NYSTCE Physics

The Physics (163) test has retired and is replaced by the National Evaluation Series™ Physics (822) test, according to the NYSTCE Physics test page. The test index lists 163 only for testing through 8/9/2026 and 822 for testing 1/27/2026 and after. Check the test page for your code before you schedule an appointment.

As published for Physics (163): 90 selected-response items and 1 constructed-response item, delivered by computer at a test center. A scientific calculator is provided on screen, the test includes the use of a headset, and one or more assignments allow you to insert special characters. Confirm the 822 test page restates the same format.

For Physics (163), total appointment time is 3 hours and 30 minutes: 15 minutes for the CBT tutorial and nondisclosure agreement, then 3 hours and 15 minutes of testing time. One constructed-response item sits alongside 90 selected-response items, so decide in advance how many minutes you will reserve for it.

The passing score published on the Physics (163) page is 520. Candidates who score within 0.5 standard error of measurement (SEM) of the passing score on a required NYSTCE test may apply for a waiver. Score report dates are posted separately, so check them before planning a hiring or certification timeline.

The test fee listed for Physics (163) is $122. The program's fee and payment policy governs payment, refunds, and rescheduling, so read it before registering. If you are registering for the replacement Physics (822) test, confirm the fee on that test's page, because the source text does not state it.

By appointment year-round, Monday through Saturday, excluding some holidays, at test centers located in New York State and nationwide. Seat availability varies by site and date, so check appointment availability early if you are aiming at a specific window, particularly as the Physics (163) testing window closes on 8/9/2026.

The Physics test page does not state a waiting period between attempts. Retake and registration limits appear in the program's testing rules and policies, which you agree to when you register. Read that policy page, or the equivalent page for Physics (822), rather than relying on what other candidates report.

Not necessarily. The program states that tests may include questions being evaluated for future administrations and that do not affect a candidate's score. You cannot tell which items those are, so treat every question as scored and answer all of them rather than leaving blanks at the end of a section.

Two stand out. First, the constructed response: vague answers without working, units, or a stated assumption score poorly even when the final number is right. Second, the special-character editor: many candidates meet it for the first time under time pressure. Practise typing equations and Greek symbols into an on-screen text box beforehand.

Start with the framework for your test code rather than a general textbook. Then work domain by domain - mechanics, thermodynamics, waves and optics, electricity and magnetism, modern physics - closing gaps with problems you solve on paper with units. Finish with timed mixed sets, since switching topics quickly is what the selected-response section demands.