- ILTS Field 305 (Elementary Education, Grades 1-6) costs $110 and requires a 240 scaled score to pass.
- Field 702 (Grades K-6) opened June 29, 2026 and replaces Field 305, which retires in summer 2027.
- Field 702 splits content into six separately administered testlets totaling $150 and 210 questions.
- Language and Literacy and Mathematics together make up 52% of the Field 305 score.
What Is ILTS Certification?
The Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) is the state's official content-testing program for teacher candidates seeking an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL). It's governed by the Illinois State Board of Education and administered by Pearson Evaluation Systems, which means the tests you take are standardized, computer-based, and scored against a state-defined passing threshold rather than a curve.
"ILTS certification" is a bit of a misnomer in everyday conversation - passing an ILTS content-area test doesn't hand you a license by itself. It's one required component of the broader PEL process. Still, most candidates use the phrase to describe clearing the subject-matter exam tied to their endorsement area, and for elementary educators that means either Field 305 or its incoming replacement, Field 702. If you're just getting oriented, our overview of what ILTS is and the breakdown of what ILTS actually stands for are good companion reads before you dive into field-specific prep.
Field 305 vs. Field 702: The Transition Explained
If you're preparing for an elementary teaching endorsement in Illinois right now, you need to know exactly which test applies to you. This site's primary focus is Field 305 (Elementary Education, Grades 1-6), the long-standing exam most current candidates still register for. But a structural change is already underway.
- Field 305 (Grades 1-6): $110, 150 multiple-choice questions (120 scorable, 30 non-scorable), 4 hours of testing inside a 4 hour 15 minute appointment, passing scaled score of 240. Scheduled to retire in summer 2027.
- Field 702 (Grades K-6): Opened June 29, 2026. Instead of one continuous exam, it's split into six separately administered testlets - Foundations of Literacy, English Language Arts and Biliteracy Skills, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Arts, Health, and Physical Development.
Because both fields will be active for a period before 305 sunsets, candidates need to confirm with their educator preparation program or ISBE which field applies to their timeline. For a deeper side-by-side comparison of registration windows and deadlines, see ILTS Exam Dates 2026.
| Feature | Field 305 (Grades 1-6) | Field 702 (Grades K-6) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $110 total | $25 per testlet / $150 for all six |
| Question Count | 150 (120 scorable, 30 non-scorable) | 210 across six testlets |
| Testing Time | 4 hours (4 hr 15 min appointment) | 5 hours 45 minutes total |
| Passing Standard | 240 scaled score | 240 cumulative points plus minimum on every testlet |
| Availability | Retires summer 2027 | Opened June 29, 2026 |
Key Takeaway
Field 702's testlet structure means you can pass individual sections separately, but you still need the cumulative 240 points and a minimum score on each of the six testlets - there's no averaging your way past a weak section.
Exam Format, Cost, and Scoring
Both fields are computer-administered through Pearson, and neither provides reference materials during testing - everything you need to know has to be memorized or reasoned through on the spot. Field 305 candidates sit for a single 4-hour block covering all content areas in one sitting, with 30 unscored pretest items mixed in among the 120 scored questions (you won't know which is which). Field 702 candidates instead register and pay for testlets individually, which can make budgeting and scheduling more flexible but also means six separate appointments to plan around.
Preliminary results are issued at the test center immediately after you finish, giving you a rough sense of pass/fail before the official score report posts later. If you don't pass, retakes require a new registration once the official score report is available - always check the current test-specific retake table before scheduling again, since wait periods can vary by field. Our detailed cost breakdown at ILTS Certification Cost 2026 walks through every fee scenario, and ILTS Passing Score 2026 explains exactly how the 240 threshold is calculated.
The Six Content Domains
Whether you're studying for Field 305's single exam or Field 702's testlets, the underlying content areas map to the same six domains. Understanding their weighting is the single most useful thing you can do before building a study plan.
Domain 1: Language and Literacy (26%)
The single largest domain, covering reading development, phonics, comprehension strategies, and children's literature. In Field 702 this splits into two dedicated testlets: Foundations of Literacy and English Language Arts and Biliteracy Skills.
- Phonemic awareness and early reading instruction
- Comprehension strategies across genres
- Writing process and language conventions
Domain 2: Mathematics (26%)
Tied with literacy as the heaviest-weighted domain. Candidates need fluency in elementary math pedagogy, not just the arithmetic itself, since questions test how to teach a concept, not just solve it.
- Number sense and operations
- Measurement, geometry, and data
- Problem-solving instructional strategies
Domain 3: Science (13%)
Covers life, physical, and earth/space science at an elementary instructional level, plus scientific inquiry methods appropriate for young learners.
Domain 4: Social Science (13%)
History, geography, civics, and economics content framed around how elementary teachers introduce these ideas to students.
Domain 5: Fine Arts (9%)
The smallest domain by weight, but not one to skip - it covers visual arts, music, and drama concepts integrated into elementary curricula.
Domain 6: Physical Development and Health (13%)
Health education, physical development milestones, and safety topics relevant to elementary-age children.
Together, Language and Literacy and Mathematics account for 52% of the score - more than half the exam. That doesn't mean you should ignore the smaller domains, since Field 702 requires a minimum score on every testlet individually. For a full walkthrough of subtopics within each domain, see our complete guide to all six content areas.
Who Needs ILTS Certification
Field 305 and Field 702 are specifically for candidates seeking an elementary teaching endorsement in Illinois - typically undergraduate education majors finishing a teacher preparation program, career-changers completing an alternative certification pathway, and out-of-state teachers transferring credentials into Illinois. School districts across Illinois require a passing score on the relevant field as a condition of hire for elementary classroom positions, alongside the other PEL requirements.
If you're unsure whether you're eligible to register yet, or what prerequisite coursework your program expects before you sit for the test, our eligibility and prerequisites guide covers the qualification pathway in detail. And if you're weighing whether pursuing this credential fits your career goals at all, our ROI analysis and salary guide put the investment in context.
How ILTS Fits Into the PEL Process
Passing your content test is a checkpoint, not the finish line. It sits alongside your educator preparation program's requirements as part of earning the Illinois Professional Educator License. One notable piece of current policy: edTPA, a separate performance-based assessment many candidates associate with licensure, is waived through August 31, 2029 - meaning your content test result carries even more weight in the interim.
Once licensed, a PEL endorsed in teaching generally renews on a five-year cycle, with $50 in registration fees and a requirement for covered active teachers to complete 120 professional-development hours over that period. None of this replaces the initial content test, but it's useful context for understanding why passing Field 305 or Field 702 the first time matters - it's the first domino in a multi-year licensure and renewal cycle.
Key Takeaway
With edTPA waived through August 31, 2029, your ILTS content-test score is currently one of the most heavily weighted checkpoints in the PEL pipeline - don't treat it as a formality.
Building a Domain-Based Study Schedule
Generic study techniques like timed practice blocks or spaced repetition only help if they're pointed at the right material. Given that Language and Literacy and Mathematics make up 52% of Field 305 (and split across three testlets in Field 702), your schedule should weight time accordingly rather than splitting study hours evenly across all six domains.
Language and Literacy + Mathematics
- Drill phonics, comprehension, and elementary math pedagogy - the two domains worth 52% combined
- Take domain-isolated practice questions to find gaps early
Science, Social Science, Physical Development and Health
- Cover these three 13%-weighted domains together since they share instructional-pedagogy question patterns
- Focus on how content is taught to elementary students, not just the raw facts
Fine Arts + Full Review
- Finish the smallest domain (9%) without skipping it - Field 702 still requires a passing minimum per testlet
- Run a full timed practice session under the 4-hour Field 305 format or by testlet for Field 702
For a more detailed week-by-week plan with specific resources, our first-attempt study guide expands on this structure. If you want a candid read on where most candidates struggle, our difficulty guide and pass rate breakdown are worth reviewing before you commit to a timeline. When you're ready to test your knowledge, our practice tests mirror the domain weighting described above so your practice time matches the real exam's emphasis.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Passing an ILTS content test like Field 305 or Field 702 is one required step toward earning an Illinois Professional Educator License, not the license itself.
It depends on your program's timeline. Field 305 remains active until it retires in summer 2027, while Field 702 opened June 29, 2026 as its replacement. Confirm with your educator preparation program which field applies to you.
Field 305 costs $110 as a single fee. Field 702 costs $25 per testlet, or $150 total if you take all six.
Both fields use a passing scaled score of 240. Field 702 additionally requires meeting the minimum requirement on every individual testlet, not just the cumulative total.
No. Neither Field 305 nor Field 702 provides reference materials during testing, so all content - including math procedures - must be prepared for in advance.