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Exam Overview
The Students with Disabilities test is computer-based and is given by appointment at test centers. Each appointment includes a short tutorial, the selected-response questions and the constructed-response assignment.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | NYSTCE Content Specialty Test (CST) Students with Disabilities |
| Test field | 060 |
| Format | Computer-based test (CBT) |
| Selected-response questions | 90 |
| Answer choices | Four (A to D) on every selected-response question |
| Constructed-response items | 1 |
| Total appointment time | 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Testing time | 3 hours 15 minutes |
| Score scale | 400 to 600 |
| Passing score | 520 |
| Fee | $122 |
Test Structure and Weights
The test framework divides the content into seven competencies. Six are measured by selected-response questions, and the seventh is the constructed-response assignment.
| Competency | Questions | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 0001 Foundations of Special Education | 11 selected-response | 10% |
| 0002 Knowledge of Students with Disabilities | 11 selected-response | 10% |
| 0003 Assessment and Individual Program Planning | 23 selected-response | 20% |
| 0004 Learning Environment and Behavioral Interventions | 11 selected-response | 10% |
| 0005 Instructional Planning and Delivery to Promote Success in the General Curriculum | 23 selected-response | 20% |
| 0006 Communication, Social Skills and Functional Living Skills | 11 selected-response | 10% |
| 0007 Analysis, Synthesis and Application | 1 constructed-response | 20% |
Competencies 0003 and 0005 together make up 40% of your score, and the single constructed-response item is worth as much as either one.
Timing
Your appointment lasts 3 hours 30 minutes. About 15 minutes go to a tutorial and a nondisclosure agreement, and the remaining 3 hours 15 minutes are for the test itself. The time is shared between the two parts, so you decide how to divide it. The test framework suggests about 135 minutes for the selected-response questions and about 60 minutes for the constructed-response assignment.
Scoring
Scores are reported on a scale of 400 to 600, and you need a scaled score of 520 to pass. Your total score combines the selected-response section and the constructed-response assignment according to the weights in the competency table. Selected-response scores are based on the number of questions you answer correctly, with no penalty for a wrong answer. Some questions may be unscored items being tried out for future tests, and you will not know which ones they are.
At least two trained New York educators score the constructed response holistically on a four-point scale, as Section 7 explains. You do not pass or fail the constructed response on its own, but a blank or unscorable response can cause you to fail the test.
Your score report also shows a performance index for each competency, so you can see where you were strong and where you need more work.
| Index | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ++++ | Performance well above the passing level |
| +++ | Performance just at or above the passing level |
| ++ | Performance just below the passing level |
| + | Performance well below the passing level |
Fees and Registration
The test fee is $122. You register through the NYSTCE website and choose a test center and appointment time. Testing is offered year-round, Monday through Saturday except some holidays, at test centers in New York State and nationwide. Register early if you need a specific date.
What Kinds of Questions to Expect
- Classroom scenarios of a few sentences describing a student, a teacher, and a behavior or data point, followed by a question about the most appropriate next step
- Legal and ethical questions about IDEA, Section 504, Part 200 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, procedural safeguards and discipline rules
- Data questions on progress-monitoring graphs, score types, ABC records and IEP excerpts
- Instruction questions on reading, writing, math, co-teaching, Universal Design for Learning and assistive technology
- One constructed-response assignment asking you to analyze student exhibits, identify a strength and a need, and recommend and justify an evidence-based intervention
Score Reports
- Score reports are posted to your NYSTCE account on the published score report date, because the constructed response must first be scored by trained educators.
- The report shows your total scaled score, whether you passed, and a performance index for each competency.
- If you do not pass, use the performance indices to target your study before you retest.
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