Test Information Guide

Field 22: Physical Education
Sample Open-Response Item

The following materials contain:

Sample Test Directions for Open-Response Items

This section of the test consists of two open-response item assignments. You will be asked to prepare a written response of approximately 150–300 words for each assignment. You should use your time to plan, write, review, and edit your response for each assignment. You must write responses to both of the assignments.

For each assignment, read the topic and directions carefully before you begin to work. Think about how you will organize your response.

As a whole, your response to each assignment must demonstrate an understanding of the knowledge of the field. In your response to each assignment, you are expected to demonstrate the depth of your understanding of the subject area by applying your knowledge rather than by merely reciting factual information.

Your response to each assignment will be evaluated based on the following criteria.

The open-response item assignments are intended to assess subject knowledge. Your responses must be communicated clearly enough to permit valid judgment of the evaluation criteria by scorers. Your responses should be written for an audience of educators in this field. The final version of each response should conform to the conventions of edited American English. Your responses should be your original work, written in your own words, and not copied or paraphrased from some other work.

Be sure to write about the assigned topics. You may not use any reference materials during the test. Remember to review your work and make any changes you think will improve your responses.

Sample Open-Response Item

Objective 0017
Prepare an organized, developed analysis on a topic related to one or more of the following: physical development and motor learning, movement activities, principles of physical fitness, and the physical education program.

Read the information below; then complete the exercise that follows.

The physical education environment provides a unique setting in which to promote and enhance students' physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development. For instance, sport activities provide opportunities for promoting students' respect for rules and etiquette.

In your essay:

Sample Strong Response to the Open-Response Item

The sample response below reflects a strong knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.

The physical education environment provides an ideal setting for fostering respect for rules and etiquette in students. One activity that would be especially effective for this goal is soccer. Soccer provides the opportunity to demonstrate the importance of fair play, integrity, and commitment to participation. In addition, it requires respect for rules and officials, teammates and opponents, and sports etiquette and social conventions.

In the physical education classroom, a sport education unit in soccer would help promote students' respect for rules and etiquette. The class would be divided into teams with assigned captains. Teams would be responsible for developing drills, practices, and assigning referees and announcers for a culminating unit game. Students would have various roles throughout the unit. During their role as referees, knowledge and enforcement of the rules would be very important.

Prior to starting the unit, students would research the basic rules of soccer. Class time would be used to discuss, demonstrate, and explain the rules and how they apply to game situations. The drills and practices would help reinforce the rules, such as practicing proper throw-ins from the sidelines.

Throughout the unit, the proper etiquette of accepting the officials' calls, listening to the captains' and teammates' suggestions, and internalizing and playing by the rules would be reinforced. Through the soccer sport education unit, students would learn that playing by the rules leads to individual and group success; self-esteem is improved by practicing honesty and fairness; respect is earned through adherence to rules and etiquette. Many rules are designed for safety and fairness within the sport—following the rules will lead to fewer injuries and fairer competition.

Respect for rules and for etiquette will benefit students throughout their lives. Fairness and honesty are valued in all aspects of life, including in business, personal relationships, and day-to-day interactions with other people. By participating in soccer and other sports, students develop beneficial character traits such as fairness, compassion, integrity, and the ability to win or lose with grace, all of which contribute to lifelong wellness.

Scoring Rubric

Performance Characteristics

The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the open-response item(s).

Performance Characteristics
Purpose The extent to which the response achieves the purpose of the assignment.
Subject Matter Knowledge Accuracy and appropriateness in the application of subject matter knowledge.
Support Quality and relevance of supporting details.
Rationale Soundness of argument and degree of understanding of the subject matter.

Scoring Scale

The scoring scale below, which is related to the performance characteristics for the tests, is used by scorers in assigning scores to responses to the open-response item(s).

Score Scale with description for each score point.
Score Point Score Point Description
4 The "4" response reflects a thorough knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is fully achieved.
  • There is substantial, accurate, and appropriate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is sound; there are high-quality, relevant examples.
  • The response reflects an ably reasoned, comprehensive understanding of the topic.
3 The "3" response reflects an adequate knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is largely achieved.
  • There is a generally accurate and appropriate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is adequate; there are some acceptable, relevant examples.
  • The response reflects an adequately reasoned understanding of the topic.
2 The "2" response reflects a limited knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is partially achieved.
  • There is a limited, possibly inaccurate or inappropriate, application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is limited; there are few relevant examples.
  • The response reflects a limited, poorly reasoned understanding of the topic.
1 The "1" response reflects a weak knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is not achieved.
  • There is little or no appropriate or accurate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence, if present, is weak; there are few or no relevant examples.
  • The response reflects little or no reasoning about or understanding of the topic.
U The response is unrelated to the assigned topic, illegible, primarily in a language other than English, not of sufficient length to score, or merely a repetition of the assignment.
B There is no response to the assignment.