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Section 3: Test Summary and Framework
WEST–E Social Studies (028)

The Washington Educator Skills Tests–Endorsements (WEST–E) are designed to measure a candidate's knowledge of the subject-area content contained in the test framework for each field. All WEST–E tests are fully aligned with the state's teacher endorsement competencies and, as applicable, the Essential Academic Learning Requirements.

Test Summary

This test summary describes general testing information as well as the approximate percentage of the total test score derived from each content domain. The test framework, organized by content domain, contains the objectives that define the content for the test.

Format Computer-based test (CBT) and online-proctored test
Number of Questions Approximately 110 multiple-choice questions
Test Session 2 hours and 30 minutes (does not include 15-minute tutorial and nondisclosure agreement)
Passing Score 240 (scores are calculated in a range from 100 to 300)
Test Code 028

Pie chart of approximate test weighting outlined in the table below.

Table outlining sample test content and subject weighting by sub area and objective
Key Approximate
Percentage of Test
Content Domain Range of Objectives
I 16% Civics 0001 to 0004
II 12% Economics 0005 to 0007
III 16% Geography 0008 to 0011
IV 20% U.S. History 0012 to 0016
V 20% World History 0017 to 0021
VI 16% Social Studies Concepts and Skills 0022 to 0025

Test Framework

Civics

Objective 0001: Understand the purposes and functions of governments, laws, and political systems and the organization of government in the United States.

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Objective 0002: Understand key ideals and principles of democratic government in the United States.

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Objective 0003: Understand the U.S. election process, the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and the principles of democratic civic involvement.

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Objective 0004: Understand principles of international law, international relationships, and the goals and execution of United States foreign policy.

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Economics

Objective 0005: Understand basic economic concepts and apply that knowledge to examine economic issues and problems.

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Objective 0006: Understand how economic systems function and basic principles of international economics.

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Objective 0007: Understand the role of government in the U.S. economic system.

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Geography

Objective 0008: Understand the uses of maps, globes, and other geographic tools and the location and characteristics of major physical features of the earth.

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Objective 0009: Understand the human geography of places and regions.

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Objective 0010: Understand the interactions between humans, the environment, and culture.

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Objective 0011: Understand the geographic context of major global issues and events.

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U.S. History

Objective 0012: Understand major developments in early U.S. history from the precontact period to 1791.

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Objective 0013: Understand major political, economic, and social developments in U.S. history from 1791 to 1877.

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Objective 0014: Understand major political, economic, and social developments in U.S. history from 1877 to 1945.

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Objective 0015: Understand major political, economic, and social developments in U.S. history from 1945 to the present.

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Objective 0016: Understand major events, individuals, themes, and developments in Washington State history.

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World History

Objective 0017: Understand the development of major world civilizations from 8000 BCE to 600 CE.

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Objective 0018: Understand major developments in world history from 600 to 1600.

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Objective 0019: Understand major developments in world history during the Era of Global Expansion and Encounter (1450 to 1750).

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Objective 0020: Understand major developments in world history during the Age of Revolutions (1750 to 1914).

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Objective 0021: Understand major developments in world history during the modern era (1914 to the present).

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Social Studies Concepts and Skills

Objective 0022: Understand and apply social studies terms, concepts, and perspectives.

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Objective 0023: Understand how to locate social studies information.

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Objective 0024: Understand methods for analyzing and interpreting social studies information and applying critical reasoning to evaluate presentations of social studies data.

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Objective 0025: Understand methods for presenting social studies information, communicating about social studies topics, and deliberating effectively with others.

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