MTEL Foundations of Reading (90) Exam

How Do I Register for the Test?

In order to register, you will first create an account on the MTEL website and submit an application along with the $139 exam fee. Afterward, you will be able to schedule your appointment. The test is offered year-round at testing centers across Massachusetts and the United States, so you will be able to choose the date and location most convenient to you. However, it’s best to register as far in advance as possible to ensure there are still seats available on the date you want to take the test.

How Long Will the Test Take?

You should plan to spend almost five hours at the testing center. That includes 30 minutes prior to the start of your appointment to check in, 15 minutes for a computer tutorial prior to the start of the exam, four hours for the test itself, and about 15 minutes after the test to go over any questions or concerns you have.

What Subjects Are Included on the MTEL Foundations of Reading Exam?

The 100 multiple choice questions are divided into three distinct content areas as follows:

• Foundations of Reading Development – 43-45 Questions
  • Phonological and phonemic awareness
  • Concepts of print and the alphabetic principle
  • The role of phonics in promoting reading development
  • Word analysis skills and strategies
• Development of Reading Comprehension – 33-35 Questions
  • Vocabulary development
  • How to apply reading comprehension skills and strategies to imaginative or literary texts
  • How to apply reading comprehension skills and strategies to informational or expository texts
• Reading Assessment and Instruction – 21-23 Questions
  • Formal and informal methods for assessing reading development
  • Multiple approaches to reading instruction

The open response section will include two separate prompts for which you will provide a written response that demonstrates your ability to integrate and apply the knowledge and understanding you have of the concepts you were tested on in the previous multiple choice sections.

Each prompt will be primarily located in one of the above content areas but will usually require you to draw from the other content areas as well in developing your analysis. These written responses will be judged according to the following criteria:

• How well and fully it responds to the topic of the prompt.
• The substance, accuracy, and appropriateness of the subject matter knowledge you applied in your analysis.
• The use of sound supporting evidence and high-quality, relevant examples.
• How well it demonstrates your comprehensive understanding of the topic as well as your ability to reason.

What Is the Minimum Score Needed to Pass?

The MTEL Foundations of Reading exam is scored on a scale of 100 to 300. In order to pass, you need to receive at least 240. Your score report will not only show you your total score for the entire exam but also information about how you performed in each content areas.

While the content areas aren’t scored individually, the report will identify how you did on the section by marking it with one of four possible labels, referring to how many questions you answered correctly:

• Most or all Items
• Many of the items
• Some of the items
• Few or no items

This detailed information will help you understand which areas you need to work on in the event that you didn’t pass the exam. Even if you do pass, it would still be useful to review your weaker sections in preparation for beginning your career as a teacher.

How Much Time Should I Spend Studying for the MTEL Foundations of Reading Exam?

Although you have likely already completed or are very near completing your education or training by the time you take this test, it is still recommended that you spend at least a couple of weeks reviewing the fundamental concepts of reading and writing development, assessment, and instruction.

For a great review of those concepts, turn to the Mometrix Study Guide and Mometrix Flashcards. These tools provide clear, easy to follow explanations of all the material most relevant to the exam. Plus, they also come with tips and strategies for both the multiple choice section and open response sections.

You’ll be able to practice answering questions similar to the ones you will see on test day and learn more about exactly what the readers are looking for when scoring your written response.