MTEL Physics (69)

The test has 100 multiple-choice questions and 2 open-response assignments. Your total appointment is 4 hours and 15 minutes: 15 minutes for the computer-based tutorial and nondisclosure agreement, plus 4 hours of actual testing time. Budget roughly two and a half to three hours for the multiple-choice section so the open-response assignments are not rushed.

The qualifying score is 240. Because the score is scaled rather than a raw percentage, the number of items you can miss varies by administration. Treat the target as comfortably above the cut rather than aiming at a bare pass, since one weak open-response assignment can pull a borderline multiple-choice performance below the threshold.

A scientific calculator is provided on-screen during the test. Plan to practice with that kind of interface rather than your personal graphing calculator, and rehearse evaluating trig, log, and exponential functions quickly in a screen-based tool. Confirm current device and policy details on the official test website before your appointment.

Yes. Constants and formulas are provided on-screen with the test. That does not make them optional knowledge: you still need to recognize which relation applies to a problem, and hunting through the reference list for every item will cost you time. Review the provided sheet beforehand and know where things sit on it.

You get 2 open-response assignments, and one or more of them allow you to handwrite and scan your responses rather than type. The test includes scanning instructions, and a tutorial video is available beforehand. Practice writing derivations and explanations legibly by hand under time pressure, since graders see only the scanned page.

Testing is by appointment year-round, Monday through Saturday, excluding some holidays. Test centers are located in Massachusetts and nationwide. Because seats at convenient centers fill up, check appointment availability early and register before the window in which you want your scores reported.

The fee is $139. Review the current fee and payment information on the official test website before registering, since payment methods accepted and any related service charges are set by the test contractor, not by this page.

The verified source material for this page does not state a retake policy, waiting period, or attempt limit, so we do not publish a number. Check the official MTEL policies pages directly before you plan a second attempt, and note that score reporting timing may affect when you can register again.

Typically in three places: multi-step mechanics problems that combine energy and momentum, qualitative explanations where the physics is right but the reasoning is never written out, and electricity and magnetism items involving field direction or induced current. Modern physics and thermodynamics usually cost points through sign conventions and unit slips rather than conceptual gaps.

Start with mechanics, since it underpins waves and thermodynamics, then build electricity and magnetism as one connected unit of fields, potential, circuits, and induction. Leave modern physics for last because it is comparatively compact. Finish with three or four full-length timed sets mixing all topics, plus handwritten open-response practice.