Exam Overview

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An Overview of the Exam

Test facts, subareas, and scoring

The Learning Behavior Specialist I (290) test is part of the Illinois Licensure Testing System, administered for the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) by the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson. Passing it is one of the requirements for adding the LBS I endorsement to a Professional Educator License (PEL).

Test at a Glance
Feature	Details
Test name and number	Learning Behavior Specialist I (290)
Format	Computer-based test (CBT)
Number of questions	100 multiple-choice questions, each with four answer choices
Testing time	3 hours, 15 minutes
Total appointment time	3 hours, 30 minutes, including a 15-minute tutorial and nondisclosure agreement
Score scale and passing score	Scaled scores from 100 to 300; the passing score is 240
Test fee	$98
Where you test	Pearson VUE test centers in Illinois and nationwide, by appointment year-round
Results	Preliminary results are shown at the test center when you finish; official score reports are released on a published schedule

Subareas and Weights

The test framework has five subareas and thirteen objectives. About 80 of the 100 questions are scored; the remaining questions are unscored items being tried out for future forms. They are not identified, so treat every question as if it counts.

Official Test Framework
Subarea	Objectives	Scorable items	Share of score
I. Understanding Students with Disabilities	0001–0002	13	16%
II. Assessing Students and Developing Individualized Programs	0003–0005	18	23%
III. Supporting Development and Learning	0006–0009	25	31%
IV. Working in a Collaborative Learning Community	0010–0011	12	15%
V. Foundations and Professional Practice	0012–0013	12	15%

Share of the scored items by subarea

III. Supporting Development and Learning — 31%Environments, instruction, behavior

II. Assessment and Individualized Programs — 23%Assessment, eligibility, IEP/IFSP

I. Understanding Students with Disabilities — 16%Development and characteristics

IV + V. Collaboration and Foundations — 30%Teams, families, law, ethics

0001 · Human development

Growth and development and how disability and other factors affect learning.

0002 · Characteristics and needs

Characteristics, needs, and strengths of students with disabilities.

0003 · Assessment

Types, purposes, procedures, and technical quality of assessment for diverse learners.

0004 · Using assessment results

Interpreting results, eligibility, and adjusting instruction.

0005 · Individualized programs

IEPs and IFSPs, goals, services, placement, and least restrictive environment.

0006 · Inclusive environments

Differentiation, universal design, and assistive technology.

0007 · Instructional design

Planning meaningful instruction and engaging students.

0008 · Explicit instruction

Systematic instruction in literacy, math, and content aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards.

0009 · Behavior and social-emotional growth

Behavior interventions, PBIS, social skills, and crisis support.

0010 · Collaboration

Communicating and collaborating with school teams in culturally responsive ways.

0011 · Families and transition

Home-school-community partnerships, transition, and employment.

0012 · Foundations

Historical, legal, and ethical foundations, including IDEA, Section 504, ADA, and FERPA.

0013 · Professional practice

Roles, professional growth, reflection, and cultural competence.

Scoring

Your score is based on the number of scored questions you answer correctly; there is no penalty for wrong answers, so answer every question. Raw scores are converted to a scale of 100 to 300, and a scaled score of 240 passes. Your score report also shows your performance on each subarea, which is useful for planning a retake if you need one.

Target for Practice Tests

Because the scale is not a simple percentage, aim for at least 80% correct on the practice tests in this guide before you sit for the real test. Review every explanation, including those for questions you answered correctly.

Registration and Test Day

Create an ILTS account

Schedule your appointment

Select a Pearson VUE test center and an available date and time.

Request alternative arrangements early

Candidates with documented needs request testing accommodations before scheduling.

Test day

Arrive early with acceptable, unexpired government-issued photo identification that matches your registration name.

After the test

Review your preliminary result at the center and check the official score-report date on the ILTS website.

Always Confirm Current Details

Fees, policies, and score-report dates are set by ISBE and the testing program and can change. Verify them on the official ILTS website before you register.

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Exam Overview

An Overview of the Exam

Test facts, subareas, and scoring

Test at a Glance
Feature	Details
Test name and number	Learning Behavior Specialist I (290)
Format	Computer-based test (CBT)
Number of questions	100 multiple-choice questions, each with four answer choices
Testing time	3 hours, 15 minutes
Total appointment time	3 hours, 30 minutes, including a 15-minute tutorial and nondisclosure agreement
Score scale and passing score	Scaled scores from 100 to 300; the passing score is 240
Test fee	$98
Where you test	Pearson VUE test centers in Illinois and nationwide, by appointment year-round
Results	Preliminary results are shown at the test center when you finish; official score reports are released on a published schedule

Subareas and Weights

Official Test Framework
Subarea	Objectives	Scorable items	Share of score
I. Understanding Students with Disabilities	0001–0002	13	16%
II. Assessing Students and Developing Individualized Programs	0003–0005	18	23%
III. Supporting Development and Learning	0006–0009	25	31%
IV. Working in a Collaborative Learning Community	0010–0011	12	15%
V. Foundations and Professional Practice	0012–0013	12	15%

Share of the scored items by subarea

III. Supporting Development and Learning — 31%Environments, instruction, behavior

II. Assessment and Individualized Programs — 23%Assessment, eligibility, IEP/IFSP

I. Understanding Students with Disabilities — 16%Development and characteristics

IV + V. Collaboration and Foundations — 30%Teams, families, law, ethics

0001 · Human development

Growth and development and how disability and other factors affect learning.

0002 · Characteristics and needs

Characteristics, needs, and strengths of students with disabilities.

0003 · Assessment

Types, purposes, procedures, and technical quality of assessment for diverse learners.

0004 · Using assessment results

Interpreting results, eligibility, and adjusting instruction.

0005 · Individualized programs

IEPs and IFSPs, goals, services, placement, and least restrictive environment.

0006 · Inclusive environments

Differentiation, universal design, and assistive technology.

0007 · Instructional design

Planning meaningful instruction and engaging students.

0008 · Explicit instruction

Systematic instruction in literacy, math, and content aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards.

0009 · Behavior and social-emotional growth

Behavior interventions, PBIS, social skills, and crisis support.

0010 · Collaboration

Communicating and collaborating with school teams in culturally responsive ways.

0011 · Families and transition

Home-school-community partnerships, transition, and employment.

0012 · Foundations

Historical, legal, and ethical foundations, including IDEA, Section 504, ADA, and FERPA.

0013 · Professional practice

Roles, professional growth, reflection, and cultural competence.

Scoring

Target for Practice Tests

Registration and Test Day

Create an ILTS account

Schedule your appointment

Select a Pearson VUE test center and an available date and time.

Request alternative arrangements early

Candidates with documented needs request testing accommodations before scheduling.

Test day

Arrive early with acceptable, unexpired government-issued photo identification that matches your registration name.

After the test

Review your preliminary result at the center and check the official score-report date on the ILTS website.

Always Confirm Current Details

Fees, policies, and score-report dates are set by ISBE and the testing program and can change. Verify them on the official ILTS website before you register.

Finished reading?

Next, start the first chapter.

Next chapter →

ILTS Learning Behavior Specialist I (290)

Exam Overview

Subareas and Weights

Scoring

Registration and Test Day

Exam Overview

Subareas and Weights

Scoring

Registration and Test Day