PAPA-- Alternate Scoring Method

PAPA- Alternate Scoring Method

To fulfill the Pearson Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA) Test requirement, all teacher certification programs at Penn State will accept either the Original or the "Alternate Scoring Method" established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

The Original Scoring Method established by PDE requires the following “Qualifying scores” for each test. (A minimum Total Score is not required)

Original Scoring Method
220 Math
220 Reading
220 Writing

The Alternate Scoring Method requires at least one score at the 220 level and the following minimum scores for the other tests, plus a minimum Composite score of 686:

197 Math
193 Reading
192 Writing

*Note that the minimum test scores do not total 686, so candidates must achieve higher scores on more than one test to reach the required minimum Composite score.

In the acceptable example below, the scores for each test and the Composite score exceeded the minimum scores required for the Alternate Method:

Alternate Scoring Method
199 Math
236 Reading
253 Writing
688 Composite score

In the unacceptable example below, the scores for each test exceeded the required minimum scores for the Alternate Method, but the required Composite score of 686 was not achieved.

Alternate Scoring Method
201 Math
219 Reading
214 Writing
634 Composite score(Note that the minimum Composite score of 686 was not achieved)

In another unacceptable example, the required Composite score of 686 was met, but one of the individual scores was below the required minimum score

Alternate Scoring Method
268 Math
229 Reading
190 Writing (Note that the minimum score of 192 was not achieved)
687 Composite score

Students may choose to use either scoring method for entrance to and exit from teacher certification programs. At this time, Penn State’s online degree audit is able to list only PDE's original Pearson PAPA qualifying scores for the Entrance to Major requirements, so students qualifying for the "Alternate Scoring Method" must submit the standard Academic Exception Petition Form to their program areas for processing. The program areas will update the degree audits through the usual exception process by indicating "Requirement Completed", which will change any of the PAPA deficiencies (i.e. " - " notations) to " + " notations. The program area also will formally notify the student that the audit has been updated, and send a copy of the petition form to Tammy Thal in 228 Chambers for her to maintain during the certification application process.