NES Profile: Essential Academic Skills Subtest II: Writing (006)

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Overview

The resources below provide information about this test. The complete set of the competencies and descriptive statements that define the content of the test—the test framework—is provided here.

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the test competencies,
a set of descriptive statements that further explain each competency,
a sample test question aligned to each competency.

Table outlining test structure. Column one contains the structural headings and column two are the structural details.
Test Field	Essential Academic Skills Subtest 2: Writing (006)
Test Format	Multiple-choice questions and constructed-response items
Number of Questions	Approximately 36 multiple-choice items, 1 written assignment
Test Duration	105 minutes 15 minutes for tutorial and nondisclosure agreement 90 minutes testing time
Reference Materials	Written Assignment Directions Written Assignment Scoring Scale

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table outlining test content and subject weighting by test question format and competencies
Key	Approximate Percentage of Test Score	Test Question Format	Range of Competencies
Domain 1	75%	Multiple-Choice Questions	0001 to 0003
Domain 2	25%	Written Assignment	0004

Multiple-Choice Questions

Competencies 0001–0003

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0001 Demonstrate knowledge of the writing process and apply understanding of purpose, audience, organization, and development in writing.

Descriptive Statements:

Demonstrate understanding of the writing process (e.g., prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, publishing).
Demonstrate understanding of effective writing for a given purpose, audience, and occasion.
Recognize the likely effects, on an audience, of a writer's choice of words or phrases.
Recognize and evaluate thesis statements, topic sentences, supporting details, the writer's point of view, and shifts in point of view (e.g., from first to third person).
Analyze details and information that enhance or detract from the development of the main idea of a paragraph or passage.
Analyze and select appropriate transitional words or phrases to convey text structure and the sequence of a writer's ideas.

Sample Item:

Read the passage below; then answer the questions that follow.

¹The Mediterranean diet has long been considered one of the best diets available as assessed by both the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the World Health Organization (WHO). ²Interest in this way of eating first arose in the 1960s when a growing number of researchers realized that people who lived in Mediterranean and some North African countries, such as Lebanon, Greece, and Morocco, had lower incidences of cancer and cardiovascular disease. ³One of the most important factors in their health was their diet.

⁴The Mediterranean diet emphasize eating meals rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes. ⁵Fish and seafood should also be eaten weekly, especially herring, sardines, tuna, and salmon, as they are high in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. ⁶Moderate amounts of dairy are allowed, while refined grains and red and processed meats are discouraged. ⁷The main source of fat in this diet comes primarily from olive oil. ⁸In addition to these guidelines, they in support of this diet recommend that people eat in the company of their family and friends and spend at least two and a half hours a week engaged in moderate physical activity.

Which part is least relevant to the main idea of the second paragraph?

Part 4
Part 5
Part 7
Part 8

Correct Response and Explanation (Show Correct ResponseHide Correct Response)

D. Parts 4–7 of Paragraph 2 focus on the ingredients and types of meals that are typically included in a Mediterranean diet. Part 8 discusses how people following a Mediterranean diet should eat with family and engage in moderate exercise, which is the least relevant information to the rest of Paragraph 2.

0002 Demonstrate knowledge of effective syntax, sentence formation, and clarity in written selections.

Descriptive Statements:

Identify errors in subject-verb agreement.
Identify sentence fragments and run-on sentences.
Replace imprecise and inappropriate words and phrases to improve coherence.
Recognize wordiness, redundant expression of ideas, and ineffective repetition of words or phrases.

Sample Item:

Read the passage below; then answer the questions that follow.

Which part contains an error in subject-verb agreement?

Part 4
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8

Correct Response and Explanation (Show Correct ResponseHide Correct Response)

A. Part 4 of Paragraph 2 states, "⁴The Mediterranean diet emphasize eating meals rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes." The usage of the verb "emphasize" is incorrect and should be "emphasizes" to properly agree with the subject of "The Mediterranean diet."

0003 Demonstrate knowledge of standard (i.e., formal, academic) U.S. English writing conventions.

Descriptive Statements:

Recognize and edit errors in the standard use of verb forms.
Analyze and edit errors in the standard use of pronouns.
Identify and edit errors in the standard formation and use of adverbs and adjectives.
Analyze and edit errors in the standard use of comparatives, superlatives, and possessives.
Identify and edit errors in standard punctuation.
Evaluate and edit errors in standard spelling and capitalization.

Sample Item:

Read the passage below; then answer the questions that follow.

Which change is needed to correct an error in pronoun usage?

Part 5: Change "they" to "them."
Part 7: Change "this" to "that."
Part 8: Change "they" to "those."
Part 8: Change "their" to "our."

Correct Response and Explanation (Show Correct ResponseHide Correct Response)

C. Part 8 of Paragraph 2 states, "⁸In addition to these guidelines, they in support of this diet recommend that people eat in the company of their family and friends and spend at least two and a half hours a week engaged in moderate physical activity." The usage of the pronoun "they" is incorrect and should be "those."

Written Assignment

Competency 0004

0004 Demonstrate the ability to compose a developed and cohesive composition in response to an assignment on a given topic.

Descriptive Statements:

Use language and style appropriate to the specified audience, purpose, and occasion.
State and maintain a clear main idea and point of view/perspective with a focused thesis statement.
Provide reasoned, relevant, and specific evidence to support the thesis statement and expand upon the main idea and point of view/perspective.
Select and apply an organizational structure that enhances meaning and is logically sequenced from sentence to sentence and from paragraph to paragraph.
Use precise word choices that accurately and effectively convey meaning and support the thesis statement.
Use correct grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation according to standard writing conventions.

Sample Written Assignment:

It has been proposed that individuals pay a tax on everyday purchases in order to fund free college education for all. Write a composition, to be read by an audience of adults, in which you:

discuss why you agree or disagree with this proposal; and
defend your position with logical arguments and specific examples.

Sample Responses

Sample Strong Response (Show Sample Strong ResponseHide Sample Strong Response)

In recent decades, college tuition has become increasingly expensive, meaning that for most Americans, higher education has become either an impossible dream or one realized only at the cost of crushing student loan debt. I agree that providing access to a free college education for all is a moral imperative, and I believe we can do it without breaking the bank or imposing new financial burdens on already cash-strapped Americans.

In the twenty-first century, a college education has become a prerequisite for employment. Community colleges serve a vital role in our democracy by offering affordable higher education to all. To ensure that they continue to fill this role, community colleges should offer free tuition. Some people have suggested funding such programs with a tax on everyday purchases such as food, clothing, housewares, and gasoline. I disagree with this plan, however, because placing an additional tax on everyday purchases hardly seems like it would lessen the financial burden on struggling families. Higher education should not be paid for by taxing the citizens we are seeking to educate, but by reallocating current tax revenues or by taxing luxury goods like Rolex watches and Bugatti automobiles at a higher rate.

Extending free tuition to four-year public colleges might be unrealistic, but the calls to do so might be less vehement if colleges found a way to lower their prices. College tuition has never been free, but four years at a state university was once a manageable cost for some families. However, competition between colleges has led to outlandish prices as new administrative offices are created, exorbitant salaries are paid to faculty and administration, and luxury amenities are provided for students. State-of-the-art fitness rooms and poke bowl stations in the dining halls may entice prospective students, but they do little to improve the quality of education. If colleges were more frugal in their spending, they could provide a quality education at a reasonable cost.

In conclusion, I support universal access to free college education. This should not be achieved by placing an additional tax on everyday purchases, but by reallocating current tax revenues or by taxing luxury goods at a higher rate. A two-year community college education should be free for all who want it. At the same time, four-year colleges and universities have a civic and moral obligation to drastically lower their costs by refocusing on a quality education instead of extravagant extras.

Sample Weak Response (Show Sample Weak ResponseHide Sample Weak Response)

I disagree with this proposal to pay tax on everyday purchases in order to fund free college education for all. Even if college was free I don't think it should be required for all. Not every person wants to be a doctor or lawyer. We already have a free high scholl, that is enough. It gives you enough education that you can go out and get a job later on, or go on and go to college if that's what you perfer. My brother never went to college, he fixed computers during high school and then after he got a job in IT. Now he is a consultant pulling in over 150,000 a year.

We already spent 13 years in school and that's enough. You shouldn't have to go for another 4 years. How long are we supposed to spend all our daily hours in school? At some point you need to get on with your life. School is supposed to prepare you for the future but what if you never get to the future, just keep poseponing it, then what are you preparing for? That's fine as I made the point above that if you want to be a doctor, an engineer, a lawyer, you need that advance degree. But for most jobs 13 years is enough. If not then what have we been doing all this time?

The last thing anything wants is more taxes to pay. That will go over like a led baloon. Don't we pay enough taxes already? Especailly if we ourselves arent going to go to college. Then I would be paying taxes for someone else to go to college for free. Turn around, four years, that person is getting a job that pays 150,000 and I'm still working at fast food places. That makes zero sense. They should pay me.

To conclude I don't agree that we should have free college education for all. 13 years is enough time, let them get out and get started on Life.

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