Massachusetts: the MTEL Communication & Literacy Skills test explained

If you’re pursuing teacher licensure in Massachusetts, the Communication & Literacy Skills test is almost certainly on your critical path. It’s the default basic-skills gate for most candidates — and it’s a strong one. Here’s what you need to know about the format, the pass mark, and your options.

What is the MTEL Communication & Literacy Skills test?

MTEL stands for Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure. The Communication & Literacy Skills test is administered by Pearson’s Evaluation Systems division. It’s made up of two separate subtests:

• Reading (Subtest 101) — tests your ability to read and comprehend a range of text types: informational, argumentative, literary, and technical passages. Questions assess main idea, inference, vocabulary in context, and text structure.
• Writing (Subtest 201) — tests written communication: editing and revising sentences and passages, plus a writing sample (an essay you compose in response to a prompt).

You can sit the subtests separately on different test dates, or together in a single session. Many candidates choose to tackle one at a time to focus their preparation.

What’s the passing score?

Each subtest is scored on a 100–300 scale. You must score 240 or higher on each subtest to pass. The subtests are scored independently — passing one does not compensate for falling short on the other. Both must be passed to satisfy the requirement.

How is the test delivered?

The MTEL is computer-delivered at Pearson VUE test centers. Check the MTEL website (mtel.nesinc.com) and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) at doe.mass.edu/mtel for current registration windows, fees, and testing locations near you.

Alternative routes — what Massachusetts accepts instead

Massachusetts accepts several alternative assessments in place of the MTEL Communication & Literacy Skills test. As of 2026, these include:

• Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (ETS) — arguably the most commonly used alternative, since many candidates have already prepared for or taken Praxis Core for other state requirements. If you’ve passed all three Praxis Core subtests at Massachusetts-accepted cut scores, you may qualify to waive the MTEL.
• NES Essential Academic Skills (NES-EAS)
• Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA)
• Washington Educator Skills Test–Basic (WEST-B)
• Colorado Assessments for the Preparation of Educators (CASA)

Important timing note: The last three alternatives on that list — MoGEA, WEST-B, and CASA — are scheduled to retire after June 29, 2026. If you’re relying on one of those routes, check the DESE website for the most current deadline information. Praxis Core and NES-EAS are the alternatives with the longest runway.

Additionally, Massachusetts launched a conditional waiver pilot around May 2026. The details and eligibility criteria for this pilot are still developing — check DESE’s website directly for the most current status if you think you may qualify.

Should you sit the MTEL or use the Praxis Core route?

That depends on where you are in your journey. If you’re already preparing for Praxis Core because you’re pursuing multi-state licensure or because your educator preparation program requires it, the Praxis Core route may save you from sitting a second set of tests. If Massachusetts is your only state, sitting the MTEL directly is straightforward and you prepare for one thing only.

Talk to your educator preparation program and confirm with DESE which alternative scores they’ll accept and what documentation you need to submit.

How to prepare

Preparation for the MTEL Communication & Literacy Skills test follows the same principles as any reading and writing assessment:

• Practice reading dense, formal texts across a range of genres. The reading subtest includes informational and argumentative passages — think academic journal introductions, policy briefs, historical arguments.
• Review grammar and editing rules: subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, parallel structure, and punctuation. These appear in the writing subtest’s objective section.
• Practice writing under time pressure. A timed essay is very different from a draft you can revise over days — practice producing a clear, structured argument in a single sitting.
• Use official practice materials from Pearson’s Evaluation Systems and DESE. Official materials are aligned to the actual test format and scoring criteria.

Massachusetts takes this seriously — so should your preparation

Massachusetts is one of the states where the basic-skills requirement is firmly intact. A 240 pass mark on a 100–300 scale is not a low bar — it’s a real gate that requires genuine preparation. Give it the respect it deserves, and give yourself enough time to prepare properly.

If you’re also looking at the Praxis Core route, the free SN Academy diagnostic covers Praxis Core and gives you an instant score and gap analysis to start your preparation from the right place.

— The people of SN Academy