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Frequently Asked Questions
By Faculty and Educator Preparation Programs
What is the Illinois Licensure Testing System?
Visit the About the Tests page on this website for information about the Illinois Licensure Testing System.
How were the tests developed?
Visit the About the Tests page on this website for information on the test development process.
Are the ILTS tests aligned to national standards?
Where applicable, national standards are used.
Which ILTS tests include constructed-response assignments?
- Target Language Proficiency tests
- World Language Content Area tests
- Principal as Instructional Leader Subtests 1 and 2
- Learning Behavior Specialist II tests
- Superintendent
For more information about tests with constructed-response assignments, select the test.
How does a candidate determine which tests to take?
Information about what tests candidates must take is available on the What Tests Do I Need to Take? page on this website.
How often are the ILTS tests offered?
Most tests are available year round, by appointment. The world language content area tests, Target Language Proficiency (TLP) tests, and Learning Behavior Specialist II tests are available during specified testing periods.
Where are the ILTS tests offered?
The ILTS tests are administered at computer-based test sites throughout Illinois and nationwide.
Can someone in another state take the ILTS tests?
Yes, the ILTS tests are administered at computer-based test sites throughout Illinois and nationwide.
What provisions are made for candidates who might need alternative testing arrangements?
Candidates may request special testing accommodations during test registration. Evaluation Systems considers requests on a case-by-case basis to meet the particular needs of the test taker.
How many times can someone retake an ILTS test?
Review the retake policy for ILTS tests.
What kind of ID is needed to be admitted to take a test?
For complete information about acceptable forms of identification for ILTS tests, visit the ID Policy page on this website.
What is the passing score for the ILTS tests?
The scaled passing score is 240.
When are candidate scores reported?
Scores are reported to candidates within 4 to 6 weeks after the test administration.
How are the constructed-response assignments scored?
Constructed-response assignments are scored by qualified and trained individuals according to standardized procedures. Each constructed-response assignment is scored by at least two individuals. The performance characteristics and the score scale(s) for each ILTS test are available on the preparation materials page for that test.
Who receives candidate scores?
Scores are provided to the candidate, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and the educator preparation program(s) that the candidate selected during test registration.
What preparation materials are available for the ILTS tests?
A variety of free and fee-based preparation materials are available for the tests. Candidates can access the preparation materials from the Prepare page on this website.
Are printed copies of the study guides available?
All study guides must be accessed online. Study guides are available from the Study Guides page on this website.
Are printed copies of the fee-based practice tests available?
All practice tests must be accessed online. Visit the Practice Tests page on this website for more information.
Withdrawal/Refund Policy
Withdrawal/Refund Policy
If after registering for a test you wish to withdraw your registration, you may do so according to the following procedure:
If you have not yet scheduled your test: Submit a withdrawal request through your account.
If you have already scheduled your test:
- First, cancel your test appointment at least 24 hours before your scheduled testing time. To cancel your appointment, log in to your account, click "Reschedule," and follow the instructions provided.
- After cancelling your test appointment, submit a withdrawal request through your account.
If you withdraw your registration before you have scheduled your test appointment or if you cancel your test appointment at least 24 hours before your scheduled testing time and then withdraw your registration, you will receive a full refund of your test fees. In most cases, your refund will be issued by Evaluation Systems within one week of your request; however, some requests may take additional time to resolve.
If you registered for a test with subtests and wish to modify your subtest selection, you must withdraw your registration and reregister.
If you are absent from the test, you will not receive a refund or credit of any kind.
Your registration is valid for one year from the date of issue. If you do not schedule a test appointment and take your test within one year, or withdraw your registration within one year, your registration will expire and you will receive no refund or credit of any kind.
Payment Policy
Duration of Payment Validity
After payment, your registration will be valid for one year. If you do not take the test or withdraw your registration within that period, your registration will expire and you will receive no refund or credit of any kind.
Payment Processing
If you register to take the same test on multiple test dates and pass the test on the first test date, you will not be issued a refund for your additional registrations on the basis of your passing performance.
If you have any outstanding balance owed by you to Evaluation Systems after a test appointment for which you were registered, all of your scores for that test date may be permanently voided and therefore not reported to you, to ISBE, or to any educator preparation programs.
The following policies apply to you when you have an outstanding balance with Evaluation Systems:
- You will be assessed a $20 fee to cover the processing required to clear your account.
- You will not be allowed to register for future test appointments until your balance, which includes the additional fee, is paid in full.
- Any credits or refunds for which you may be eligible will be applied first to your outstanding debt, with any excess to be returned to you.
If a credit card charge for an Evaluation Systems service for you is disputed:
- You may not be allowed to make any future payments by credit card.
- You must make your payment to clear your account by cashier's check or money order only.
- If you attempt to pay for any further services by cashier's check or money order before clearing your account, any payments received will be applied first to your outstanding debt, with any excess applied to the requested services.
Additionally, if a personal check submitted by you is returned by the bank:
- You will not be allowed to make any future payments by personal check.
- You must make your payment to clear your account by cashier's check or money order only, unless you are making a subsequent credit card payment for additional services, in which case your credit card will be billed for both the outstanding balance and the additional requested services.
- If you attempt to pay for any further services by credit card before clearing your account, your credit card will be billed for the amount of all services you have requested, as well as the outstanding balance owed. You agree to pay for all such services and outstanding balances in the event your credit card company does not.
- If you attempt to pay for any further services by cashier's check or money order before clearing your account, any payments received will be applied first to your outstanding debt, with any excess applied to the requested services.
ID Policy
You must bring to the test center one piece of current, government-issued identification printed in English, in the name in which you registered, bearing your photograph and signature.
Acceptable forms of identification include the following:
- Driver's license with photograph and signature
- Passport with photograph and signature
- State identification with photograph and signature (provided by the Department of Licensing for individuals who do not have a driver's license)
- National identification with photograph and signature
- Military identification with photograph and signature
- Alien Registration Card (green card, permanent resident visa)
A government-issued ID missing a visible signature or that has an embedded signature must be supplemented with an original (no photocopies), valid (unexpired) ID that has at least a matching name and recent recognizable photograph, or a matching name and signature.
Unacceptable forms of identification include draft classification cards, credit cards of any kind, social security cards, student IDs, international driver's licenses, international student IDs, notary-prepared letters or documents, employee identification cards, learner's permits or any temporary identification cards, and automated teller machine (ATM) cards.
If you do not have proper identification at the time of your test, you will be denied admission to the test session. If you are refused admission to the test, for any reason, you will be considered absent and will receive no credit or refund of any kind.
Please note the following:
- Your middle initial in your account on this website must match the middle name or initial on your ID.
- If you have a hyphenated last name, one of the following must be true of your name as it appears in your account on this website and on your ID:
- either both instances must use the complete hyphenated name or
- if one instance only uses one last name, it must be the second last name from the full hyphenated version
If the name on your identification differs from the name in which you are registered, you must bring official, original verification of the change (e.g., original marriage certificate, original court order).
If you have any questions about your identification, please contact Evaluation Systems before the day of the test.
As part of the identity verification process, your digital signature will be taken at the test center, and a palm scan and/or a digital photograph may also be taken. These will be used only for the purpose of identity verification. If you do not allow your digital signature, palm scan, and/or digital photograph to be taken, you will not be allowed to test and you will not receive a refund or credit of any kind.
Late Arrival Policy
It is essential that you report for your test appointment on time. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late to a test appointment, you may not be admitted. If you arrive late and are not admitted, you will be considered absent and will not receive a refund or credit of any kind. You will need to register and pay again to test on a future date.
Absentee Policy
If you are absent, you will not receive a refund or credit of any kind. You will need to register and pay again to test on a future date.
Emergency circumstances. If you are absent from a test appointment because of an emergency circumstance (illness, injury, hospitalization, or death in the immediate family), you may be eligible to receive a fee voucher that you may use to register for a future test date.
To request a voucher, you must submit a written request to Evaluation Systems describing the emergency situation. Include written documentation, such as a dated newspaper obituary or a dated letter signed by a professional licensed to diagnose or treat the emergency condition (e.g., physician), on that person's professional letterhead. Documentation from a medical professional must specifically excuse you from testing on the date of the test. Documentation containing electronic signatures will not be accepted.
The request and required documentation must be received at Evaluation Systems within 30 calendar days after the missed test appointment.
A response to your request will be sent to you within two weeks after the missed test date, or two weeks after your request is received, whichever is later. If your request for a fee voucher is granted, the fee voucher you receive will be in the amount of the test fee you paid for the missed test appointment.
Test Cancellation Policy
In the event that it becomes necessary to close a test center due to severe weather conditions or a natural disaster (e.g., flood, fire), examinees will be notified by telephone and/or email and you will be contacted to reschedule your test appointment.
If you miss a test appointment that has not been officially canceled due to a test center closing, you will be considered absent and will not receive a refund or credit of any kind. Contact us at (800) 239-8107 if you have any concerns or questions on the day of the test.
Retake Policy
If you wish to retake an ILTS test, you must complete the registration process and make the appropriate payment. When you register to retake a test, you must retake the entire test.
Retake policies depend on the test you have taken, and are shown below.
Content-Area Tests (except Gifted Education) | You must wait 14 days before taking the test again. | |
---|---|---|
Gifted Education (NES®) Test |
You must wait 30 days before taking the test again. For registrations on or after December 5, 2023, candidates who have taken the same National Evaluation Series™ test with the same test code three times and have not yet passed will be able to reregister for the same test at no cost. Please note the following:
|
|
Content-Area Tests (Administrator) | blank | |
Chief School Business Official | You must wait 14 days before taking the test again. | |
Director of Special Education | You must wait 14 days before taking the test again. | |
Principal as Instructional Leader Subtests 1 & 2 (195, 196) | You must wait 60 days before taking these tests again. | |
Superintendent | You must wait 60 days before taking the test again. | |
World Language Content-Area Tests | You must wait 30 days before taking the test again. | |
Language Proficiency Tests | You must wait 30 days before taking the test again. | |
Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS II) Tests | You must wait 30 days before taking the test again. |
Withdrawal/Refund Policy
Withdrawal/Refund Policy
If after registering for a test you wish to withdraw your registration, you may do so according to the following procedure:
If you have not yet scheduled your test: Submit a withdrawal request through your account.
If you have already scheduled your test:
- First, cancel your test appointment at least 24 hours before your scheduled testing time. To cancel your appointment, log in to your account, click "Reschedule," and follow the instructions provided.
- After cancelling your test appointment, submit a withdrawal request through your account.
If you withdraw your registration before you have scheduled your test appointment or if you cancel your test appointment at least 24 hours before your scheduled testing time and then withdraw your registration, you will receive a full refund of your test fee. In most cases, your refund will be issued by Evaluation Systems within one week of your request; however, some requests may take additional time to resolve.
If you selected multiple subtests when you registered and wish to withdraw from any of the subtests selected, you must withdraw your entire registration and submit a new registration with a new test selection. Once one subtest associated with a registration has been attempted, you may not withdraw any of the other subtests within the same registration.
If you are absent from the test, you will not receive a refund or credit of any kind.
Your registration is valid for one year from the date of issue. If you do not schedule a test appointment and take your test within one year, or withdraw your registration within one year, your registration will expire and you will receive no refund or credit of any kind.
Payment Policy
Duration of Payment Validity
After payment, your registration will be valid for one year. If you do not take the test or withdraw your registration within that period, your registration will expire and you will receive no refund or credit of any kind.
Payment Processing
If you have any outstanding balance owed by you to Evaluation Systems after a test appointment for which you were registered, all of your scores for that test date may be permanently voided and therefore not reported to you; to the relevant state agency responsible for educator certification, if applicable; or to any institutions.
The following policies apply to you when you have an outstanding balance with Evaluation Systems:
- You will be assessed a $20 fee to cover the processing required to clear your account.
- You will not be allowed to register for future test appointments until your balance, which includes the additional fee, is paid in full.
- Any credits or refunds for which you may be eligible will be applied first to your outstanding debt, with any excess to be returned to you.
If a credit card charge for an Evaluation Systems service for you is disputed:
- You may not be allowed to make any future payments by credit card.
- You must make your payment to clear your account by cashier's check or money order only.
- If you attempt to pay for any further services by cashier's check or money order before clearing your account, any payments received will be applied first to your outstanding debt, with any excess applied to the requested services.
Additionally, if a personal check submitted by you is returned by the bank:
- You will not be allowed to make any future payments by personal check.
- You must make your payment to clear your account by cashier's check or money order only, unless you are making a subsequent credit card payment for additional services, in which case your credit card will be billed for both the outstanding balance and the additional requested services.
- If you attempt to pay for any further services by credit card before clearing your account, your credit card will be billed for the amount of all services you have requested, as well as the outstanding balance owed. You agree to pay for all such services and outstanding balances in the event your credit card company does not.
- If you attempt to pay for any further services by cashier's check or money order before clearing your account, any payments received will be applied first to your outstanding debt, with any excess applied to the requested services.
ID Policy
You must bring to the test center one piece of current, government-issued identification printed in English, in the name in which you registered, bearing your photograph and signature.
Acceptable forms of identification include the following:
- Driver's license with photograph and signature
- Passport with photograph and signature
- State identification with photograph and signature (provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles for individuals who do not have a driver's license)
- National identification with photograph and signature
- Military identification with photograph and signature
- Alien Registration Card (green card, permanent resident visa)
A government-issued ID missing a visible signature or that has an embedded signature must be supplemented with an original (no photocopies), valid (unexpired) ID that has at least a matching name and recent recognizable photograph, or a matching name and signature.
Unacceptable forms of identification include draft classification cards, credit cards of any kind, social security cards, student IDs, international driver's licenses, international student IDs, notary-prepared letters or documents, employee identification cards, learner's permits or any temporary identification cards, and automated teller machine (ATM) cards.
If you do not have proper identification at the time of your test, you will be denied admission to the test session. If you are refused admission to the test, for any reason, you will be considered absent and will receive no credit or refund of any kind.
If the name on your identification differs from the name in which you are registered, you must bring official, original verification of the change (e.g., original marriage certificate, original court order).
Please note the following:
- Your middle initial in your account on this website must match the middle name or initial on your ID.
- If you have a hyphenated last name, one of the following must be true of your name
as it appears in your account on this website and on your ID:
- either both instances must use the complete hyphenated name
- if one instance only uses one last name, it must be the second last name from the full hyphenated version
or
If you have any questions about your identification, please contact Evaluation Systems before the day of the test.
As part of the identity verification process, your digital signature will be taken at the test center, and a palm scan and/or a digital photograph may also be taken. These will be used only for the purpose of identity verification. If you do not allow your digital signature, palm scan, and/or digital photograph to be taken, you will not be allowed to test and you will not receive a refund or credit of any kind. Note that the palm scan provided at the test center does not fulfill any fingerprint requirement for teacher certification by a relevant state agency responsible for educator certification.
Late Arrival Policy
It is essential that you report for your test appointment on time. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late to a test appointment, you may not be admitted. If you arrive late and are not admitted, you will be considered absent and will not receive a refund or credit of any kind. You will need to register and pay again to test on a future date.
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