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Exam Overview
The Multi-Subject: Teachers of Middle Childhood test is a computer-based examination given by appointment at test centers in New York State and across the country. It has three parts, and each part is scored and passed separately. You can register for one part at a time or take all three in a single appointment.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | NYSTCE Multi-Subject: Teachers of Middle Childhood (Grade 5–Grade 9) |
| Test fields | Part One 231, Part Two 232, Part Three 245 |
| Sponsor | New York State Education Department |
| Selected-response questions | 120 in all (40 per part), four answer choices each |
| Constructed-response assignments | 1 in Part One and 1 in Part Two, each a written analysis of samples of student evidence |
| Passing score | 520 on each part (scaled score scale 400 to 600) |
| Delivery | Computer-based, at a test center, Monday through Saturday |
| Extra time | 15 minutes for the tutorial and nondisclosure agreement |
The Three Parts
| Part | What It Covers | Questions | Time | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One (231) | Literacy and English Language Arts | 40 selected-response and 1 constructed-response | 2 hours | $59 |
| Two (232) | Mathematics | 40 selected-response and 1 constructed-response | 2 hours 15 minutes | $59 |
| Three (245) | Arts and Sciences | 40 selected-response | 1 hour | $43 |
| All three | Everything | 120 selected-response and 2 constructed-response | 5 hours 30 minutes, including a 15-minute break | $161 |
Part Three is shared by all four NYSTCE Multi-Subject tests. If you have already passed field 245 for another Multi-Subject certificate, you do not take it again.
In Part Two an on-screen scientific calculator and an official Definitions and Formulas sheet are provided. Look at both on the official website before test day so that nothing on the screen surprises you.
What Each Part Measures
| Part | Competency | Share of Part Score |
|---|---|---|
| One | 0001 Knowledge of Literacy and Language Arts | 30% |
| One | 0002 Instruction in Foundational Literacy Skills | 30% |
| One | 0003 Instruction in English Language Arts | 10% |
| One | 0004 Analysis, Synthesis, and Application (constructed response) | 30% |
| Two | 0001 Number Systems | 15% |
| Two | 0002 Algebra and Functions | 35% |
| Two | 0003 Measurement, Geometry, Statistics, and Probability | 30% |
| Two | 0004 Analysis, Synthesis, and Application (constructed response) | 20% |
| Three | 0001 Science and Technology | 40% |
| Three | 0002 Social Studies | 40% |
| Three | 0003 Fine Arts, Health and Fitness, Family and Consumer Science, and Career Development | 20% |
Notice how much the constructed responses count: almost a third of Part One and a fifth of Part Two. A candidate who skips practicing them gives away a large share of the score.
How the Parts Are Scored
Selected-response scores are based on the number of questions you answer correctly. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave a question blank. A few questions are being tried out for future use and do not count, but you cannot tell which ones they are, so treat every question as scored.
Each constructed response is scored on a four-point scale by trained New York educators. Scorers judge three performance characteristics: completeness (did you address every part of the assignment), accuracy (is your content knowledge correct and well applied) and depth of support (did you use specific evidence from the exhibits and sound reasoning). A response that is off topic, unreadable, not in English or too short to judge receives a U, and a blank response receives a B.
Each part is reported as a scaled score, and you need 520 to pass. Passing is based on your total performance in the part, so a weaker answer in one area can be balanced by stronger answers elsewhere.
What Kinds of Questions to Expect
- Literacy scenarios with grade 5-9 students: oral reading records, fluency scores, spelling samples, writing drafts and discussion transcripts, followed by questions about the best first step or the strongest rationale
- Knowledge questions on phonology, morphology, grammar, literary elements, visual literacy and text complexity
- Mathematics problems of two to four steps using tables, function rules, graphs described in words, geometric figures, data displays and probability situations
- Questions about a student's mathematical error and the misconception behind it
- Science questions on experiments, data tables, Earth and space, matter, energy, forces, life science and engineering design
- Social studies questions on short documents, maps, economic situations, constitutional principles and New York State history
- Questions on the arts, health and fitness, family and consumer science, and career development
- Two written assignments in which you analyze exhibits about one student, identify a strength and a need, and recommend and justify instruction
What Happens After the Test
You see a preliminary pass or fail result at the end of the appointment, but it is not an official score report. Official score reports follow the score report dates posted on the NYSTCE website. Parts One and Two take longer because the written responses must be scored; Part Three, which has only selected-response questions, is reported sooner. Scores are sent to the New York State Education Department and appear in the TEACH system. If you do not pass a part, you retake only that part. Candidates who miss the passing score by a very small margin may be eligible to apply for a waiver; check the official site for the current rules.
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