ILTS Music (212)

There are 100 multiple-choice questions. You get 3 hours and 15 minutes of testing time, inside a 3 hours and 30 minutes total appointment. The extra 15 minutes covers the computer-based testing tutorial and the nondisclosure agreement, so plan your pacing around the testing time only, not the full appointment.

The passing score is 240 and the test fee is $110. ILTS announced in January 2025 that registration fees were reduced for all ILTS test titles, so confirm the current fee in your registration cart before paying. Score reports are released on the published score report dates, not immediately.

Yes. The official test page states that this test includes a headset for the listening section, which means some questions require you to listen to recorded music and answer from what you hear. Practice identifying intervals, chords, textures, and instrumentation by ear, and use the headset provided at your test center rather than relying on memory of scores alone.

By appointment year-round, Monday through Saturday, excluding some holidays. Test sites are located in Illinois and nationwide, and the ILTS site lets you check seat availability and locate a test center. Book early if you need a specific date, since weekend seats at convenient centers fill up.

You receive preliminary test results at the test center at the conclusion of your session. The actual score reports are released as scheduled on the published score report dates. Treat the preliminary result as provisional and wait for the official report before making licensure decisions or planning a retake.

The official test page does not state a retake policy or a waiting period, so check the ILTS policies pages before assuming. ILTS has announced that examinees with two unsuccessful attempts may be eligible to retake the same test at no cost; confirm eligibility rules and any conditions on the current ILTS site before you re-register.

Possibly. The official page notes that tests may include test questions being evaluated for future administrations and that these do not affect a candidate's score. You cannot tell which items those are, so answer every question as though it counts and do not skip unfamiliar material.

The official page does not publish domain weights or a detailed outline, so use the preparation materials linked from the Music (212) page and the sample questions as your guide. A defensible order is music theory and aural skills first, then history and literature, then pedagogy and ensemble or classroom practice, with ear training running throughout.

Two predictable traps: under-preparing aural skills because they study notation only, and misjudging pacing on 100 questions in 3 hours and 15 minutes, which is roughly two minutes per item. Flag hard items, keep moving, and return. Also read stems carefully, since music questions often hinge on one qualifier such as period, genre, or voicing.

No single content test does. ILTS notes that the edTPA requirement for licensure has been eliminated through Aug 31, 2025, though institutions of higher education may continue to require edTPA. Requirements vary by preparation route, so confirm your full set of required tests and requirements with ISBE and your program.