Skip to main content

Test Information Guide

Overview and Test Objectives:
Field 73: History/Social Science

Test Overview

Table outlining the test format, number of questions, time, and passing score.
Format Computer-based test (CBT) and online-proctored test; 100 multiple-choice questions, 2 open-response items
Time 4 hours (does not include 15-minute CBT tutorial)
Passing Score 240

The Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) are designed to measure a candidate's knowledge of the subject matter contained in the test objectives for each field. The MTEL are aligned with the Massachusetts educator licensure regulations and, as applicable, with the standards in the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks.

The test objectives specify the content to be covered on the test and are organized by major content subareas. The chart below shows the approximate percentage of the total test score derived from each of the subareas.

The test assesses a candidate's proficiency and depth of understanding of the subject at the level required for a baccalaureate major according to Massachusetts standards. Candidates are typically nearing completion of or have completed their undergraduate work when they take the test.

Pie chart of approximate test weighting outlined in the table below.

Test Objectives

Table outlining test content and subject weighting by sub area and objective.
Subareas Range of Objectives Approximate Test Weighting
Multiple-Choice
1 World History 01–03 20%
2 U.S. History 04–06 20%
3 World Geography and Economics 07–09 20%
4 Civic Life and Government 10–13 20%
80%
Open-Response
5 Integration of Knowledge and Understanding
Social Science Concepts and Skills 14 10%
Social Science Analysis and Interpretation 15 10%
20%

 

Subarea 1–World History

0001—Apply knowledge of major political, economic, social, cultural, and technological developments in world history to approximately the mid-fourteenth century CE.

For example:

0002—Apply knowledge of major political, economic, social, cultural, and technological developments in the early modern world (from approximately the mid-fourteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century CE).

For example:

0003—Apply knowledge of major political, economic, social, cultural, and technological developments in modern world history.

For example:

 

Subarea 2–U.S. History

0004—Apply knowledge of major political, economic, social, and cultural developments in the history of North America prior to 1789.

For example:

0005—Apply knowledge of major political, economic, social, and cultural developments in the history of the United States from 1789 to 1918.

For example:

0006—Apply knowledge of major political, economic, social, and cultural developments in the history of the United States from 1918 to the present.

For example:

 

Subarea 3–World Geography and Economics

0007—Apply knowledge of physical and human geography across the following regions: Western Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, North America, Central America, Caribbean Islands, South America, Central and South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.

For example:

0008—Apply knowledge of the relationship between geography and culture across the following regions: Western Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, North America, Central America, Caribbean Islands, South America, Central and South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.

For example:

0009—Apply knowledge of concepts and principles of economics.

For example:

 

Subarea 4–Civic Life and Government

0010—Apply knowledge of the origin of constitutional government in the United States.

For example:

0011—Apply knowledge of the purposes, principles, and institutions of U.S. and Massachusetts state and local government.

For example:

0012—Apply knowledge of civic life and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the United States.

For example:

0013—Apply knowledge of the guiding principles and instructional practices of effective history and social science education.

For example:

 

Subarea 5–Integration of Knowledge and Understanding

In addition to answering multiple-choice items, candidates will analyze primary and secondary sources and prepare written responses to two assignments addressing content summarized in the objectives below.

0014—Prepare an organized, developed written analysis of the information in given primary and secondary historical sources surrounding a discipline-specific inquiry question related to world history after the mid-fourteenth century CE.

For example:

0015—Prepare an organized, developed written analysis of the information in given primary and secondary historical sources surrounding a discipline-specific inquiry question related to U.S. history.

For example: