So you’re taking the NES Elementary Education (102,103) exam and you’re asking some of the following questions:
- Where do I find a free practice test?
- An exam breakdown?
- How do I register for the test?
Those are all great questions, and you’ve found the right place to get them answered!
My name is Ashley Macken, and at Best in Class we are here to help you get familiar with everything you need to know about the NES Elementary Education (102, 103) exam
NES Elementary Education Video Overviews
Choosing the right study material for the NES Elementary Education exam can be overwhelming. 240 Tutoring offers a helpful video on finding the right study resources for you.
The following video from Mometrix walks you through a handful of practice questions to help you get an idea of the content that will be on your NES exam.
First Thing to Know
National Evaluation Series™ (NES®) is a series of tests used for teacher certification in Arizona, California, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin.
This particular test, the NES Elementary Education, is the official test to fulfill the content knowledge requirement for candidates seeking an endorsement to a Washington teaching certificate. It is also used in many other states. If you are hoping to become a certified elementary teacher in Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, or Washington, you will need to take the NES Elementary Education test.
The identification numbers for the NES Elementary Education exam are 102 and 103. The Elementary Education exam has two separate subtests, with an identification number for each subtest. The purpose of the identification numbers is to help differentiate between different examinations or different subtests.
NES Elementary Education Exam Breakdown
The NES Elementary Education is made up of two subtests. Each subtest has 75 multiple-choice questions and is broken down into content domains, as shown in the tables below.
Subtests are administered in separate testing sessions, so you must register for each subtest individually. You must pass each individual subtest to pass the entire NES Elementary Education exam. If you do not pass a subtest, you will need to retake that subtest again.
| NES Elementary Education: Subtest I | |
| Content Domain | Approximate Percentage of Test Score |
|
62% |
|
38% |
| NES Elementary Education: Subtest II | |
| Content Domain | Approximate Percentage of Test Score |
|
50% |
|
38% |
|
12% |
What is a Passing Score
You will need a score of at least 220 on each subtest to pass the NES Elementary Education exam.
NES exams are calculated by taking your raw score and converting it to a scaled score. The raw score is the number of multiple-choice questions you answered correctly. The scaled score ranges from 100 to 300.
How to Register for the NES Elementary Education Exam
New to Teaching?
If you’re new to teaching, you’ll most likely need to complete an educator preparation program prior to taking your certification exams. Check your state’s department of education website for more information on this process.
Once you’ve completed an educator preparation program, you can register for the Elementary Education exam. Registering for NES exams is different for each state. Some states have you register on the NES website, while others send you to a state website.
Here is how to register for a test:
- Go to the NES website and choose your state.
- Create an account with NES. You will need to create a password and enter personal information such as email, social security number, address, and birthdate.
- Once you create your account, you are ready to register for an NES exam. Fill out the registration form and pay the test fee.
- Schedule the test. Select your test name and enter your zip code to view a list of testing locations near you.
Already Certified?
Registering for the NES exam is different for each state. Some states have you register on the NES website, while others send you to a state website.
- Go to the NES website and choose your state.
- Sign into your NES Account. You can also create an account if you do not have one.
- Register for your test. Fill out the registration form and pay the test fee.
- Schedule the test. Select your test name and enter your zip code to view a list of testing locations near you.
Once you pass the exam, you are on your way to be qualified to teach elementary school in your state!
Yay!
NES Elementary Education (102, 103) Free Practice Test
Are you preparing for the NES Elementary Education (102, 103)? If so, you’re going to want to know exactly what you need to help you pass.
Practice tests are a great starting place. With a practice test you’ll be able to see what the test structure is like and what content will be on the test. When searching for practice tests, you’ll want to make sure you choose one that is reliable and meets your needs.
Luckily, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve created a list of the best practice tests for the NES Elementary Education exam.
Best Free Practice Test
240 Tutoring’s NES Elementary Education Subtest I Practice Test
240 Tutoring’s NES Elementary Education Subtest II Practice Test
240 Tutoring has been helping teachers pass their exams since 2011. They offer an online, completely free practice test for both subtests of the NES Elementary Education exam. Each practice test will give you a free score breakdown, so you can see exactly what you need to study.
NES Elementary Education (102, 103) Paid Practice Test
Best Paid Practice Test
240 Tutoring’s NES Elementary Education Subtest I Study Guide and Practice Test
240 Tutoring’s NES Elementary Education Subtest II Study Guide and Practice Test
240 Tutoring also offers a full study guide that comes with a practice test. Their NES Elementary Education Subtest I and Subtest II study guides and practice tests have over 1,160 practice questions and 477 pages of content. So while it is a paid practice test, it offers a lot of extra benefits.
Best of all? The study guide comes with a money-back guarantee that you will pass the test.
BONUS: 240 Tutoring is a month-to-month subscription. You get all of their NES study guides — including both Elementary Education subtests — for just one monthly price of $39.99. So simply subscribing to one study guide gives you access to all NES study guides. If you plan on taking multiple NES tests, this is a great deal!
Runner-Up for Practice Test
Study.com Practice Test
The NES Elementary Education practice tests give a preview of Study.com’s paid resources (such as videos, quizzes and lessons) after each question that is answered. While there seems to be a lot of information to support each practice question, it can be frustrating to get through part of the material only to find out that you need an account to view the rest of the content.
Each practice test also falls short in the number of questions offered. With only 15 practice questions, the limited amount of content will not be enough to help you adequately study.
Elementary Education Subtest I (102) Practice Test
Elementary Education Subtest II (103) Practice Test
Honorable Mention
NES Elementary Education Practice Test
The NES website offers a practice test for each NES Elementary Education subtest. The reliability of this resource is undeniable, as the questions are provided by the same company that is responsible for the actual test. While reliable, it will likely not fulfill all of your study needs, since it only includes one practice question for each competency.
Elementary Education Subtest I (102) Practice Test
Elementary Education Subtest II (103) Practice Test
NES Elementary Education (102, 103) Free Study Guide
Preparing for the NES Elementary Education (102, 103) can be overwhelming. With so many study guides available, it can be hard to decide what study materials you actually need.
Well, there’s no need to look any further. We’ve provided a breakdown of the best free and paid study guides for the NES Elementary Education .
Best Free Study Guide
NES Elementary Education Preparation Materials
The NES Website offers free study materials for both subtests of the Elementary Education exam to get you prepared for your upcoming test. You can view the test framework and sample questions for each tested competency.
So, while the free NES Preparation Materials provided are not a true study guide, it is the best free option available for this exam.
NES Elementary Education Subtest I
NES Elementary Education Subtest II
NES Elementary Education (102, 103) Paid Study Guide
Best Paid Study Guide
240 Tutoring’s NES Elementary Education Subtest I Study Guide
240 Tutoring’s NES Elementary Education Subtest II Study Guide
240 Tutoring has a comprehensive study guide that comes with a practice test. Their NES Elementary Education Subtest I and Subtest II study guides have over 1,160 practice questions and 477 pages of content.
The study guide also comes with a money-back guarantee that you will pass the test.
BONUS: 240 Tutoring is a month-to-month subscription. You get all of their NES study guides — including both Elementary Education subtests — for just one monthly price of $39.99. So simply subscribing to one study guide gives you access to all NES study guides. If you plan on taking multiple NES tests, this is a great deal!
Runner-Up for Study Guide
NES Website Study Prep
The NES website offers a study guide for each subtest of the NES Elementary Education exam for $22.50 each. The reliability of this resource is undeniable, as it is provided by the same company that is responsible for the actual test. Each study guide includes a diagnostic test with instant scoring and 8 chapters of instructional content with end-of-chapter multiple choice and essay exercises.
While reliable, it is a pricier study guide because you have to purchase each subtest study guide separately.
Honorable Mention
Study.com Study Guide
Study.com offers a NES Elementary Education study guide for each subtest. The guides contain a good amount of information, with over 500 video lessons included. When paired with information from the Study.com practice test exam report, you will be able to target the lessons most important to you. The downside is that at $59.99 per month, this guide is pricier than others.
Study.com NES Elementary Education Subtest I Study Guide
Study.com NES Elementary Education Subtest II Study Guide
Ashley Macken
Ashley is a first-grade teacher who is ending her 10-year teaching career to focus on small group tutoring and being a stay-at-home mom. She feels she has a wealth of knowledge of the education world to share with others. One thing you wouldn’t expect about Ashley is that she owns a working 1926 Model T.
Recommended articles:
How To Prepare For (And Pass) the NES
Understanding The Structure Of The NES
NES Test Registration Information
NES Test Results And Passing Scores
Test Framework: Elementary Education Subtest I