ILTS Family and Consumer Sciences (217)
Family and Consumer Sciences (217)
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Cheat sheet
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ExploreAbout this exam
Family and Consumer Sciences (217) is one of the content-area assessments in the Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS), the testing program candidates in Illinois use to demonstrate subject-matter knowledge for educator licensure. This test is intended for candidates seeking a Family and Consumer Sciences teaching endorsement or the corresponding educator license; check with the Illinois State Board of Education and your preparation program to confirm exactly which license or endorsement you need and which tests it requires. The assessment is delivered as a computer-based test of 100 multiple-choice questions, with 3 hours and 15 minutes of testing time inside a 3 hour and 30 minute total appointment, which includes 15 minutes for the CBT tutorial and nondisclosure agreement. The passing score is 240, the test fee is $110, and no reference materials are provided, so formulas, standards, and terminology should be memorized rather than looked up. Tests may include questions being evaluated for future administrations that do not affect your score. Appointments are available year-round, Monday through Saturday excluding some holidays, at sites in Illinois and nationwide. Preparation should combine a review of your coursework in foods and nutrition, consumer and family resource management, human development, textiles and apparel, housing and interior design, and education pedagogy with the free preparation materials and sample questions published on the ILTS website, plus timed practice under the real testing conditions.
What you'll study
About ILTS Family and Consumer Sciences (217) preparation
What is the format of the Family and Consumer Sciences (217) test?
It is a computer-based test made up of 100 multiple-choice questions. You get 3 hours and 15 minutes of testing time within a 3 hour and 30 minute appointment, and 15 of those minutes are used for the CBT tutorial and nondisclosure agreement. No reference materials are provided, so plan to work from memory.
What score do I need to pass, and what does it cost?
The passing score is 240, and the test fee is $110. Preliminary results are given at the test center when your session ends, while official score reports are released on the scheduled score report dates published on the ILTS website. Review the score report carefully if you do not pass.
How hard is the exam, and what trips candidates up?
Difficulty depends on how recently you studied the full range of family and consumer sciences content. Common problems are over-preparing in one area such as foods and nutrition while neglecting textiles, housing, consumer resource management, or human development, and running short of time because they never practiced 100 questions under timed conditions.
Can I retake the test if I do not pass?
Retake rules are set by the ILTS program, not by this page, so confirm current policy on the official ILTS site before you register again. Note that ILTS has announced that examinees with two unsuccessful attempts may be eligible to retake the same test at no cost, but verify the details and any conditions directly with ILTS.
When and where can I take the test?
Testing is administered by appointment year-round, Monday through Saturday, excluding some holidays. Test sites are located in Illinois and nationwide, so you can check seat availability and locate a center through the ILTS website. Book early if you need a specific date or a site close to home.
In what order should I study for this test?
Start with a diagnostic pass over the official preparation materials and sample questions to find your weakest areas. Then work domain by domain, giving extra time to the content you studied least, and finish with timed full-length practice so you can pace 100 questions across 3 hours and 15 minutes.
Are reference materials or a formula sheet provided?
No. The ILTS test page states that no reference materials are provided for this test. Anything you might need, including nutrition and food science concepts, financial and consumer calculations, developmental milestones, and textile or design terminology, has to be recalled from your own preparation.
Do all 100 questions count toward my score?
Not necessarily. ILTS notes that tests may include questions being evaluated for future administrations, and those questions do not affect a candidate's score. You cannot identify which items these are, so treat every question as if it counts and answer all of them rather than leaving blanks.