If you plan to teach English language learners in California, you may have heard of the CTEL exam. This exam assesses whether you have the requisite knowledge to instruct, assess, and support students who are learning to speak English.
To prepare for the test, it’s crucial to understand its scoring system. This article delves into everything you need to know about CTEL exam scores.
Overview of the CTEL Exam
The CTEL exam will evaluate your readiness to instruct English language learners via these three subtests:
- CTEL: Subtest I (031)
- CTEL: Subtest II (032)
- CTEL: Subtest III (033)
Overall, the test consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and four written essays. Subtest I has a time limit of 1 hour and 45 minutes, while Subtest II has a time limit of 2 hours and 45 minutes. Subtest III must be completed within 1 hour and 30 minutes. This amounts to a total test time of 6 hours.
Our CTEL exam overview can give you more information about the structure of this test.
How the Exam is Scored
The CTEL exam is scored by taking the sum of your correct answers and converting this into a scaled score that takes test difficulty into account. The exam is scored via computer.
Passing Score
To pass the CTEL exam, you must pass all three subtests. The minimum passing score for each subtest is 220.
For more scoring information on the individual subtests, check out our Scoring Guides for these exams:
CTEL: Subtest I (031) Scoring Guide
CTEL: Subtest II (032) Scoring Guide
CTEL: Subtest III (033) Scoring Guide
Understanding Your Score Report
The first part of your CTEL score report will include:
- Each subtest you took
- The date of each subtest taken
- Whether you passed
- Your score on each subtest (if you did not pass)
- A list of subtests you’ve passed to date
The second part of your CTEL score report will include:
- Each subtest taken
- Diagnostic information for each subtest, which shows how well you performed in different content areas
For more details about how to interpret your score report, refer to this guide to CTEL results.
Retaking the Exam
If you don’t pass the CTEL exam, you can retake it. You will need to re-register and submit new payments, but you only have to register for the subtests you have yet to pass. You must wait 45 days between each attempt.
Before you re-register, it’s crucial to evaluate what went wrong on your previous attempt. Carefully analyze your score report to identify areas of weakness and develop a targeted study plan to improve your performance on those subtests, content domains, or question types.
Conclusion:
Your CTEL exam scores help assess your readiness to teach, assess, and support students who are English language learners. Understanding how this test is scored and what is required to pass should help you prepare more effectively, maximizing your chances of success. If you don’t pass the exam on your first try, remember to take advantage of the detailed performance breakdown on your score report. It may provide helpful insights.
With diligent study and a clear understanding of the test, you will be prepared to excel on the CTEL exam.
More CTEL Resources
- Start your test prep with a free CTEL practice test.
- Dig deeper into the structure of the exam using our CTEL exam overview.
- Looking for even more study help? Check out our study guide for the CTEL exam.
