MTEL

Overview

The MTEL exam is required of all persons seeking MA licensure. The two-part test consists of the Communication & Literacy Skills exam (testing reading comprehension and writing composition skills) and the Subject-Matter exam (this exam is aligned with the MA Curriculum Frameworks and the expected subject-matter knowledge is equivalent to a Bachelors in the subject area). Those seeking a MA teacher license must take both the Communications and Literacy Skills and Subject-Matter exams. Some Teacher licenses require more than one Subject-Matter exam. (Please see the DOE's MTEL website for specific information on which test(s) are required for the Teacher license you wish to seek.) Those seeking Administrator and Professional Support licenses are only required to take the Communication and Literacy Skills exam. Please visit the MTEL website as a first step in preparing for this exam. You will find the MTEL web page to be very helpful and user-friendly. For your convenience, below is some specific information about the exam as well as registration and preparation information.

Test Schedule for 2007-2008

Obtaining Registration Bulletin and Registering for the Test

You may pick up an MTEL Registration Information Flyer in the Career Services Office - Licensure Unit, 025 Longfellow Hall (Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM), access the MTEL Registration Bulletin on the MTEL website, or call (413) 256-2892 to have a copy of the Bulletin sent to you by mail. You may register by mail or via the MTEL website. On each test date, the 4-hour Communication & Literacy Skills test is only offered in the morning, while the 4-hour Subject-Matter tests (with the exception of the Foundations of Reading test) are only offered in the afternoon. The Foundations of Reading test is offered in the morning test session only. Thus, unless you are taking the Foundations of Reading Subject-Matter test, you may only take one Subject-Matter test per administration.

Cost

• $30 Communication & Literacy Skills Reading Subtest
• $40 Communication & Literacy Skills Writing Subtest
• $100 Subject Matter Test
• $30 Required Registration Processing Fee
• $30 Late Registration Fee

Scores & Score Reports

You must obtain a score of 240, out of a range of 100-300, to pass each test. You may retake each test as many times as necessary to pass. Score reports will be mailed out approximately six weeks after the test administration date, and will automatically be sent to you and the Massachusetts Department of Education. HGSE will receive a copy of your scores upon your request. Please see the MTEL website for the score report mailing dates.

List of Exams and Test Objectives

To obtain a complete list of MTEL exams, as well as the specific Test Objectives for each exam, please visit the MTEL website.

Test Prep Available

• Study Guides: To view and download the Test Information Booklets (Study Guides) for the MTEL, please visit the MTEL website. You may also order your own paper copy of the Study Guides to be sent to you by mail at a cost of $8 per booklet. Order forms are available in the MTEL Registration Bulletin (accessible via the MTEL website).
• Full-Length Practice Tests: Full-length practice tests for the Communication and Literacy Skills, Early Childhood, General Curriculum, Mathematics (09) and Foundations of Reading exams are now available via the MTEL website.
• Tips for MTEL Preparation: The Massachusetts DOE provides tips for MTEL preparation on their website.
• Test Prep Workshops: For members of the HGSE community, we provide a test prep workshop in October. The date/time is forwarded to you via e-mail. If you are not a member of the HGSE community but would like to attend a test prep workshop, please see the DOE's list of test prep courses available to the public.
• Test Prep Materials: We have an extensive collection of test prep workbooks available in the Career Services Office - Licensure Unit at 025 Longfellow Hall (Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM) for your use.

Additional Information Needed

Please e-mail Kim Nguyen at kim_nguyen@gse.harvard.edu with any inquiries you may have or to request a meeting with Denise Bowman, Licensure Officer.