- MTTC Lower Elementary (PK-3) covers four separately scored subtests: 117, 118, 119, and 120.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 220 out of 300 on each individual subtest.
- All four subtests together cost $246 and total 210 questions over 5 hours 30 minutes.
- Literacy (118) had the lowest 2024-25 pass rate, making it the top priority for focused practice.
What Is MTTC Certification?
MTTC certification refers to passing the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification exams required by the Michigan Department of Education for specific teaching endorsements. The program is owned by the state, while Evaluation Systems/Pearson builds, administers, and scores the computer-based tests at Pearson VUE testing centers. Because "MTTC" is really an umbrella label covering dozens of separately numbered fields, the specific credential this article addresses is Lower Elementary (PK-3) Education, tested through subtests 117 Professional Knowledge and Skills, 118 Literacy, 119 Mathematics, and 120 Science and Social Studies.
This field matters right now because it is one of the program's highest-volume current tests and the natural successor to the older Elementary Education (103) test, whose final administration is December 20, 2026. Test 103 cannot be used toward the ZO or ZP grade-band endorsements, which is why candidates preparing for lower elementary licensure in Michigan are increasingly routed toward the 117-120 series instead.
If you're still getting oriented to the broader program before diving into subtest specifics, our overview articles on What Is MTTC? and MTTC Meaning explain the acronym and program structure in more depth. This article focuses specifically on what the Lower Elementary certification requires.
The Four Subtests: 117, 118, 119, 120
Unlike a single combined exam, the Lower Elementary (PK-3) credential is built from four separately registered and separately scored subtests. You can schedule them individually, on different days, and in whatever order suits your preparation timeline.
| 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 |
Taken together, the full set is 210 questions and 5 hours 30 minutes of testing time, plus a separate 15-minute tutorial and nondisclosure agreement segment at each individual appointment - meaning that segment repeats every time you sit for a subtest, not just once overall. Some questions on any subtest may be unscored field-test items used to calibrate future exams, so don't assume every unfamiliar-feeling question reflects poorly on your preparation.
Key Takeaway
You do not have to take all four subtests in one sitting or even the same week. Spacing them out lets you concentrate study time on one content domain at a time.
What the Domains Actually Test
Each subtest breaks down into weighted content domains, and understanding those weights is the single most efficient way to allocate study hours. For the full breakdown of all eleven domains across the four subtests, see our MTTC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 11 Content Areas. Here's a condensed view specific to Lower Elementary certification.
Subtest 117 - Professional Knowledge and Skills
This subtest splits into Learner-Centered Supports (60%) and Professional Knowledge and Strategic Partnerships (40%). It leans heavily toward how you support individual learners rather than abstract pedagogy theory.
- Learner-Centered Supports carries the majority weight - prioritize accommodations, developmental needs, and classroom environment questions
- Strategic Partnerships covers collaboration with families, colleagues, and support staff
Subtest 118 - Literacy
Three domains share the load: Literacy in Context (30%), Literacy Skills-Instruction and Practices (30%), and Literacy Processes-Instruction and Practices (40%). Because Literacy posted the lowest 2024-25 pass rate among the four subtests, it deserves disproportionate practice-question time.
- Literacy Processes is the single largest domain on this subtest at 40%
- Expect deep coverage of phonemic awareness, decoding, and comprehension instruction for PK-3 learners
Subtest 119 - Mathematics
Mathematics-Specific Teaching Practices (20%) sets the pedagogical foundation, while two content domains - Attribution and Counting and Whole Number Representation (40%) and Early Fraction Representation and Whole Number Operation (40%) - carry equal, heavier weight. Calculators are prohibited on this subtest.
- Practice mental math and manual computation since no calculator is allowed
- Focus on how young children build number sense, not just adult-level math fluency
Subtest 120 - Science and Social Studies
Two science domains - 3-Dimensional Science Learning per the National Research Council's Framework (25%) and Children's Sense-making and Science Teaching Pedagogy (25%) - combine with Social Studies Instruction and Practices, which alone carries 50% of this subtest's weight.
- Social Studies is worth as much as both science domains combined
- Review the Framework for K-12 Science Education's practices and crosscutting concepts specifically
Registration, Fees, and Scoring Mechanics
Registering for the Lower Elementary series means enrolling in each subtest separately through the Evaluation Systems/Pearson platform, then scheduling your appointment at a Pearson VUE center. Individual fees run $59 each for 117, 118, and 119, and $69 for 120; taking all four costs $246 total. For a complete pricing breakdown including what drives cost differences between subtests, see MTTC Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Scoring uses a 100-300 scale per subtest, and you need a scaled score of 220 to pass any individual subtest - passing one does not carry weight toward another. Numeric total scores are only shown on nonpassing results, so a passing report won't hand you a precise number to obsess over. Scores are released within six weeks of your test date. Our MTTC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass article walks through what that 220 threshold means in practice for each subtest.
If you don't pass a subtest, retakes are unlimited, but you must wait for your official score report and observe a 30-day gap before attempting that same subtest again. A passing result stays valid for five years if your certificate or endorsement hasn't yet been issued, so there's some flexibility if you're spacing out subtests around student teaching or a work schedule. Full scheduling windows and planning considerations are covered in MTTC Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Who Needs This Certification
Candidates pursuing licensure to teach prekindergarten through third grade in Michigan public schools generally need to pass this subtest series (or the applicable combination) as part of meeting state certification requirements. This typically includes teacher preparation program completers, out-of-state teachers seeking Michigan reciprocity for early elementary roles, and career-changers entering education through alternative certification routes. School districts hiring for PK-3 classroom positions expect candidates to hold or be actively pursuing the relevant endorsement backed by passing subtest scores.
Because eligibility rules, prerequisite coursework, and program-specific requirements vary, it's worth reviewing MTTC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify before registering for your first subtest. If you're evaluating whether this credential fits your career plans at all, Is the MTTC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and MTTC Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis address the broader career context beyond just passing the tests.
How Hard Is It, Realistically?
Difficulty varies meaningfully by subtest. Official 2024-25 data shows initial and cumulative pass rates of 95.8%/97.1% for 117, 78.3%/87.6% for 118, 81.9%/89.6% for 119, and 92.2%/95.6% for 120. In plain terms: Professional Knowledge and Skills (117) and Science and Social Studies (120) tend to be more approachable on the first try, while Literacy (118) is consistently the toughest, followed by Mathematics (119).
That gap matters for how you sequence your preparation. If you only have bandwidth to over-prepare for one subtest, make it Literacy - it's the strongest target for extra practice questions given its lower first-attempt success rate. A full statistical breakdown, including how cumulative rates account for retakes, is available in MTTC Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows, and a broader difficulty discussion covering format, timing, and content density lives at How Hard Is the MTTC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Key Takeaway
Literacy (118) and Mathematics (119) carry both longer testing windows (75-90 minutes) and lower historical pass rates than 117 or 120 - budget extra review time accordingly.
Preparing Subtest by Subtest
Rather than a generic multi-week calendar, it's more useful to think about preparation in terms of subtest sequencing tied to the domain weights above. A simple four-block approach mirrors the four subtests themselves:
Professional Knowledge and Skills (117)
- Review Learner-Centered Supports scenarios, since they carry 60% of this subtest
- Practice Strategic Partnerships questions covering family and staff collaboration
Literacy (118)
- Give this the most total review hours given its lower historical pass rate
- Split time across Literacy in Context, Literacy Skills, and Literacy Processes in proportion to their 30/30/40 weighting
Mathematics (119)
- Drill counting, whole number representation, and early fraction concepts without a calculator
- Balance content review with Mathematics-Specific Teaching Practices questions
Science and Social Studies (120)
- Weight your review toward Social Studies Instruction and Practices, which is 50% of the subtest
- Cover both science domains through the lens of the Framework for K-12 Science Education
Within each block, timed practice under realistic conditions matters more than passive review, since each subtest has its own fixed time limit (75 or 90 minutes) that you'll need to pace against. A structured walkthrough of building this kind of study plan, including how to use practice questions effectively, is in MTTC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. For a condensed one-page reference to keep nearby during final review, check MTTC Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts.
You can also start building familiarity with the question format directly through our practice test platform, which mirrors the structure of each subtest so you're not encountering the format for the first time on test day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. The Lower Elementary (ZO) endorsement requires 118, 119, and 120 plus either 117 or 121. Taking all four numbered subtests is a common path but not the only valid combination, so confirm your specific endorsement requirements first.
Each subtest uses a 100-300 scaled score, and you need 220 to pass. This threshold applies individually to each of the four subtests - passing does not average across them.
Subtests 117, 118, and 119 each cost $59, and subtest 120 costs $69, for a combined total of $246 if you take all four.
No. Calculators are specifically prohibited on subtest 119 Mathematics, so all computation must be done manually or mentally.
Retakes are unlimited, but you must wait for your official score report and observe a 30-day gap before attempting that same subtest again. A passing result remains valid for five years if your certificate or endorsement hasn't yet been issued.