University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown

Assessment Tests

Effective March 2016, candidates may combine individual tests from different vendors to meet the basic skills requirement. The policy is retroactive for all open applications.

Information regarding PAPA, SAT, ACT or CORE skills assessment tests:

There are several options regarding testing:

PAPA

PAPA Reading –  Qualifying score of 220 or minimum composite score of 193

PAPA Mathematics – Qualifying score of 193 or minimum composite score of 174

PAPA Writing – Qualifying score of 220 or minimum composite score of 192

To meet the qualifying composite score, you must meet a minimum score in each test area (Math, Reading and Writing) and then exceed the passing score by an amount equal to the Standard Error of Measurement in one or two of the other test areas. Your test scores are added together, and if the scores total 663, then you have passed the PAPA.

Sum of the 3 PAPA tests must total or exceed 663. The total does not represent the sum of the 3 minimum scores. You much achieve a Qualifying Score (at least 193 or 174 in Mathematics) in at least one of the PAPA tests AND also reach the Minimum Composite Score Total of 663 when all three test scores are added together.

SAT

SAT test taken prior to March 1, 2016: The Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) score of 500 or higher in each individual section – Critical Reading, Writing, Mathematics. There is no composite scoring option.

SAT test taken after March 1, 2016 and Later:  Critical Reading score of 27 (minimum composite 25); Mathematics score of 26 (minimum composite 24); and Writing and Language score of 28 (minimum composite 26). Composite Score Method for SAT Tests: If the sum of your reading, mathematics and writing modules total 81 or higher AND each module’s score meets the minimum score above you meet the basic skills requirement.

ACT

Tests taken prior to September 2015 require a composite score of 23 accompanied by a combined English/Writing score of 22 or higher and a Math score of 21 or higher. Tests taken after September 2015 require separate scores of Reading - 22; Mathematics - 21; and Writing - 21. 

Tests taken between September, 2015 and August 2016 require a passing score of Reading 22 (minimum composite 20); Mathematics 21 (minimum composite 19); and Writing 21 (minimum composite 19). If the sum of your reading, mathematics and writing modules total 64 or higher AND each module’s score meets the minimum composite score above you meet basic skills.

Tests taken September 2016 and Later require a score of Reading 22 (minimum composite 20); Mathematics 21 (minimum composite 19) and Writing 8 (minimum composite 7). If the sum of your reading, mathematics and writing modules total 51 or higher AND each module’s score meets the minimum composite score above you mee the basic skills requirement.

CORE

Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators

Information on the CORE can be found on the Praxis website at:  www.ets.org/praxis/about/core/content/

CORE Academic Skills for Educators: Reading – Qualifying Score of 156 or minimum composite of 148

CORE Academic Skills for Educators: Writing – Qualifying Score of 162 or minimum composite of 158

CORE Academic Skills for Educators: Math – Qualifying Score of 142 or minimum composite of 132

Composite Score Method (for non-vocational certification) CORE tests:

Minimum Composite Score Total: 460

Sum of the three CORE tests must total or exceed 460. This total does not represent the sum of the 3 minimum scores. You must achieve a Qualifying Score in at least one CORE area AND also reach the Minimum Composite Score Total of 460 when all three test scores are added together.