About the author: Kayman McIver
Kayman is a science teacher with 13 years of experience. She loves the world of education and is thrilled to help others join the field. Her other loves include running, hand-lettering, and quirky middle schoolers.
Your ILTS Costs & Retakes Quick Guide
The ILTS test is required for all public school educators in Illinois. If you want to teach, you need to know more about the ILTS, including how much it costs to take an exam, what happens if you fail, and how many times you can retake the exam. We will help you with all these details.
This article will give you tips on preparing for the exams and on how you can avoid having to retake an ILTS exam. (We’ll also cover what happens if you do need to retake an exam.) There are also a few suggestions for study resources to get you started.
Are you ready to learn? Let’s get started.
How much does it cost to take an ILTS exam?
The registration fee for most ILTS exams is $122. There are a few exceptions; for instance, General Middle Grades (5-8) (298) costs $115. The time allotted and the number of questions can vary from test to test. You can pay the fee with a Visa or MasterCard. If you don’t have a Visa or MasterCard, contact ILTS customer service.
There are no additional fees to complete registration. Once you have paid, you will have one year to sit for the exam. If you don’t take the exam within a year of paying, you will forfeit your payment. Keep in mind that if you don’t show up to your test appointment or you are late, you will forfeit your test fee. It’s a good idea to put the test date in your calendar and set a reminder so you don’t forget!
How many attempts do you get to pass an ILTS test?
If you fail an ILTS exam, you may retake it as many times as needed. Each attempt requires you to complete the registration process and pay the test fee. If there is more than one subtest in an ILTS exam, you will need to retake all the subtests.
For most of the content-area ILTS exams, you will need to wait 14 days to retake an exam. Some ILTS exams require you to wait 30 or 60 days to retake the exam.
What happens if you fail an ILTS test?
If you fail an ILTS exam, you will not be penalized. You will receive a score report that can help you determine your areas of weakness as you prepare to retake the exam. Use the waiting period before retaking the exam to study your weak areas. If you didn’t use a study guide the first time, you can use one before retaking the exam.
240 Tutoring has ILTS practice tests that are specifically aligned with the ILTS exam you need to take. Using a study guide will save you time because someone else has gathered the relevant information for you. The type of resources you need depends on where you are in your learning. Dr. Kristy Mulkey has some great tips on how to choose the best study materials for you.
Are there any other costs associated with taking an ILTS test?
The cost of taking the exam is $122. If you take a test with constructed-response questions, your responses will be graded separately by two people. Should you disagree with their score, you can request a rescore and pay a $50 fee. The initial grading cost is included in your registration fee.
Buying a high-quality study guide is another cost you should consider. Purchasing a study guide that is specifically written for the test you are taking could save you time and money. Be sure to choose a study guide with a guarantee!
