The MTEL is a suite of exams to test and provide licensure for prospective educators in Massachusetts. It was instituted in 1998 in order to ensure the quality and knowledge of educators serving the Massachusetts Commonwealth. Anyone looking to teach K-12 in the state of Massachusetts will need to pass the MTEL Communication and Literacy, as well as any subject/grade specific test (Music Teachers taking the Music MTEL, English Teachers taking the English MTEL, etc.)
The contents of each specific subject of the MTEL will be different, however the general outline remains the same. Each major subject will have multiple ''subareas'' within it (anywhere from three to nine), for example, General Science could have the subarea of Technology and Engineering. Underneath the subarea it will list the testing objective as well as a larger, clarifying paragraph for that subarea. Paying attention to these details will help ensure accuracy in test answers.
The tests generally consist of a selection of multiple-choice questions (anywhere from 30 to 100), a handful of short-response questions, and one to three open-response questions that generally have a required 20-30 minutes of preparation for the test taker. Other tests may require lengthier written and composition portions and will accommodate extra time for those.
While every MTEL test will have some mix of these types of questions, note that each question type has a specific objective. For example, multiple-choice questions will be assessing its test taker's understanding of one objective, while the open-response questions will be looking at their understanding of multiple objectives. This also means that if a test objective is long and complicated, one can expect to find more open-response questions. If the objective is short, one can expect more multiple choice questions.
Access thousands of practice questions so that there are no surprises on the exam
The correct answers are highlighted with green below. Create an account to keep studying for the .
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create AccountGetting a MTEL test date that works with one's schedule can be tricky. MTEL exam dates are flexible and work with virtually any schedule. For the majority of subjects, MTEL dates are offered by appointment Monday through Saturday throughout the year. There are no sign-up or scheduling windows, so the test can be scheduled any day of the week at any time.
While most subject areas are offered year round, others are not. Instead they have specific windows that they fall into as follows:
| Test | Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| 026 French 028 Spanish |
late-September to early-October early-May to mid-May and late-June to early-July |
| 029 Chinese (Mandarin) | early-May to mid-May |
| All foreign languages | mid-November to late-November and early-March to mid-March |
| Adult Basic Education Dance Latin/Classical Humanities Political Science Philosophy |
late-September to mid-October mid-November to mid-December early-March to early-April and for the majority of May. |
Note that MTEL exam dates cannot land on observed holidays. Massachusetts' recognized holidays are:
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create AccountThe first step to registering for chosen MTEL exam dates is to have an account on the official MTEL website. Through that account, tests can be scheduled, paid for, cancelled, and rescheduled.
There are plenty of MTEL testing centers to choose from. Most tests are available to be taken online remotely through MTEL online proctoring. Other tests need to be taken at an in-person facility. In-person tests are taken at Pearson Institute locations, of which there are dozens spread across the state of Massachusetts. The Pearson VUE website has an tool to find the closest testing center.
If a candidate needs to cancel their MTEL test date, they can do so either through their account on the MTEL website, or by calling the main office. As long as a cancellation is made more than 24 hours before the MTEL exam date, the test taker will receive a full refund. In the event of an emergency cancellation, a written request can be sent and a free voucher for a new MTEL test may be provided. Note that in the case of a medical emergency, a doctor's note will be required.
There are no pre-requisites for taking and scheduling MTEL tests. Theoretically, the MTEL can be taken before an undergraduate degree is completed, but it's not advisable, as MTEL test results are good for two years and should be planned to be submitted within that time frame.
In preparation for the test, studying is the key to success. There are many study aids such as MTEL practice tests and study guides, so it can be overwhelming finding a place to begin.
The best place to start is on the MTEL's official website (under the ''Prepare'' section), which has several test-specific study aids. Additionally, there are breakdowns of each subarea a test will cover and their testing objectives. Candidates may take the learning objectives and use them to direct the areas of study.
Another effective strategy is to create unique flash cards for terms that may appear on the relevant MTEL. Flash cards not only can be used as tools to prepare, the act of making them is a form of studying.
Candidates should meet with a faculty advisor to strategize through any persisting knowledge gaps, as they have insight into the goals and materials that are needed to pass the MTEL. They may even recommend additional classes and give direction over unfamiliar areas.
If nerves are high or if the MTEL exam date no longer works, then cancellation or rescheduling may be a smart idea to buy more time for studying. Scores are not negatively affected by such actions.
The MTEL returns scores rapidly, and the MTEL score report dates correspond to the testing date; it usually is only a few weeks out.
If it has been over two weeks past the score report date, and there is no sign of scores, submit a ticket to the MTEL main office. It is also important to never retake a test until receiving a score. A pass or fail is not certain until the scores are reported.
MTEL exam dates do not change the test's cost, as almost all tests cost $139. Individual costs may vary, ranging anywhere from around $60 to $166, but one can reasonably expect to pay about $139.
If none of the in-person options work for MTEL dates, then there are online options available. In fact, most of the MTEL tests can be taken remotely.
The test can be taken until it is passed - there is no maximum number of tries. MTEL test dates will need a minimum 45-day period in between them, however.
