MTEL History/Social Science (73)

At a test center, the appointment runs 4 hours and 15 minutes: 15 minutes for the CBT tutorial and nondisclosure agreement, then 4 hours of testing time. With online proctoring, the appointment runs 4 hours and 30 minutes, divided into 2 hours 15 minutes for the multiple-choice questions, a 15-minute optional break, and 1 hour 45 minutes for the open-response assignments.

The test contains 100 multiple-choice questions and 2 open-response assignments. It is offered as a computer-based test at test centers in Massachusetts and nationwide, and via online proctoring. The official page notes that tests may include questions that do not count toward your score, placed there to gather performance data, so answer every question rather than trying to identify them.

The qualifying score is 240 and the fee is $139. Be aware that score reports for History/Social Science (73) are delayed because standard-setting activities and the determination of qualifying scores by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must be completed first; scores are released once those activities finish. Check the fee and payment page for current details before registering.

Yes. Online proctoring is available for this test, and you may test remotely, including from home, by appointment with an online proctor during one-week testing windows each month. Review the system and testing environment requirements before scheduling, and note that online-proctored candidates do not receive a receipt of completion when the test ends.

MTEL-Flex History/Social Science assessments (916 and 917) are planned as an alternative, but only become available after the redeveloped test is operational, qualifying scores are set by the Commissioner, and scores are reported. Eligibility requires that you took and did not pass History/Social Science (73) and scored within one standard error of measurement of the passing score. Registration timing will be announced later.

Release dates are delayed for this field because standard-setting and qualifying-score determination are pending. Scores are released only after those activities are completed, so published windows may shift. Candidates who test at a center receive a receipt of completion at the end of their appointment; that receipt is not a score report and does not indicate pass or fail.

Start with the area where your coursework is thinnest, not the one you enjoy most. Build a timeline-and-themes outline for United States and world history, then layer on geography, government and civics, and economics, and finish with the historical concepts and skills that cut across all of them, such as sourcing, periodization, and interpreting evidence. Practice writing full open-response answers under time limits.

Two recurring problems: underestimating the open-response section by spending too long on multiple choice, and writing narrative summaries instead of analytical answers with a clear claim and specific evidence. Budget time for both sections, plan each response briefly before writing, and check the clock. At a test center, restroom breaks count against your available testing time, so account for them.

Use the official MTEL site rather than third-party summaries, since details change as the test is redeveloped. The Test Info page for History/Social Science (73) covers format, dates, and score reporting; the Policies section covers registration, testing rules, and score reporting policies; and alternative testing arrangements are handled through a separate request process with documentation.