The National Evaluation Series (NES) is a rigorous testing program created by Pearson Education Group that entry-level teachers must undergo in order to become professionally certified educators. The tests administered by NES are designed to assess your knowledge of your subject of choice, your ability to apply that knowledge to teaching a wide range of children with diverse needs, and your mastery of classroom management.
Free NES Practice Tests
Use the free NES practice test questions below to get a better understanding of the NES exam. Take advantage of this valuable resource to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses.
Eligibility Requirements for NES Tests
To be eligible to take an NES test, you will have to be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program that meets the requirements established by the state you wish to work in.
The states that require an NES test for teaching are as follows:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Illinois
- New Mexico
- Oregon
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Types of NES Tests
There are currently three different types of NES tests available:
Content Assessments
The NES Content Assessments are designed to test your general content knowledge concerning a wide range of topics. There are specific assessments for prospective teachers of elementary and early childhood, middle grades, secondary, and K-12.
Professional Knowledge
The NES Professional Knowledge assessments are designed to test your understanding of professional conduct and practices in an elementary or secondary school setting.
Essential Academic Skills
The NES Essential Academic Skills (EAS) assessments are designed to test your reading, writing, and mathematics knowledge and skills.
What’s on an NES Test?
An NES assessment generally contains about 150 questions, which are a mix of multiple-choice and constructed-response questions. The time limit for the test is 3 hours, with an additional 15 minutes provided for pretest instructions.
NES Registration
To register for an NES assessment, you will need to create an account via the NES website. Each state may have slightly different registration requirements and processes, so be sure to check what your state requires.
Generally, you will need to review the eligibility requirements, then fill out your personal information, upload any documents that are required, pay the registration fee, and choose where and how you wish to test. Each of the tests or subtests is priced at $95 in most of the states that require them.
NES Scores
Your NES test is scored using a scaled scoring system. This means that your raw score (the number of questions you answered correctly) is converted to a numerical scaled score.
The scaled score is set between 100 and 300. Each state is allowed to require its own preferred scores on the NES exams. The majority of states require a minimum score of 220, but it is advisable to check your state requirements prior to testing.
Receiving Your NES Scores
If the NES test contains only multiple-choice questions, you will be able to view an unofficial score report as soon as you complete the test. Official scores will be available about 14 days after you complete the test.
If the assessment that you took included constructed-response questions, there will not be an unofficial score available to you after the test. It can take up to 4 weeks to receive the official scores for exams that include constructed-responses.
All of your scores will be available to view from your account on the Pearson website. Your official scores will also be sent to the email that you use when you register to take the exam.
Retaking an NES Test
In the event that you do not pass your NES test, you are allowed to take the test again.
There is no limitation concerning how many times you can take an NES test, but you must comply with the 30-day waiting period and pay the cost of registering each time you schedule a new test. You will also be required to pay all fees associated with the test each time you take it.