MTEL Mathematics (Secondary) (63)

MTEL Mathematics (63) is a computer-based test given at Pearson VUE test centers in Massachusetts and across the country, year-round by appointment, Monday through Saturday. In one appointment you answer 85 multiple-choice questions and write two open-response assignments.

Key Facts About MTEL Mathematics (63)

Test Design at a Glance

Subarea II is the largest single block: functions of every family, from linear to trigonometric. Subarea IV packs probability, statistics, calculus and discrete mathematics into about one-fifth of the test, so expect only a few questions on each. The two open-response assignments together count as much as all of Subarea III.

You may not bring a calculator. A scientific calculator appears on screen during the whole test, and the official MTEL website has a tutorial for it. It is not a graphing calculator, so you must still sketch graphs, solve systems and analyze functions by reasoning. A page of reference formulas is also available on screen. Download the official formulas PDF from the preparation materials page before you study, so you know which formulas you will see and which you must remember.

Multiple-choice questions are scored by the number you answer correctly, and there is no penalty for wrong answers, so answer every question. Some questions are being tried out for future tests and do not count, but you cannot tell which ones, so treat every question as scored.

Each open response is scored on a scale from 4 (thorough) to 1 (weak). A response that is unrelated to the assignment, illegible or too short is marked unscorable, and a blank response earns nothing. Scorers judge four things: whether you fulfill the purpose of the assignment, the accuracy of your subject matter knowledge, the quality of your support, and the soundness of your rationale. Your results are combined into one scaled score from 100 to 300, and you need 240 to pass.

• Applied, multi-step problems: successive percent changes, unit conversions, density, rates and modeling with functions
• Algebra and function analysis: solving equations and inequalities, finding asymptotes, inverses, compositions and sequence terms
• Justification questions: which property justifies a step, which statement must be true, which conditional is equivalent
• Questions built on a described figure, a data table, a matrix or a set of proof steps
• Geometry and measurement problems with circles, polygons, solids, conics and transformations
• Short calculus, probability, statistics and discrete mathematics problems that need a clear setup
• Two open-response assignments that combine at least two content areas, with graphs, analysis and a written explanation

Each open response should be about 150 to 300 words of explanation plus your mathematics, written for an audience of educators. You can type your response, or handwrite one or more responses on the scratch paper you are given and scan them before time runs out. Only work scanned before the test ends is scored, so leave time to scan.

• Results are released on the published score report date for your test window.
• Your report shows whether you passed and gives performance information by subarea.
• If you do not pass, use the subarea information to focus your study before you retest.
• Passing scores do not expire.