The Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Educational Leadership (015) exam is for established Ohio teachers who are pursuing an endorsement in Educational Leadership.
Eligibility
To obtain an Educational Leadership endorsement, you must meet either traditional or non-traditional pathway requirements. Both pathways require an individual to pass the Educational Leadership (015) examination.
Test design
The Educational Leadership assessment is designed to measure your knowledge and skills as a beginning administrator in the role of principal or superintendent. The evaluation uses the standards identified in the Ohio Educational Preparation Standards, Ohio Educator Standards, and Ohio Student Standards publications.
The exam is a computer-delivered test consisting of three sections – a multiple-choice section, a constructed-response section, and a case study assignment. You have 225 minutes to complete all sections of the examination.
The multiple-choice section contains 70 questions and is 60% of the total score of the exam. The section is divided into four domains:
- Visionary and Inclusive Leadership – 20%
This domain examines your understanding of leadership in guiding the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of learning; your ability to collaborate with stakeholders while mobilizing school and community resources; your skills and knowledge in promoting student success; and your understanding of the interaction political, social, economic, legal, ethical, and cultural contexts have on the success of all student groups.
- Student Learning – 30%
This domain assesses your understanding of a learning environment with high expectations and an instructional program that promotes student success across all groups.
- Systems for Capacity Building – 30%
In this domain, your understanding of staff professional development and organizational management is evaluated.
- Resource Management and Educational Law – 20%
Your understanding of human resource management, operational management, resource management, learning systems, and legal dimensions of educational leadership is evaluated in this domain.
The constructed-response assignment section consists of three situational questions. Each question evaluates your ability to demonstrate your understanding of the subject matter through your 150-300 word response. Each question is evaluated based on your ability to establish a clear purpose, apply your content knowledge with strong subject support, and establish strong reasoning in your response.
Each constructed-response assignment contains an assignment from one of the following domains:
- Visionary and Inclusive Leadership
- Student Learning
- Resource Management and Educational Law
The Case Study section is a 300-600 word response to an assigned topic. Your response needs to demonstrate your knowledge and skills through the application of your knowledge in a case-study. References materials are not allowed, and your audience is a group of educators, knowledgeable about educational leadership.
All materials for the constructed-response and case study sections is provided. Additional materials are not allowed.
Registration, cost, and location
The registration fee for the Educational Leadership exam is $105.00 and payable Visa, MasterCard or debit card, and Veterans may be eligible for reimbursement through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Registration for the exam is online and valid for one year from your registration date.
Testing centers are located nationwide, and exam dates are available by appointment, year-round.
Test Day
Follow the instructions provided to you for your exam day. The confirmation includes information about the testing center location, your reporting time, required identification, and information about the items allowed or not allowed in the testing center.
On the day of your exam, arrive 15 minutes early to allow time to complete the paperwork and familiarize yourself with the center. At your testing station, you have the chance to take a short computer tutorial. At the conclusion of the tutorial, your exam begins.
Exam scoring and results
Your results are available in your account beginning at 10:00 pm eastern time on the score report date, and emailed to you if you selected that option at registration.
Your score is an accumulation of the number of questions answered correctly in the multiple-choice section and the scores received on the constructed-response and case study sections. Your score is converted to a score on a scale from 100 to 300, and 220 is required to pass the examination.
After 60 days you can register to retake the exam if you did not pass.
How Can I Prepare for the OAE Educational Leadership Test?
That’s a great question. We’ve broken down the answer into three parts.
- Do yourself a favor and study. Do not walk in unprepared. We have recommended prep materials below, but that only helps if you actually try. Plus, studying is actually proven to be the best antidote to test anxiety.
- Take care of yourself. Make sure you’re eating well, exercising, and sleeping. All of these things are scientifically linked to brain performance. If you take care of your body, you’ll be helping your grades.
- Get a study guide or set of flashcards. Some people study better a certain way. Find your study strengths and make the most of them. We’ve tried to make it easy for you by tracking down the best study guide and flashcard set for your exam. Below you’ll see links to both!