FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

If a teacher wants to prepare her students for a standards test, what should she focus on?

1. State standards and benchmarks

2. General teaching methods

3. Student preferences

4. Random topic selection

The correct answer is: State standards and benchmarks

Focusing on state standards and benchmarks is essential for preparing students for a standards test because these guidelines outline the specific skills and knowledge that students are expected to acquire at each grade level. State standards are created to ensure consistency across the education system, providing a clear framework for what is important for students to learn in each subject. By aligning instruction with these standards, the teacher can ensure that the content covered in class directly corresponds to what will be assessed on the test. This alignment allows the teacher to focus on the key areas that students need to master, thereby helping them to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to perform well on the exam. Moreover, by systematically addressing these benchmarks, the teacher can identify areas where students may need more support and tailor her teaching strategies to address those specific needs, ultimately leading to improved student performance. In contrast to this focused approach, general teaching methods and student preferences might not align with the specific requirements of the standards test. Random topic selection would likely lead to an ineffective review process, as it would not ensure coverage of the essential content areas that are formally assessed.