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Exam Overview
Exam Overview
The Reading Specialist (62) test is part of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) program and is required for the Reading Specialist license. It is built for experienced teachers: most questions put you in the role of a reading specialist who reads student data, diagnoses a need, chooses evidence-based instruction, or supports colleagues.
100
Multiple-choice questions
2
Open-response assignments
4 hr
Testing time
240
Qualifying score
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Test | MTEL Field 62: Reading Specialist |
| Questions | 100 multiple-choice (four choices each) + 2 open-response assignments |
| Testing time | 4 hours plus a 15-minute tutorial and nondisclosure agreement |
| Online proctored timing | 2 hr 15 min multiple-choice, optional 15-minute break, 1 hr 45 min open-response |
| Delivery | Computer-based at Pearson test centers (in Massachusetts and nationwide, by appointment Monday–Saturday) or online proctored from home in monthly testing windows |
| Score | Scale of 100–300; qualifying score 240 |
| Fee | $139 |
1
Test framework
The framework has five subareas and 18 objectives. Subareas I–IV are tested with multiple-choice questions, and Subarea V with the two open-response assignments. Each subarea is worth about 20% of the total score.
| Subarea | Objectives | Share of score | Question type |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Foundational Literacy Development | 0001 Concepts of print · 0002 Phonological and phonemic awareness · 0003 Phonics in word recognition and spelling · 0004 Fluency | 20% | Multiple-choice |
| II. Literacy Components and Instructional Resources | 0005 Evaluating and selecting curriculum and texts · 0006 Writing · 0007 Comprehension, vocabulary, speaking and listening, and research · 0008 Literacy across the content areas | 20% | Multiple-choice |
| III. Literacy Assessment and Evaluation | 0009 Culturally and linguistically diverse students · 0010 Reading difficulties and disabilities · 0011 Types and purposes of assessment · 0012 Using data in a multi-tiered system of support | 20% | Multiple-choice |
| IV. Theoretical, Professional, and Language Foundations | 0013 Evidence-based literacy development and the reading brain · 0014 Components of language · 0015 Reciprocal relationships among language and literacy · 0016 Collaborative leadership and adult learning | 20% | Multiple-choice |
| V. Integration of Knowledge and Understanding | 0017 Foundational reading skills analysis · 0018 Reading comprehension analysis | 20% (10% each) | 2 open-response |
Share of the total score by subarea
2
How this guide maps to the framework
| Objective | Where to study it |
|---|---|
| 0001–0003 Print concepts, phonological awareness, phonics | Topic 1.1 Phonetics, Phonics, and Print Concepts |
| 0004 Fluency | Topic 1.2 Emergent Reading and Stages of Literacy and Fluency Acquisition |
| 0005 Curriculum and texts | Topic 2.6 Curriculum and Instruction |
| 0006 Writing | Topic 2.5 Writing Development |
| 0007 Comprehension, vocabulary, speaking and listening, research | Topics 2.1–2.4 and 2.7 |
| 0008 Literacy across the content areas | Topic 2.7 Disciplinary Literacy and Research Skills |
| 0009–0010 Diverse learners, reading difficulties | Topic 3.2 Diverse Learners, Specific Needs, and Modifications |
| 0011 Assessment | Topic 3.1 Assessment, Evaluation, and Referral |
| 0012 Data and MTSS | Topic 3.3 Using Data in a Multi-Tiered System of Support |
| 0013 Literacy development and the reading brain | Topic 4.2 History of Reading Programs and Theoretical Background |
| 0014 Components of language | Topic 4.1 Oral Language Acquisition and Development |
| 0015 Reciprocal relationships | Topic 4.3 Reciprocal Relationships Among Language and Literacy |
| 0016 Leadership and adult learning | Topic 4.4 Leadership Skills and Collaborating with Stakeholders |
| 0017–0018 Open response | Section 5 Integration of Knowledge and Understanding (open response) |
How the practice tests are built
Each practice test has 100 multiple-choice questions, 25 from each of Subareas I–IV, in the order of the framework. Section 5 gives open-response practice for Subarea V.Finished reading?
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