WEST-B case studies
WEST-B · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Washington Educator Skills Tests – Basic Skills, commonly called the WEST–B, is the basic-skills testing program for candidates preparing to enter educator preparation programs and the Washington educator workforce. It is organized into three separate subtests - Reading, Writing, and Mathematics - each treated as its own testing event on the official WEST program website. The WEST-B case studies are 5 cases and about 1,854 words.
1Fluent but Not Comprehending
Alvarez teaches 22 third graders. On fall running records, 14 students read a Level M text at 78–92 words per minute with 97% or better accuracy, yet their fiction retells score 2/5 or lower: they name characters and events but omit the problem, solution, and cause–effect links.
435 words, about 2 min2Complex Science Text with English Learners
Okafor's fifth-grade class has 26 students, including 9 English learners and 6 reading two or more years below grade level. The district science unit on ecosystems includes a 780L article with dense academic vocabulary and pronoun references that jump across paragraphs.
367 words, about 2 min3Strong Ideas, Weak Organization
Chen's fourth graders are writing opinion pieces. The class has a 30-minute writing block and 25 students.
330 words, about 2 min4The Larger-Minus-Smaller Error
Delgado's third graders are subtracting three-digit numbers. On an exit ticket, 8 of 24 students answer 402 − 178 = 336.
355 words, about 2 min5Additive Reasoning in Ratio Problems
Rivera's sixth graders are solving ratio problems. Given 'A recipe uses 3 cups of flour for every 2 cups of milk,' 11 of 27 students solve 9 cups flour → 6 cups milk correctly, but when asked how much milk for 7 cups flour, many write 6 cups because 'you add 4.' Others set up 3/2 = 7/x and cross-multiply correctly but cannot say whether 4.67 cups is reasonable.
367 words, about 2 min