field within a record, is provided on the Institution Score Reporting Web site. ASCII files can be downloaded and the data exported into databases or other applications such as spreadsheets unique to each institution. Instructions for importing an ASCII file into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet are also provided on the Institution Score Reporting Web site.
ASCII Data Files Provided After Each Test Administration
New York State institutions receive the following ASCII data files after each NYSTCE test administration:
The Examinee File, which contains the following information:
- Examinee name
- Social security number (complete nine-digit number)
- Test administration date
- Test code
- Passing status
- Total test scaled score
- Number of subareas
- Subarea scaled results
The Summary File, which contains the following information:
- Test code
- Number of examinees
- Number of examinees who passed the test
- Percent of examinees who passed the test
- Mean total test score
- Number of subareas
- Mean subarea results
ASCII files provided after each test administration can be downloaded and the data exported into databases or other applications such as spreadsheets to accumulate test results for more than one test administration. Once centralized, that data may be sorted or filtered to gain unique and meaningful results for the institution. For example, test results may be sorted by examinee to view the cumulative test results for a testing candidate over a given period. Or test results may be filtered to display examinees who have not yet passed a test.
The data can also be merged with additional institution records, such as courses taken by individual NYSTCE candidates, to determine whether candidates not passing the NYSTCE are lacking critical coursework prior to testing, or whether coursework taken is not adequately preparing candidates for the NYSTCE.
These test results files may be most appropriately used to monitor individual candidate testing and performance during the program year and may also be used to supplement the analysis of program performance as described in "Analyzing Annual Institution Test Results Report for Title II Program Completers to Improve Program Performance."
ASCII Data File Provided Annually
New York State institutions receive the following ASCII data file at the end of each program year:
The Annual Institution Results for Title II Program Completers File, which contains the following information for the institution, institution sector, and all institutions:
- Test code
- Program year
- Number of examinees
- Number of examinees who passed the test
- Percent of examinees who passed the test
- N for means
- Mean total test score
- Number of subareas on the test
- Mean scaled subarea results
Data from the ASCII file can be exported into spreadsheets or other applications and accumulated over multiple program years. Once centralized, that data may be sorted or filtered to gain unique and meaningful results for the institution. For example, test results may be sorted by program year to view trends over time. The data can also be formatted for accreditation reporting purposes.
Evaluation Systems, Pearson, P.O. Box 226, Amherst, MA 01004
Terms of Use