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Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create AccountAspiring elementary school educators in the state of Illinois are required to take and pass the Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) Elementary Education exam. This is a 150-question computer-based exam in multiple-choice format that tests a candidate's knowledge of subjects taught at the 1st to 6th grade levels. Candidates will have 4 hours to complete the ILTS 305 exam; an additional 15 minutes is used for a tutorial and a review and signing of a nondisclosure agreement regarding the testing center's rules and administration of the test.
This ILTS Elementary Education study guide is designed to introduce potential test-takers to the test contents. It also reviews the registration process, scoring information, test-taking strategies, and source materials that can be used to prepare for this exam.
The ILTS Elementary Education exam consists of six subareas. The categories and the total percentage of each subarea of the ILTS 305 are:
The ILTS 305 is designed to assess one's level of knowledge of this material and measure one's preparation in adequately teaching this range of subjects. It is important for prospective elementary educators to demonstrate their full understanding of these subjects and their ability to teach these concepts to first- through sixth-graders, as in most cases at the elementary school level these topics are taught by a single teacher rather than individual educators teaching a single subject each.
Subarea 1 of the ILTS Elementary Education exam covers Language and Literacy. It contains 39 questions, 31 of which are scorable and 8 which are non-scorable.
In addition to curriculum development and the Learning Standards for language and literacy in the state of Illinois, test-takers must demonstrate their understanding of language development, second-language development, literacy evaluation, and differentiated instructional strategies in language and literacy.
This subarea will measure one's knowledge of, among other related topics:
The test-takers must not only show their understanding of these topics, but must be familiar with instructional strategies and approaches appropriate for elementary school students.
In Subarea 2 of the ILTS 305, test-takers must show their skills in and understanding of various mathematics concepts. Subarea 2 also has 31 scoreable questions and 8 non-scoreable questions.
Test-takers will be expected to understand how elementary-age students develop math skills, relevant developmental benchmarks, state learning standards for math, teaching strategies for math subjects, and effective math tools used to relate this material to elementary school students.
Math topics test-takers are assessed on include:
The third subarea of the ILTS 305 exam covers science concepts. This subarea consists of 19 questions, 15 of which are scoreable.
Questions in this subarea will measure a candidate's knowledge of physical, earth, and life science topics. Candidates are expected to understand how scientific inquiries are tested and validated, how scientific evidence is used to build arguments, the interpretation of scientific data, safety practices in scientific research, science instruments and technologies, and effective methods for teaching the skills required to investigate and ask questions about scientific processes and hypotheses.
Science subjects that test-takers should be familiar with include:
In the fourth subarea of the ILTS Elementary Education exam, test-takers will answer a total of 19 questions, four non-scoreable, that address topics in sociology, government, geography, politics, and citizenship.
Test-takers should be familiar with instructional strategies and models relating to the teaching of these concepts in economics, history, civics, and culture. Specific topics they should be aware of include:
The 13 questions in the Fine Arts subarea of the ILTS 305 exam focuses on topics in music, drama, and the visual arts. Two of the questions in this area are non-scoreable.
Test-takers will need to be knowledgeable about instructional approaches and curriculum design in these areas. They should recognize fine arts terminology, technologies, and assessment processes in these subjects.
Questions are likely to address:
The final subarea of the ILTS Elementary Education exam contains 19 questions, four of which are non-scoreable, that cover fitness, sports, physical activity, and human body systems.
Besides understanding teaching strategies, learning processes, and assessment practices for elementary school students regarding these subjects, test-takers will need to be knowledgeable about:
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create AccountWhile the ILTS Elementary Education exam can be challenging, candidates should take every opportunity to prepare with a detailed study guide and practice tests.
A good ILTS 305 study guide should contain:
A study guide might also contain an ILTS Elementary Education practice test. Practice tests are a vital way in which to determine one's strengths and weaknesses regarding the topics covered in the ILTS 305 exam.
As discussed, an ILTS 305 practice test is an important tool one can use to determine their level of readiness in taking the exam. A practice test can help identify which topics one is knowledgeable about and which ones they are not as familiar with. They can then concentrate on those topics they might be struggling with and not spend valuable study time on material they do not need to review.
Once a candidate has reviewed the material that will be found on the ILTS Elementary Education exam, referenced a study guide, taken practice tests, and focused on the topics they have identified as their weak point, now what?
Now it's time to prepare for actual test day! Here are some strategies a candidate can use to be their best when they walk into the testing center on the day of their exam.
If a candidate has taken advantage of a study guide and used practice tests over the weeks leading up to the ILTS 305 exam, then they have avoided a major no-no when it comes to adequately preparing to take a test: they did not cram the material in the days leading up to the exam.
What else can a candidate do to help ensure they are at peak performance on the day they take the ILTS Elementary Education exam? Most suggest that eating a good breakfast and getting adequate sleep (at least 8 hours) go a long way on the day of an exam. A breakfast high in protein and complex carbohydrates will help avoid feeling tired, while a full night's sleep can lead to better concentration and mental awareness.
Here are some test-taking strategies candidates can use during the test:
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After reviewing all ILTS Elementary Education exam materials and feeling sure that they are ready to sit for the exam, a candidate will need to register for the ILTS 305 and pay exam fees. The following provides details about the registration process and how to pay the necessary fees required to sit for the exam.
The exam fee for taking the ILTS 305 is $122. Accepted forms of payment are a VISA or MasterCard credit or debit card. A check card with either logo is also acceptable. Candidates who have a voucher can apply it when they register. Those without a credit, debit, or check card can make arrangements to pay by check.
To register for the ILTS Elementary Education exam, candidates must go to the ILTS website and create an account. During the registration process, payment of exam fees must be made using one of the acceptable means outlined above. Then, schedule the time and date of the exam and the testing center of choice. An email from Pearson VUE, which administers the ILTS exam, will confirm the test's date, time, and location.
After taking the ILTS Elementary Education exam, candidates now await their results. For the ILTS 305 exam, it takes about 3-4 weeks for the score to be emailed. A score report date is provided based on the date the candidate took the exam. Candidates can access their account to view their score. They may also print the results, which are available in a candidate's account for a 2-year period.
A score of at least 240 on a scale of 100-300 must be attained to pass the ILTS Elementary Education exam. Scores are determined based on the total number of correct answers only; wrong answers do not count against the score.
Should a candidate not achieve a passing score on the ILTS 305, they will have the opportunity to retake the exam. The wait period to retake the ILTS Elementary Education exam is 14 days from the candidate's last test date. Candidates retaking an ILTS exam must complete the full registration as they did the first time. This includes paying the exam fees again.
The ILTS 305 Elementary Education exam contains 150 multiple-choice questions. The questions appear over six subareas: Language and Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Fine Arts, and Physical Development and Health.
Reviewing a detailed study guide and taking practice tests are the most effective ways to prepare for the ILTS 305 exam. A study guide offers an overview of the test's contents as well as test-taking tips and sample questions, while practice tests can help candidates find out which topics they might struggle with so they can spend more time studying those specific subjects.
