The NOCTI and industry certification exams use the multiple choice format of testing. It's important to train the students in test-taking strategies so they can perform and pass the exams. Below are some practical strategies to reinforce test-taking strategies.
Model your tests and quizzes off of the four choice multiple choice question format. Whenever developing your own quizzes or exams, make sure that you format your questions similar to the NOCTI or industry certification. This ensures that your students are used to answering questions in this format and will be comfortable with strategies that are focused on the format.
Develop a bank of questions that are aligned to your task list (PAL) and the corresponding duty areas. Through developing a bank of questions, you can align the questions to duty areas based on vocabulary apparent in tasks.
Quiz your students regularly. Give your students short quizzes from time to time. Make sure that the quiz content is from a previously learned unit or lesson. Do this to keep industry specific terms and concepts fresh.
Make industry-specific vocabulary a priority. Students that can identify and define vocabulary will be more likely to answer a question correctly because they will need to figure out what the question is asking.
Review the questions with the students after they've tested or quizzed. It's vital for students to look at the questions outside of the testing environment/time. It will help them look back at the questions and determine if there were any issues with understanding questions or coming up with an answer.
Make sure that you've reviewed the practical part of the blueprint with your IDS and CAS. They may have procedures and tips that have already been used in other NOCTI situations. This experience will prove invaluable in executing the practical portion.
Identify all the tools that will be needed for the job well-before the actual test. Any missing equipment that is essential for the test must be ordered through the CAS and IDS.
Once you have a good idea of what the practical jobs will be; Develop exercises and projects that closely resemble the practical jobs. Develop several of these and time student progress on the jobs. It's important to prepare them with simulations.
The CTE teachers of a program are NOT allowed to proctor the NOCTI. You will have to ask other persons to proctor and evaluate the NOCTI exam.
For the performance part of the NOCTI exam; Find performance proctors that are in your occupational field or pathway. Use your OAC members as proctors, reach out to your network of professionals, and certainly don't be afraid to ask previous students who are now in the field, but are at least three years out of your program.
Make sure to feed your proctors. Buy them lunch and/or breakfast. They are donating their time to support your students and your program.
Honor your proctors at an OAC meeting with plaques, certificates, or other methods of recognition.
For the written part of the NOCTI exam, ask certain building staff to assist with proctoring. As long as the proctor does NOT teach or mentor the students, they may be able to proctor. Examples of written proctors may be:
School-based Testing Coordinator
Academic teachers who have administered Keystone exams and do not teach the CTE students
Counselors
Other CTE teachers who do not teach in the student's CTE program.
Additional Resources
For more guidance regarding NOCTI proctoring, please refer to these documents on the CTE Teacher Resource Website'
Here are some quick links: