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Exam Overview
The Computer Science CST (test code 194) is part of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) program, which Pearson administers for the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Passing it is one of the requirements for New York State certification to teach computer science.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Format | Computer-based test (CBT) |
| Questions | 90 selected-response (four options each) and 1 constructed-response assignment |
| Appointment | 3 hours 30 minutes: 15 minutes for the tutorial and nondisclosure agreement, then 3 hours 15 minutes of testing time |
| Test feature | A pseudocode reference sheet is provided on screen |
| Score scale | 400–600; passing score 520 |
| Score weight | Selected-response 80% · constructed-response 20% |
| Fee | $122 (check the NYSTCE fee page before you register) |
| Availability | By appointment, year-round, Monday through Saturday (except some holidays), at test centers in New York State and nationwide |
The Five Competencies
| Competency | Items | Share of total score |
|---|---|---|
| 0001 Impacts of Computing | 21 SR | 19% |
| 0002 Computational Thinking and Programming | 27 SR | 23% |
| 0003 Networks, the Internet, and System Design | 21 SR | 19% |
| 0004 Cybersecurity | 21 SR | 19% |
| 0005 Pedagogical Content Knowledge | 1 CR | 20% |
What the Questions Look Like
Most selected-response questions describe a short situation: a student's program that gives the wrong output, a school network that slows down at lunch, a data set a class has collected, a phishing email sent to staff. You choose the best explanation, the next step, the correct output or the most appropriate safeguard. Expect to trace pseudocode, convert between binary, decimal and hexadecimal, and judge trade-offs, not just recall definitions.
Registration and Test Day
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