NYSTCE Dance
NYSTCE Dance Content Specialty Test (CST)
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ExploreAbout this exam
The NYSTCE Dance Content Specialty Test is one of New York State's Content Specialty Tests, listed on the official NYSTCE test table as "164 Dance." It is a certification exam for candidates seeking a New York teaching credential in dance, and it sits alongside the other Arts CSTs - Music (165), Theater (166), and Visual Arts (167) - which were revised together and opened for registration on 07/14/20, with study guides released 06/23/20. The exam is delivered in multiple-choice format. Its content spans four equally weighted areas: dance techniques and performance; dance creation and composition; dance history, culture, and analysis; and dance education, including pedagogy, curriculum, and assessment. Because the dance field was redeveloped, candidates should confirm the current test code and framework on the official NYSTCE test page before registering; older program announcements used a different code for Dance. Preparation should center on the official study guide and framework for the revised Arts CSTs, supplemented by practice on technique vocabulary, choreographic principles, dance history and cultural contexts, and lesson design and assessment in a dance classroom. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NYSTCE, Pearson, or the New York State Education Department.
What you'll study
About NYSTCE Dance preparation
What is the test code for the NYSTCE Dance exam?
The official NYSTCE test table currently lists Dance as test code 164. However, an older program announcement referred to Dance as code 070, reflecting the redevelopment of the Arts CSTs. Confirm the code on the official Dance test page before you register so you do not schedule the wrong test.
What format is the Dance CST?
The exam is multiple choice. The official test listing describes NYSTCE tests as multiple-choice assessments, and the Dance CST appears in the Content Specialty Tests table under code 164. Check the official Dance test page for the current framework and any updates to the test design before your appointment.
What content does the Dance CST cover?
The four equally weighted areas are dance techniques and performance; dance creation and composition; dance history, culture, and analysis; and dance education, including pedagogy, curriculum, and assessment. Expect questions that connect technique vocabulary and choreographic principles to how dance is taught, analyzed, and understood in cultural and historical context.
How should I order my studying?
Start with the official study guide and framework for the revised Arts CSTs, then work domain by domain. Build a technique and composition vocabulary list first, since those terms recur in analysis and pedagogy questions. Then review dance history and cultural contexts, and finish with lesson design, curriculum, and assessment, where applied scenarios are common.
Where do I find official preparation materials?
The NYSTCE site's Prepare section links to study guides, practice tests, and Right Start preparation courses for select tests. The 06/23/20 announcement confirmed study guides for the revised Arts CSTs are available. Use those official materials as your primary source and treat third-party resources, including this page, as supplements.
How many questions are on the test and how long is it?
The official source text available here does not state the number of questions or the testing time for Dance. Rather than guess, check the official Dance test page, which lists test-specific information including when and where you can test and the preparation materials for that test.
What is the passing score and what does the test cost?
Those values are not stated in the official source text available here, so they cannot be confirmed on this page. The NYSTCE site notes that test fees were lowered and a new full refund policy took effect per the 08/31/21 announcement; see the official Dance test page and the Policies section for current figures.
Can I retake the exam if I do not pass?
Retake rules are governed by NYSTCE testing and registration policies, which the official site publishes under Policies. The source text available here does not state a specific retake waiting period or limit for Dance, so review the official Policies page before rescheduling rather than relying on secondhand claims.
What are common reasons candidates struggle?
Candidates often over-prepare technique and under-prepare the pedagogy and analysis domains, even though all four areas are weighted equally. Others rely on outdated test codes or old frameworks from before the Arts CST revision. Balance your study time across all four domains and verify details against the current official framework.
Is this page affiliated with NYSTCE?
No. This is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NYSTCE, Pearson, or the New York State Education Department. Always confirm test codes, frameworks, fees, and policies on the official NYSTCE website before registering or making study decisions.