- Overview: Two Tests, One Transition
- Domain 1: Language and Literacy (26%)
- Domain 2: Mathematics (26%)
- Domain 3: Science (13%)
- Domain 4: Social Science (13%)
- Domain 5: Fine Arts (9%)
- Domain 6: Physical Development and Health (13%)
- Question Format and Test-Day Mechanics
- How Field 702's Testlets Change Domain Prep
- Mapping a Study Plan to the Domain Weights
- FAQ
- Language and Literacy and Mathematics each carry 26% of Field 305 - together over half your score.
- Field 305 has 150 questions (120 scorable, 30 non-scorable) in a 4-hour testing window; passing scaled score is 240.
- Field 702 splits the same content into six testlets you can schedule and pay for ($25 each) separately.
- Science, Social Science, and Physical Development/Health each sit at 13%; Fine Arts is the lightest at 9%.
Overview: Two Tests, One Transition
If you're preparing for elementary licensure in Illinois, you're navigating a content structure that's currently in transition. The Illinois State Board of Education, through test administrator Pearson Evaluation Systems, currently offers Elementary Education (Grades 1-6) Field 305 as the standard content test, while a redesigned Elementary Education (Grades K-6) Field 702 opened June 29, 2026 as its eventual replacement. Field 305 is scheduled to retire in summer 2027, which means many candidates reading this guide will have a choice - or a deadline - to consider.
Both versions test the same underlying knowledge base, organized into six content domains. Understanding exactly what each domain covers, and how much weight it carries, is the single most efficient way to decide where your study hours go. This guide breaks down all six areas in detail. For a broader look at how these domains fit into overall exam difficulty, see How Hard Is the ILTS Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026, and for the full registration and fee picture, check ILTS Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Domain 1: Language and Literacy (26%)
What This Domain Covers
Language and Literacy is tied for the single largest domain on Field 305, and it anchors the "Foundations of Literacy" and "English Language Arts and Biliteracy Skills" testlets under Field 702. Candidates must demonstrate knowledge of how children acquire language and reading skills across grades 1-6 (or K-6 under the new field), plus how to teach and assess those skills.
- Phonemic awareness, phonics, and word recognition development
- Reading comprehension strategies for fiction and informational text
- Vocabulary acquisition and academic language instruction
- Writing process instruction: drafting, revising, conventions
- Assessment of literacy skills and using data to guide instruction
- Supporting English learners and biliteracy development
Because this domain is so heavily weighted, treat it as a first-priority study area, not a "review later" topic. Many candidates who struggle with pacing on test day are caught off guard by how many literacy items require applying instructional theory to a classroom scenario rather than recalling a definition.
Domain 2: Mathematics (26%)
What This Domain Covers
Mathematics matches Language and Literacy at 26%, making these two domains the backbone of the exam. This is also the domain that most frequently trips up candidates who haven't taught upper-elementary math recently, since content knowledge expectations extend through grade 6.
- Number sense, place value, and operations with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals
- Algebraic thinking: patterns, expressions, and early equation concepts
- Measurement and geometry, including area, perimeter, and spatial reasoning
- Data analysis, probability, and interpreting graphs
- Instructional strategies for teaching math concepts and identifying misconceptions
No reference materials are provided during the exam - no calculator, no formula sheet - so mathematics questions must be solved using memorized procedures and mental math strategies you'd also want your future students to master. This detail alone changes how you should practice: work problems by hand, under time pressure, without a calculator crutch.
Key Takeaway
Because reference materials aren't supplied, drill core arithmetic and formula recall until they're automatic - you won't have a sheet to fall back on during Domains 1 and 2, which together decide over half your score.
Domain 3: Science (13%)
What This Domain Covers
Science accounts for 13% of the exam and corresponds to its own dedicated testlet under Field 702. It spans life science, physical science, earth and space science, and the scientific inquiry process as taught at the elementary level.
- Scientific method, inquiry-based instruction, and safe lab practices
- Life science: organisms, ecosystems, and basic biology concepts
- Physical science: matter, energy, forces, and motion
- Earth and space science: weather, geology, and the solar system
- Integrating science with literacy and math instruction
Because Science sits at a moderate 13% weight, it deserves solid coverage but not the same intensity as the two 26% domains. Candidates often find this domain manageable if they've recently reviewed elementary-level science curricula.
Domain 4: Social Science (13%)
What This Domain Covers
Social Science also carries 13% and covers history, geography, civics, and economics concepts appropriate for elementary instruction, along with the instructional approaches used to teach them.
- U.S. history themes and major events relevant to elementary curricula
- Geography skills: maps, regions, and human-environment interaction
- Civics and government basics, including community and citizenship concepts
- Economics fundamentals: needs vs. wants, resources, basic markets
- Using primary sources and inquiry approaches with young learners
Test-takers with strong general knowledge in this area often find fewer surprises here than in the math or literacy domains, but don't skip it - a weak Social Science score can still drag down your composite result relative to the 240 passing scaled score.
Domain 5: Fine Arts (9%)
What This Domain Covers
Fine Arts is the lightest domain at 9%, but it's still a meaningful slice of the exam, especially once folded into the "Arts, Health, and Physical Development" testlet under Field 702.
- Visual arts fundamentals: elements of art, media, and techniques
- Music fundamentals: rhythm, pitch, and listening/appreciation skills
- Drama and movement as instructional tools
- Integrating the arts across other content areas
Because this domain has the smallest weight, many candidates review it last and briefly - a reasonable approach if your study time is limited, as long as you don't skip it entirely.
Domain 6: Physical Development and Health (13%)
What This Domain Covers
Physical Development and Health rounds out the six domains at 13%, focusing on child development, wellness, and safety knowledge elementary teachers are expected to model and teach.
- Motor skill development and physical education fundamentals
- Nutrition, personal health, and hygiene concepts for young learners
- Safety practices, including classroom and playground considerations
- Social-emotional development as it relates to physical well-being
Question Format and Test-Day Mechanics
Regardless of which field you take, understanding the exact test-day structure helps you pace your studying and your actual testing session. Under Field 305:
- 150 total multiple-choice questions - 120 scorable and 30 non-scorable (used for field-testing future items, though you won't know which is which)
- 4 hours of actual testing time inside a 4 hour 15 minute appointment window
- $110 registration fee for the full test
- Passing scaled score of 240
- No reference materials provided at any point during the exam
- Preliminary results issued at the test center immediately after you finish, with an official score report following later
For the exact numeric threshold and how scaled scoring works, see ILTS Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass. If your first attempt doesn't clear 240, retakes require a new registration after your official score report posts - always check the current test-specific retake table before scheduling again, a topic covered in more depth in ILTS Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
How Field 702's Testlets Change Domain Prep
Field 702, which opened June 29, 2026, restructures the same six domains into six separately administered testlets: Foundations of Literacy, English Language Arts and Biliteracy Skills, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Arts, Health, and Physical Development. This is a meaningful shift for how you can approach preparation.
| Feature | Field 305 | Field 702 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Single exam, 6 domains blended | 6 separate testlets |
| Total Questions | 150 (120 scorable + 30 non-scorable) | 210 total |
| Total Cost | $110 | $150 ($25 per testlet) |
| Testing Time | 4 hours (4:15 appointment) | 5 hours 45 minutes total |
| Passing Standard | 240 scaled score overall | 240 cumulative points plus minimum on every testlet |
| Grade Range | Grades 1-6 | Grades K-6 |
The testlet model means you can register for and complete one content area at a time rather than sitting for everything at once - useful if Mathematics needs three extra weeks of review while Fine Arts is already solid. But note the passing rule: Field 702 requires both a cumulative 240+ score and hitting the minimum requirement on every individual testlet. You can't compensate for a weak Science testlet with an exceptional Language and Literacy score. This changes the strategic calculus significantly compared to Field 305's single blended score.
For a side-by-side breakdown of every fee involved in each pathway, see ILTS Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and for the eligibility rules tied to each field, review ILTS Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Mapping a Study Plan to the Domain Weights
Once you know the weights, building a study calendar is mostly arithmetic. Domains worth 26% deserve roughly double the study time of domains worth 13%, and about triple the time of Fine Arts at 9%. Here's a sample allocation for a candidate with about six weeks before test day:
Language and Literacy + Mathematics
- Review phonics, comprehension strategies, and writing instruction frameworks
- Work fraction, decimal, and geometry problems by hand - no calculator
- Take domain-specific practice questions for both 26% areas
Science + Social Science + Physical Development/Health
- Cover each 13% domain in dedicated blocks
- Focus on instructional application questions, not just facts
- Connect cross-curricular integration points between science and literacy
Fine Arts + Weak-Spot Review
- Spend limited time on the 9% Fine Arts domain
- Revisit any domain where practice scores lagged
- Mix questions across all six domains to simulate real pacing
Full Practice and Test-Day Logistics
- Complete full-length timed practice without reference materials
- Confirm registration, ID requirements, and appointment details
- Rest and light review only in the final 48 hours
This kind of week-by-week structure works because it's tied directly to the ILTS domain weights rather than a generic template. For a more detailed walkthrough of preparation strategy, read ILTS Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and consider running full-length timed sets on our practice test platform to simulate the real pacing before test day.
Key Takeaway
Allocate study time proportionally: roughly double the hours for Language and Literacy and Mathematics compared to any single 13% domain, and treat Fine Arts as a lighter final pass.
It's also worth remembering that passing a content test is just one requirement toward an Illinois Professional Educator License. edTPA is currently waived through August 31, 2029, which simplifies the path for many candidates, but licensure renewal still involves a five-year cycle with $50 in registration fees and 120 professional-development hours for covered active teachers. If you're weighing whether the credential is worth pursuing given the full commitment, Is the ILTS Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 walks through that decision, and ILTS Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis covers the career side.
FAQ
Language and Literacy and Mathematics are tied at 26% each, together making up 52% of the Field 305 score - more than half the exam.
Field 305 remains active but is scheduled to retire in summer 2027. Field 702 opened June 29, 2026 as its K-6 replacement using six separate testlets. Check current guidance to see which applies to your licensure timeline.
No. The exam provides no reference materials of any kind, so all mathematics questions must be solved without a calculator or formula sheet.
Not necessarily. While you can schedule testlets separately, passing requires both a 240+ cumulative score and meeting the minimum on every individual testlet, so a weak area can't be fully offset by a strong one.
Of the 150 total multiple-choice questions, 120 are scorable and 30 are non-scorable field-test items. Since you can't tell which is which, every question should be treated as if it counts.