OAE ESOL 121 study guide
OAE ESOL 121 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) assessment is one of the Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) tests listed by the State Board of Education of Ohio's testing program, and it is identified by test code 121. It is intended for candidates who are pursuing Ohio educator licensure with an ESOL endorsement or teaching field, and it replaced the earlier ESOL (021) assessment, which retired on September 15, 2025; the last day to register for (021) was September 11, 2025. The public program page does not publish the (121) assessment framework, so the specific domain weights, item counts, and time limits for (121) cannot be confirmed from the source and should be checked on the official assessment page. Preparation resources are organized around the official study materials: the program states that study materials are available for every assessment and practice tests are available for most fields, and a practice test for ESOL (121) became available on 8/21/25. The OAE ESOL 121 study guide has 4 sections and about 1,163 words.
01Foundations of Language and Language Acquisition
Domain I tests how language is structured and how learners acquire a second language. Expect items on the five language subsystems, on major SLA theories, and on the distinction between social and academic language.
280 words, about 1 min02Foundations of ESOL Instruction
Domain II covers program models, scaffolding, standards-based planning, and integrating language with content. Items ask you to choose instruction that makes grade-level content accessible without diluting it.
280 words, about 1 min03Assessment
Domain III tests how teachers identify, place, monitor, and reclassify English learners, and how to keep assessment fair when language is not the construct being measured. Purposes: screening/identification (home language survey, then an ELP screener), diagnostic, formative, progress monitoring, summative, and exit/reclassification.
295 words, about 1 min04Culture
Domain IV tests how culture shapes learning, communication, and family involvement, and how to teach responsively without stereotyping. Items often present a classroom scenario and ask for the interpretation that avoids deficit thinking.
308 words, about 2 min