- 117-120 is four separately scored subtests totaling 210 questions and 5.5 hours of testing.
- Passing score is 220 on a 100-300 scale for every subtest, every time.
- All four subtests cost $246 total; 120 costs $69, the other three cost $59 each.
- Literacy (118) had the lowest initial pass rate in 2024-25, so weight your prep accordingly.
Quick Facts Snapshot
This page is a compressed, one-stop reference for the MTTC Lower Elementary (PK-3) Education subtests 117 through 120. It's built for a last-pass review the week before your appointment, not a first introduction to the material - if you're just starting out, the MTTC Study Guide 2026 walks through a full first-attempt plan and pairs well with this sheet.
Michigan's Department of Education owns the overall MTTC program, while Evaluation Systems/Pearson develops and scores the computer-based tests delivered at Pearson VUE centers. Because MTTC is an umbrella of many separate fields, this sheet stays narrowly focused on 117-120 - the field most candidates now pursue as Elementary Education (103) winds down toward its final administration on December 20, 2026. Note that 103 cannot be used for the ZO or ZP grade-band endorsements, which is part of why 117-120 has become the higher-volume path.
The Four Subtests at a Glance
Each subtest is registered and scored independently, so you can schedule them on separate days, in any order, and pay for only the ones you need.
| Subtest | Name | Questions | Time | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117 | Professional Knowledge and Skills | 50 | 1 hr 15 min | $59 |
| 118 | Literacy | 50 | 1 hr 15 min | $59 |
| 119 | Mathematics | 50 | 1 hr 30 min | $59 |
| 120 | Science and Social Studies | 60 | 1 hr 30 min | $69 |
Taking all four adds up to 210 questions and 5 hours 30 minutes of actual testing time, plus a separate 15-minute tutorial and nondisclosure segment attached to each individual appointment. Calculators are prohibited on 119, so practice your Mathematics number sense and mental computation without one. Expect that any of the four subtests may include unscored field-test items mixed in - you won't know which questions those are, so treat every item as if it counts. For a deeper breakdown of how these subtests map onto content weighting, see the MTTC Exam Domains 2026 guide.
Fees and Registration Mechanics
Fees are $59 each for 117, 118, and 119, and $69 for 120 - $246 if you register for all four at once. Because each subtest is billed and scored separately, budgeting matters more here than with single-test certifications; the MTTC Certification Cost 2026 breakdown covers how these fees stack against retake costs if a subtest doesn't pass the first time.
- Register and schedule each subtest individually through Pearson VUE.
- Scores post within six weeks of your test date.
- A numeric total score only displays on a score report if you did not pass; passing reports confirm pass status without a breakdown number.
Before you register, double-check your MTTC Requirements 2026 eligibility checklist and confirm your target testing window using the MTTC Exam Dates 2026 scheduling guide so you're not paying for a slot you'll need to reschedule.
All 11 Domains, Fast Reference
Each subtest is built from its own set of weighted domains. Knowing the weight tells you where to spend your limited review hours.
117 - Professional Knowledge and Skills
Two domains cover how you support learners and how you operate as a professional partner in the school system.
- Learner-Centered Supports - 60% of the subtest
- Professional Knowledge and Strategic Partnerships - 40%
118 - Literacy
Three roughly even-to-heavy domains span the context, skills, and processes of early literacy instruction.
- Literacy in Context - 30%
- Literacy Skills-Instruction and Practices - 30%
- Literacy Processes-Instruction and Practices - 40%
119 - Mathematics
Heavily weighted toward content knowledge for teaching, not just pedagogy.
- Mathematics-Specific Teaching Practices - 20%
- Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching PK-3: Attribution, Counting, and Whole Number Representation - 40%
- Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching PK-3: Early Fraction Representation and Whole Number Operation - 40%
120 - Science and Social Studies
Social Studies alone is half the entire subtest - don't under-prepare it relative to the two science domains.
- Science - 3-Dimensional Science Learning (NRC Framework: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, Core Ideas) - 25%
- Science - Children's Sense-making and Science Teaching Pedagogy - 25%
- Social Studies - Instruction and Practices - 50%
For the full explanation of what each domain actually tests, cross-reference the complete 11-domain content guide - it expands each bullet above into concrete skill statements.
Scoring, Passing Score, and Retakes
Every one of the four subtests uses a 100-300 scaled score, and 220 is the passing mark across the board - there is no subtest with a different threshold. The MTTC Passing Score 2026 guide goes deeper into how that scaled score is calculated if you want the full mechanics.
Key Takeaway
If you don't pass a subtest, you must wait for the official score report and then 30 days before your next attempt on that same subtest. Retakes themselves are unlimited, so a miss on 118 or 119 is not a dead end - it's a scheduling and re-prep problem.
Also remember the five-year validity rule: a passed subtest stays usable for five years as long as the certificate or endorsement it applies to has not yet been issued. If you're spacing out your four subtests over multiple testing windows, keep this timeline in view so an early pass doesn't quietly expire before you finish the set.
Where the Pass Rate Data Points You
Official 2024-25 figures show meaningful spread across the four subtests: 117 posted a 95.8% initial pass rate (97.1% cumulative), 120 posted 92.2% initial (95.6% cumulative), 119 posted 81.9% initial (89.6% cumulative), and 118 posted the lowest initial rate at 78.3% (87.6% cumulative). That makes Literacy (118) the subtest most worth extra practice-question volume, and Mathematics (119) the second priority.
This doesn't mean 117 and 120 are trivial - it means your review hours are better allocated proportionally to difficulty rather than split evenly across all four. For a full statistical breakdown by subtest and what it implies about difficulty, see the MTTC Pass Rate 2026 data analysis and the companion How Hard Is the MTTC Exam? difficulty guide.
A Four-Week Cheat-Sheet Timeline
If you're taking all four subtests across a compressed window, sequence your review by domain weight and difficulty rather than by subtest number order.
Literacy (118)
- Drill Literacy Processes-Instruction and Practices first; it's 40% of the subtest
- Split remaining time evenly between Literacy in Context and Literacy Skills
- Run one full 50-question timed set at the end of the week
Mathematics (119)
- No calculator during any practice - mirror real test conditions
- Weight your review toward both 40% Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching domains
- Save Mathematics-Specific Teaching Practices for lighter review sessions
Science and Social Studies (120)
- Prioritize Social Studies Instruction and Practices since it's half the subtest
- Cover both science domains together since they're evenly weighted at 25% each
- Take a full 60-question timed run to build stamina for the longer subtest
Professional Knowledge and Skills (117) plus review
- Focus most time on Learner-Centered Supports at 60% weight
- Light review pass across all previously covered domains
- Confirm Pearson VUE appointments and re-check ID requirements
This sequencing applies a simple spaced-review principle: revisit weaker domains briefly in the final week instead of cramming them fresh. Use full practice runs on our practice test platform to simulate each subtest's exact question count and time limit before you sit for the real thing.
Who Hires 117-120 Certified Teachers
Candidates who complete the 117-120 set and earn the Lower Elementary (ZO) endorsement are qualifying for classroom roles spanning pre-kindergarten through third grade - early childhood centers, elementary schools running PK programs, and districts building out lower-elementary teaching teams. Because 103 (Elementary Education) is being phased out and cannot satisfy ZO or ZP endorsement requirements, 117-120 is increasingly the expected credential for anyone entering this age band going forward. If you're evaluating how this certification fits your career and compensation goals, the MTTC Salary Guide 2026 and MTTC ROI analysis both address that from different angles.
Exam-Day Mistakes to Avoid
- Registering for subtests you don't need: Confirm your endorsement path (117 or 121, plus 118/119/120) before paying for all four.
- Bringing a calculator to 119: Calculators are prohibited on Mathematics - don't build a study habit you can't use on test day.
- Skipping the tutorial time buffer: Each appointment includes a separate 15-minute tutorial and nondisclosure segment beyond your actual testing time - plan your arrival accordingly.
- Retesting too soon: You must wait for your official score report and then 30 days before retaking the same subtest - don't assume you can rebook immediately.
- Letting a pass expire: A passing result is valid five years only until your certificate or endorsement is issued - don't let scheduling drag past that window.
FAQ
No. The Lower Elementary (ZO) endorsement requires 118, 119, and 120 plus either 117 or 121. Taking all four is a common path but not the only valid combination.
Each subtest uses a 100-300 scaled score, and 220 is the passing score on every one of the four - 117, 118, 119, and 120.
117, 118, and 119 are $59 each, and 120 is $69, totaling $246 if you register for all four.
Literacy (118) had the lowest 2024-25 initial pass rate at 78.3%, making it the strongest candidate for extra practice-question review.
A passing result stays valid for five years as long as the related certificate or endorsement has not yet been issued.