Test Design and
Test Framework
Field 214: Visual Arts
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The test design below describes general test information. The framework that follows is a detailed outline that explains the knowledge and skills that this test measures.
Test Design
| Format | Computer-based test (CBT) |
|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 100 multiple-choice questions |
| Time* | 3 hours, 15 minutes |
| Passing Score | 240 |
*Does not include 15-minute CBT tutorial
Test Framework
Pie chart of approximate test weighting outlined in the table below.
| Test Subarea | Number of Test Objectives | Number of Scorable Items | Number of Non-Scorable Items | subarea weight as percent of total test score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subarea 1—Visual Organization | 3 | 20 | 5 | 25 percent |
| Subarea 2—Creating Visual Arts | 3 | 20 | 5 | 25 percent |
| Subarea 3—Culture and Context | 8 | 20 | 5 | 25 percent |
| Subarea 4—Critical Approaches and the Role of Visual Arts | 4 | 20 | 5 | 25 percent |
| Totals | 18 | 80 | 20 | 100 percent |
Subarea 1—Visual Organization
0001—Understand the elements of art and design.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the elements of art and design (e.g., value, color, line, shape, form, space, texture).
- Analyze how the elements of art and design are used to achieve specific effects in given works.
- Analyze how the elements of art and design are used to convey meaning in given works.
0002—Understand the principles of art and design.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of art and design (e.g., balance, contrast, harmony, movement, pattern, repetition, rhythm, unity).
- Analyze how the principles of art and design are used to achieve specific effects in given works.
- Analyze how the principles of art and design are used to convey meaning in given works.
0003—Understand contemporary approaches to art and design.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary approaches to art and design (e.g., juxtaposition, globalization, hybridization, text and image, social practices).
- Analyze how contemporary approaches to art and design are used to achieve specific effects in given works.
- Analyze how contemporary approaches to art and design are used to convey meaning in given works.
Subarea 2—Creating Visual Arts
0004—Understand the media, materials, tools, technologies, and techniques used in two-dimensional art and design (e.g., drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media).
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of various media and materials used in 2-D art and design.
- Demonstrate knowledge of tools and technologies used in 2-D art and design.
- Demonstrate knowledge of techniques used in 2-D art and design.
- Demonstrate knowledge of safety and the proper use and care of media, materials, tools, technologies, and techniques used in 2-D art and design.
0005—Understand the media, materials, tools, technologies, and techniques used in three-dimensional art and design (e.g., architecture, ceramics, fiber arts, sculpture, metals).
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of various media and materials used in 3-D art and design.
- Demonstrate knowledge of tools and technologies used in 3-D art and design.
- Demonstrate knowledge of techniques used in 3-D art and design.
- Demonstrate knowledge of safety and the proper use and care of media, materials, tools, technologies, and techniques used in 3-D art and design.
0006—Understand the media, materials, tools, technologies, and techniques used in media arts (e.g., graphic design, photography, time-based art, interactive).
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of various media and materials used in media arts.
- Demonstrate knowledge of tools and technologies used in media arts.
- Demonstrate knowledge of techniques used in media arts.
- Demonstrate knowledge of safety and the proper use and care of media, materials, tools, technologies, and techniques used in media arts.
Subarea 3—Culture and Context
0007—Understand works of art from Africa from prehistoric times to the present.
For example:
- Recognize distinguishing historical characteristics of art from various cultures of Africa.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the cultural and historical contexts of art from various cultures of Africa.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how art from various cultures of Africa influenced or was influenced by art from other cultures and historical periods.
0008—Understand works of art from Asia from prehistoric times to the present.
For example:
- Recognize distinguishing historical characteristics of art from various cultures of Asia.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the cultural and historical contexts of art from various cultures of Asia.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how art from various cultures of Asia influenced or was influenced by art from other cultures and historical periods.
0009—Understand works of art from Central America from prehistoric times to the present.
For example:
- Recognize distinguishing historical characteristics of art from various cultures of Central America.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the cultural and historical contexts of art from various cultures of Central America.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how art from various cultures of Central America influenced or was influenced by art from other cultures and historical periods.
0010—Understand works of art from Europe from prehistoric times to the present.
For example:
- Recognize distinguishing historical characteristics of art from various cultures of Europe.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the cultural and historical contexts of art from various cultures of Europe.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how art from various cultures of Europe influenced or was influenced by art from other cultures and historical periods.
0011—Understand works of art from the Middle East from prehistoric times to the present.
For example:
- Recognize distinguishing historical characteristics of art from various cultures of the Middle East.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the cultural and historical contexts of art from various cultures of the Middle East.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how art from various cultures of the Middle East influenced or was influenced by art from other cultures and historical periods.
0012—Understand works of art from North America from prehistoric times to the present.
For example:
- Recognize distinguishing historical characteristics of art from various cultures of North America.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the cultural and historical contexts of art from various cultures of North America.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how art from various cultures of North America influenced or was influenced by art from other cultures and historical periods.
0013—Understand works of art from Oceania from prehistoric times to the present.
For example:
- Recognize distinguishing historical characteristics of art from various cultures of Oceania.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the cultural and historical contexts of art from various cultures of Oceania.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how art from various cultures of Oceania influenced or was influenced by art from other cultures and historical periods.
0014—Understand works of art from South America from prehistoric times to the present.
For example:
- Recognize distinguishing historical characteristics of art from various cultures of South America.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the cultural and historical contexts of art from various cultures of South America.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how art from various cultures of South America influenced or was influenced by art from other cultures and historical periods.
Subarea 4—Critical Approaches and the Role of Visual Arts
0015—Understand the analysis and interpretation of works of visual art.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of aesthetic concepts and theories.
- Apply critical processes to describe, analyze, interpret, and evaluate works of visual art.
- Apply critical models to compare works of visual art or qualities of works of visual art.
0016—Understand the function of visual art and design in history, society, and culture.
For example:
- Demonstrate understanding of the ways in which popular media, visual art and design, and culture shape and influence one another.
- Analyze the function of visual art and design in various eras, cultures, and societies (e.g., provide information, entertain, persuade).
- Demonstrate understanding of careers and jobs in visual art and design (e.g., illustrator, sculptor, graphic designer, painter, art and design educator, photojournalist, museum curator, architect, animator, art therapist).
- Recognize the significance of subjects, themes, and symbols in works of visual art and design.
0017—Understand the commonalities, distinctions, and connections in and among the arts (e.g., visual arts, dance, music, drama/theatre) and other disciplines.
For example:
- Compare and contrast ways in which visual art and design and other arts share processes, expressive ideas, similar themes, historical periods, or societal or cultural contexts.
- Analyze and evaluate similar and distinctive characteristics of works of visual art and design in and among the arts.
- Analyze how developments in the arts have paralleled and influenced one another throughout history.
- Demonstrate knowledge of ways in which visual art and design are related to content and concepts in other disciplines.
0018—Understand the teaching of visual art and design in a school setting.
For example:
- Demonstrate understanding of child development and how it is reflected in the artwork of children.
- Demonstrate understanding of methods for differentiating instructional strategies and assessment methods for the needs of individual students.
- Demonstrate knowledge of factors to consider in visual art and design education (e.g., age appropriateness, cost).
- Demonstrate understanding of the value of authentic assessment strategies (e.g., portfolios, journaling) in visual art and design.