ILTS English as a New Language (250)

No. The ILTS test page states that the test has been retired because ISBE no longer offers the ENL endorsement, and the last test administration was June 29, 2025. If you have an active deficiency for this field or want to pursue the endorsement area, contact ISBE to determine your next steps toward licensure.

It was a computer-based test with 100 multiple-choice questions. No reference materials were provided, so every item had to be answered from memory. Questions were single-best-answer, and the test could include questions being evaluated for future administrations that did not count toward your score.

Total appointment time was 3 hours and 30 minutes. That included a 15-minute computer-based testing tutorial and nondisclosure agreement, leaving 3 hours and 15 minutes of actual testing time for the 100 questions, or roughly two minutes per item.

The passing score was 240. Preliminary results were provided at the test center at the end of your session, while actual score reports were released on the published score report dates. Plan for the official report as the record that matters.

The test fee was $110. Note that ILTS announced in January 2025 that registration fees were reduced for all ILTS test titles, and examinees with two unsuccessful attempts may be eligible to retake the same test at no cost, so check current fee and retake information before paying.

It covered a broad span of content: language acquisition theory, instructional and assessment practices for English learners, and the cultural, legal, and programmatic context of ENL and bilingual services. With no reference materials allowed, success depended on secure recall across all of those areas rather than on a single specialty.

Start with second-language acquisition theory and the legal and program models that frame ENL services, since these underpin instructional decisions. Then move to instructional methods and assessment, where scenario questions cluster. Finish with timed full-length practice sets to build pacing across 100 items in 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Candidates often memorize terminology without being able to apply it to classroom scenarios, neglect the legal and program-model content, or mismanage pacing on 100 items. Another frequent problem is preparing for an exam that is retired; verify your pathway with ISBE before buying materials or scheduling anything.

Contact ISBE directly. The official test page advises educators with an active deficiency for this field, and anyone interested in the endorsement area, to reach out to ISBE to determine next steps toward licensure. Do not assume an alternative test or endorsement exists without confirming it with ISBE.