Preparation Manual

Section 3: Overview and Exam Framework
TX PACT: Family and Consumer Sciences (721)

Exam Overview

Table outlining the test format, number of questions, time, and passing score.

Exam Name	TX PACT: Family and Consumer Sciences
Exam Code	721
Time	3 hours and 15 minutes total appointment time 15 minutes for CAT tutorial and compliance agreement 3 hours testing time
Number of Questions	125 selected-response questions
Format	Computer-administered test (CAT)

The TX PACT: Family and Consumer Sciences (721) exam is designed to assess whether a test taker has demonstrated the requisite knowledge and skills for admission to an educator preparation program. The 125 selected-response questions are based on the Family and Consumer Sciences exam framework. Your final scaled score will be based only on scored questions.

Domains and Competencies

Table outlining test content and subject weighting by sub area and objective.

Domain	Domain Title	Approx. Percentage of Exam
I	Human Development and Relationships	33%
II	Resource Management and Consumer Skills	25%
III	Nutrition and Foods	25%
IV	Workplace Skills and Careers	17%

The content covered by this exam is organized into broad areas of content called domains. Each domain covers one or more of the standards for this field. Within each domain, the content is further defined by a set of competencies. Each competency is composed of two major parts:

• The competency statement, which broadly defines what an individual should know and be able to do in order to perform effectively in a Texas-approved educator preparation program.
• The descriptive statements, which describe in greater detail the knowledge and skills eligible for testing.

Domain I—Human Development and Relationships

Competency 001—Understand human growth and development throughout the life span.

For example:

1. Recognize theories, principles, sequences, stages, and characteristics of physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development throughout the life span.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the interrelationships and factors that affect physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development throughout the life span.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of techniques, strategies, and resources for fostering optimal physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development throughout the life span.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the effects of heredity and environment on an individual's needs, roles, and goals throughout the life span.

Competency 002—Understand the characteristics of interpersonal relationships and communication.

For example:

1. Recognize the types, characteristics, and importance of interpersonal relationships for supporting well-being.
2. Analyze personal and environmental factors that affect the formation and maintenance of respectful and caring interpersonal relationships.
3. Recognize communication skills and barriers to communication and their effects on relationships.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of decision-making, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and crisis management skills.

Competency 003—Understand families and family well-being.

For example:

1. Recognize types of families and family structures, needs and functions of families, and roles and responsibilities of family members.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of public policies and social, cultural, and economic factors that affect families.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of conflicts, crises, changes, and transitions that affect family well-being and of resources and services for families in need.
4. Identify skills and strategies needed for building and maintaining healthy family relationships and for managing change and crisis.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of the interrelatedness of personal, family, work, and community roles and responsibilities.

Competency 004—Understand the roles and responsibilities of parenting.

For example:

1. Identify factors that affect decisions about becoming a parent/guardian and ways parents/guardians and other members of the family system can prepare for the addition of a child.
2. Recognize stages and physical changes that occur during pregnancy and childbirth and the effects of various factors on prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal health.
3. Recognize parents'/guardians' legal and financial obligations to their children; various styles, expectations, and responsibilities of parenting; and the factors that affect parenting styles, expectations, and responsibilities.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of developmentally appropriate strategies for promoting children's physical, social, intellectual, and emotional development and well-being.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of strategies for promoting and maintaining a healthy environment for parents/guardians and children, including healthcare, hygienic needs, disease and accident prevention, first aid, and emergency planning.
6. Recognize types, risk factors, causes, signs, and effects of child maltreatment.
7. Analyze various child-care options, criteria for evaluating child-care programs, and characteristics of high-quality home and institutional caregivers.

 

Domain II—Resource Management and Consumer Skills

Competency 005—Understand the basic principles of personal and family finance.

For example:

1. Identify principles, steps, and skills involved in developing and maintaining a budget.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of components of short- and long-term financial management plans and factors that affect money management and financial planning throughout the life cycle.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of types of institutions, businesses, and agencies that provide financial services or assistance and the services they provide.
4. Recognize types and characteristics of insurance, savings, investment, and retirement vehicles and the risks and benefits associated with each.
5. Recognize types of credit, procedures for obtaining credit, factors that affect eligibility for credit, appropriate uses of credit, and the consequences of misuse of credit.
6. Analyze the role of consumers in the U.S. economy and the interrelationship between the economic system and consumer behaviors.

Competency 006—Understand consumer skills and the basic principles of resource management throughout the life span.

For example:

1. Recognize individual and family resources and factors that affect how they are used.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of strategies for selecting, adjusting, and adapting individual and family resources to meet their wants, needs, and goals.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of strategies and resources that support the management of personal, family, work, and community commitments, needs, and goals.
4. Identify methods for responsible consumption and conservation of renewable and nonrenewable resources.
5. Recognize methods for researching, identifying, comparing, and evaluating goods and services to support wise consumer decisions and how various factors influence consumer decision making.
6. Identify legal and other considerations regarding the acquisition of transportation and housing.
7. Recognize consumer fraud and deception practices.
8. Demonstrate knowledge of consumer rights and responsibilities and the role of federal and state agencies, legislation, and advocacy groups in protecting consumers.

Competency 007—Understand the selection, design, and maintenance of housing, interiors, textiles, and apparel.

For example:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of factors that affect the consideration, selection, and maintenance of housing and interiors.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of skills and considerations involved in space planning for housing and interiors; elements and principles of design as applied to housing and interiors; and the role of design in meeting individual, family, and group needs throughout the life span.
3. Recognize laws, regulations, and programs related to housing, interiors, furnishings, textiles, and apparel.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of criteria considered in the selection of furnishings and equipment, including the characteristics of various furnishing materials.
5. Identify characteristics of textile fibers, fabrics, and finishes and their applications for a variety of purposes.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of factors influencing wardrobe planning and selection and elements and principles of design as applied to textiles and apparel.
7. Demonstrate knowledge of the techniques, tools, supplies, and equipment for constructing, altering, repairing, cleaning, and maintaining apparel and household textile items and factors affecting the quality of apparel construction.

 

Domain III—Nutrition and Foods

Competency 008—Understand the principles of nutrition and food science.

For example:

1. Recognize sources and functions of nutrients, the function of the digestive process and its effects on nutrition and wellness, and factors that affect the nutritional value of foods and beverages.
2. Identify components of a balanced diet and special nutritional needs of individuals at various stages throughout the life span.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of factors that affect food choices, food customs, and eating habits.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of information required for food labels and packaging and how to interpret food label information, including health- and nutrition-related claims.
5. Analyze causes, characteristics, and effects of nutritional deficiencies and excesses throughout the life span.
6. Apply knowledge of principles and techniques for establishing and maintaining healthy eating and wellness practices for individuals, families, and groups.
7. Demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles of food science.
8. Recognize how scientific, technological, and environmental factors affect the nutrient content and availability of foods.

Competency 009—Understand the principles of kitchen and food safety and sanitation in home, commercial, and institutional settings.

For example:

1. Identify kitchen safety hazards, safety precautions, and emergency procedures.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the symptoms, causes, and consequences of food-borne illnesses.
3. Recognize guidelines, procedures, and standards for maintaining food safety and sanitation in home, commercial, and institutional environments.
4. Identify the role of federal, state, and local agencies involved in food safety and sanitation.
5. Recognize how scientific, technological, and environmental factors affect food safety.

Competency 010—Understand food preparation concepts and skills in home, commercial, and institutional settings.

For example:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of principles, techniques, and terminology of food preparation and presentation.
2. Recognize healthy food selection, storage, and preparation methods.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of principles of meal and menu planning, portion control, and food budgeting/costing.
4. Apply knowledge of the appropriate selection, use, care, and storage of kitchen tools and equipment.
5. Apply skills and strategies for following, interpreting, converting, scaling, and modifying recipes/formulas for various purposes.
6. Identify various food preparation, dining etiquette, table settings, and meal service styles among cultures within and outside the United States.

 

Domain IV—Workplace Skills and Careers

Competency 011—Understand career options related to family and consumer sciences.

For example:

1. Identify career and entrepreneurial opportunities related to family and consumer sciences professions.
2. Recognize the economic conditions for and employment trends within various family and consumer sciences career paths.
3. Identify training requirements, skills, experience, and aptitudes necessary for careers in family and consumer sciences.
4. Recognize the role of the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) in developing student professionalism and leadership traits.
5. Identify federal, state, and local standards, policies, regulations, and laws that affect family and consumer sciences professions.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of business-planning and management skills.

Competency 012—Understand employment and employability skills.

For example:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the career-planning process, factors to consider when evaluating career options, methods for exploring career opportunities, and components of a career plan.
2. Recognize procedures for searching, applying, and interviewing for a job.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of customer/client service skills and factors that contribute to high-quality customer/client relationships.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of personal qualities, skills, and ethics that facilitate success in the workplace.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of principles for effective communication and managing stress and conflict in the workplace.
6. Identify rights and responsibilities of employees and employers; and state and federal agencies, laws, regulations, and policies that affect employment.

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