New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) – Sample

Read the passage below; then answer the three questions that follow.
Children can benefit greatly from
learning how to play chess. Through
studying and playing chess, they
strengthen their thinking, learn how to
deal with competitive situations, and
develop important social skills.
Playing chess requires hard thinking.
Players must analyze moves and decide
on the best one to play. Then they must
live with their decision no matter how
good or bad the move.
Players must set goals and fight their
way toward achieving them. Usually,
the first player to make a bad moveloses the game, but not always. Staying
focused on winning the game and
overcoming setbacks are valuable
experiences for young people.
Chess also helps children improve their
social skills. Learning to win graciously
is just as important as learning to be a
good loser. Both of these skills help
children interact successfully with other
people.
Chess can be a great deal of fun to play.
It can also teach children valuable skills
that they can use for the rest of their
lives.
Read the sentence below, taken from
the fourth paragraph of the passage;
then complete the exercise that follows.
Learning to win graciously is just as
important as learning to be a good
loser.
Select the best definition of the word
graciously as it is used in the sentence
above.

What is the topic sentence of the passage?

According to the passage, how do children
develop social skills while playing chess?

Which sentence is in the present tense?

Choose the best word to complete the
sentence below.
The new principal, ________ speaks four
languages, has some exciting ideas to
suggest.

Which of the following is not a complete
sentence?

Which word is spelled incorrectly?

How many centimeters are in 7 meters?

A cashier has $42 in his cash drawer at the
beginning of his shift. During his shift, he
collects $815. How much money is in his
drawer at the end of his shift?

What is the remainder when 53 is divided
by 9?