Has anyone taken the ORELA (teaching) test?

SDgirl22

DH found out he has to take it and pass it by June 15th to get into one of the grad schools he applied to. Seems like a very different test than the Cbest, which he passed, so he's curious opinions from those who actually took it.

Thanks!

daisygirl17

I took it and all I can say is study...I didn't and failed one section of it. Luckily, if I decide to do teaching, I can take just that half of it (it's split into two sections)...but I was kicking myself. Literally you need like a 140 or something to pass and I got 139. (I could be off on numbers) I kid you not, I was one number off! hahaha Anyway, I just say he should look up practice tests online and review...funny thing is, it was the what should have been easier section i failed...the section with social studies, etc...honestly I think it was the questions about oregon history that through me off...

SDgirl22

daisygirl17:

I took it and all I can say is study...I didn't and failed one section of it. Luckily, if I decide to do teaching, I can take just that half of it (it's split into two sections)...but I was kicking myself. Literally you need like a 140 or something to pass and I got 139. (I could be off on numbers) I kid you not, I was one number off! hahaha Anyway, I just say he should look up practice tests online and review...funny thing is, it was the what should have been easier section i failed...the section with social studies, etc...honestly I think it was the questions about oregon history that through me off...

Helpful info! Thakns Daisy!! BTW-he has had a hard time finding books, etc. to study from, like he did withthe Cbest-any suggestiosn? (he figured it's because it's such an all encompassing test that it is hard to write a book on "things you should know")

daisygirl17

There's one book but it's crazy expensive...and the guy at the book store told me it wasn't even good...I think that's part of why I didn't really study much. I think there's some practice questions on the website where you sign up for the test, and that's about all I looked at...because I didn't study I don't really know where else you CAN study If math is his weak point (which is my strong point), maybe have him lookover what's covered on the test and then study those concepts..there are some formulas you need to know. my weak point is social studies  because I never paid attention in history growing up in school, so unless I take a history class or something I don't really know how else I can study for that...but like I said there are history questions specifically about Oregon and I completely guessed on those...sorry I'm not of more help I would just google studying for the Orela and see if he can find anything

SDgirl22

Thanks J-I've passed it along!

leikam

I took it and actual felt it wasn't that hard. What I will say, is when taking the test, time management is key. It was the only teaching test that I ran out of time on.

sarbear2

I took it and would say it is hard only because it covers SO MANY topics. The books that were recommended to me where-

"What your Fifth Graders Needs to Know" And "What your Sixth graders Needs to Know" These really helped me. I also checked out a old MSAT book and that helped too (this was the old test). Review all the online stuff too!

 What grad school is he applying to? I know for mine (George Fox) you didn't need to pass the test in order to get in, I think just be signed up to take the test. That is how it was for us at least.

BethaBoo

I pop in here on and off. 

You could also try using the CBEST book to study. It's pretty hard ... More grueling than hard because it's long and covers so much. But it definitely helps to study.

I took notes on every section of the book I studied from and used that to study. It was weeks of studying, but I did fine.

Good luck to your husband!