Preparation Resources for the New York State Teacher Certification Exams

Resources from Around the Internet

The following are sites with preparation guides and advise for getting ready for the NYSTCEs. This lists is in no way comprehensive. However, we would like to make it as useful as we can, so if you know of any sites you think should be added to help your fellow students, please contact Joanne German to let her know. Thanks!

• About half a dozen free practice questions on the Graduate Educational Informational Service (GEIS) Web Site. According to their About page, “GEIS develops and maintains educational website designed to enhance student outcomes and promote academic excellence.” The site also has some information about the exams and general strategies. There are also products you can buy from the site, although we have not tried them and know nothing about their usefulness.


• Kaplan, the for-profit test preparation company
  • General strategies and sample questions for:
    • LAST strategies and sample questions
    • ATS-W strategies and sample questions
  • Downloadable Word-formatted guides:
    • LAST guide
    • CST guides
    • ATS-W guides

NYS TCE Web Site

This page summarizes some of the information that is available on the New York State Teacher Certification Exam’s (NYSTCE’s) web site, http://www.nystce.nesinc.com.

These include:

• Test Frameworks
  The test frameworks provide the content covered by each test and are organized by the major content subareas of the tests and specific test objectives within the subareas.
• Preparation Guides
  The preparation guides contain information about the tests, the test objectives, sample test questions and rationales for the correct answers.

Candidates are encouraged to access the test frameworks and preparation guides before testing to familiarize themselves with the content and design of the tests. There is no charge for these products.

Full-length, online practice tests are available to be purchased for $29.95 each for the following fields:

• Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST)
• Elementary Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W)
• Secondary Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W)
• Multi-Subject Content Specialty Test (CST)

Teacher Certifcation Exam Handbook and More Information

Teacher Certifcation Exam Handbook

The NYSED Office of Higher Education has recently produced a handbook, Guidance on New York State’s Certification Examinations for Teachers and School Building Leaders to inform certification candidates about the exams and changing examination process, including information about the edTPA. Among the topics covered in this handbook are:

• Certification Exam Requirements and Timeline
• Questions About the NYSTCE
• General edTPA Questions
• Costs
• Program/School of Education Topics
• Technology/Platforms
• edTPA Uses

More Information

The following websites contain for further information:

1. New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE)
   • Homepage
   • Updates on the New Certification Examinations
   • edTPA in New York State
2. New York State Education Department Certification Website
3. TPAC Online
4. edTPA
5. New York State Education Department Office of Higher Education- New Certification Exams