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Test Structure
American Sign Language (186/187/188) 

Introduction

CSET: American Sign Language consists of three separate subtests, each composed of both multiple-choice and constructed-response questions. Each subtest is scored separately.

The structure of the examination is shown in the tables below. 

Table outlining the test format, number of questions, time, and passing score.
Test Name CSET: American Sign Language
Test Code
  • Subtest I (test code 186)
  • Subtest II (test code 187)
  • Subtest III (test code 188)
Time
  • Subtest I: 1 hour and 30 minutes
  • Subtest II: 1 hour and 15 minutes
  • Subtest III: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Number of Questions
  • Subtest I: 30 multiple-choice questions and 2 constructed-response questions
  • Subtest II: 30 multiple-choice questions and 2 constructed-response questions
  • Subtest III: 18 multiple-choice questions and 4 constructed-response questions
Proportions of subtest sections used to determine overall score
  • Subtest I: 70% multiple-choice questions and 30% constructed-response questions
  • Subtest II: 70% multiple-choice questions and 30% constructed-response questions
  • Subtest III: 40% multiple-choice questions and 60% constructed-response questions

Test Structure

Table outlining test content subject weighting by domain.
Subtest Domain Number of Multiple-Choice Questions Number of Constructed-Response Questions*
I Literary and Cultural Texts and Traditions 10 1 short (focused)
I Cultural Analysis and Comparisons 20 1 extended 
Subtest I Total 30 1 short (focused) 
1 extended
II General Linguistics 10 none
II Linguistics of the Target Language—American Sign Language (Language Structures; Contrastive Analysis; Sociolinguistics and Pragmatics) 20 2 short (focused)
Subtest II Total 30 2 short (focused)
III Linguistics of the Target Language—American Sign Language (Error Analysis)  none 1 short (focused)
III Language and Communication: Receptive Comprehension  18 1 short (focused)
III Language and Communication: Expressive Production none 2 short (focused)
Subtest III Total 18 4 short (focused)

*For Subtest I, examinees may respond to each constructed-response item in either ASL or written English. For Subtest II, examinees must respond in written English. For Subtest III, examinees must respond in ASL.

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