California teachers take the CTEL Exam when they need to add an English learner authorization to a valid credential or permit. The exam has 3 subtests, and you need a score of 220 on each one to pass. This page has free practice sets for each content area, worked answers to sample questions, the fees and format from the official test page, and a study plan.
According to California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC); administered by Evaluation Systems group of Pearson, βCTEL 1: 50 multiple-choice questions and 1 essayβ[1] Practice with the free CTEL practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).
The California Teacher of English Learners (CTEL) Examination is set by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and run by the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson. Passing it is a route to the English learner (EL) Authorization. The CTC checklist asks for a valid prerequisite California credential or permit. You also need either a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or proof of experience learning a second language.
The test is taken on a computer, either at a Pearson test center or online-proctored from home. Test-center appointments are offered in select two-week windows on a first-come, first-served basis, so book early if you want a center.
Each subtest is scored on its own, and the passing score is 220 per subtest. There is no limit on retakes. You must wait 45 calendar days after your test date to retake a subtest, and you pay the full registration fee again for that subtest. Passing scores used for certification can be no older than 10 years. Fees, testing windows and policies can change, so check the official CTC exams site before you register.
Interactive CTEL Exam resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
Facts verified Nov 3, 2026 against California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
Facts verified Nov 3, 2026 against California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Time limit (CTEL subtests 1, 2, and 3 combined (test center)) | 6 hours for all 3 subtests in a single session | California Commission on Teacher Credentialing |
| Passing score | 220 per subtest | California Commission on Teacher Credentialing |
| Exam fee (CTEL 1: Language and Language Development) | $98 | California Commission on Teacher Credentialing |
| Exam fee (CTEL 2: Assessment and Instruction) | $147 | California Commission on Teacher Credentialing |
| Exam fee (CTEL 3: Culture and Inclusion) | $99 | California Commission on Teacher Credentialing |
| Exam fee (CTEL subtests 1, 2, and 3 combined (test center)) | $260 for all 3 subtests in a single session | California Commission on Teacher Credentialing |
| Retake fee | Full registration fee per retaken subtest | California Commission on Teacher Credentialing |
| Validity | 10 years from the passed exam date | ctc.ca.gov |
| Renewal | Valid as long as the prerequisite credential is valid | ctc.ca.gov |
| Delivery | Computer-based test (CBT) at test centers or online-proctored test remotely | California Commission on Teacher Credentialing |
| Eligibility | Valid California prerequisite credential/permit plus bachelor's degree or second-language experience | ctc.ca.gov |
| Next exam date | Select two-week testing windows on a first-come, first-served basis | California Commission on Teacher Credentialing |
| Registration deadline | At least 3 calendar days before desired test date | California Commission on Teacher Credentialing |
| Registration opens | Online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | California Commission on Teacher Credentialing |
Facts verified Nov 3, 2026 against California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
The content areas below are copied from the official CTEL content outline published by California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC); administered by Evaluation Systems group of Pearson. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| Additive-Language Development[5] | CTEL Factors in Language Development Practise how first-language skills, age, motivation and learning conditions affect a student's progress in English without replacing the home language. |
| Approaches and Methods for ELD and Content Instruction[5] | CTEL ELD and SDAIE Methods Practise telling ELD lessons apart from SDAIE content lessons, and choosing scaffolds that fit a student's proficiency level. |
| Assessment of English Learners[5] | CTEL Assessment for English Learners Practise matching each assessment to its purpose, such as identification, placement, progress monitoring or reclassification, and spotting language bias in test items. |
| Culturally Inclusive Instruction[5] | CTEL Culturally Inclusive Instruction Practise picking classroom and family-outreach choices that build on students' backgrounds instead of treating them as obstacles. |
| Culture and Cultural Diversity and Their Relationship to Academic Achievement[5] | CTEL Cultural Diversity and Achievement Practise reading scenarios where cultural norms, such as eye contact or participation styles, explain a behaviour a teacher might misread. |
| Foundations of English Language/Literacy Development and Content Instruction[5] | CTEL English Literacy Development Practise how oral language, reading and writing develop for English learners, and how literacy work fits into content lessons. |
| Language Structure and Use[5] | CTEL Language Structure and Linguistics Practise the core linguistics terms (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics) with real English examples, such as minimal pairs and affixes. |
Prepare for the CTEL Exam exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: When designing parent outreach for culturally and linguistically diverse families, an educator should FIRST:
Answer: B. Assess communication preferences, languages, and cultural norms of each family
Explanation:
B is correct. You cannot plan outreach that works for a family until you know which language they use, how they prefer to be contacted and what they expect from school contact. Gathering that information comes first, and it shapes every later decision.
Rule to remember: when a question asks what to do FIRST, choose the step that learns about the families before acting.
Question: A student repeatedly avoids eye contact with the teacher during instruction. Before addressing this behavior, the teacher should first:
Answer: B. Consider that in many cultures avoiding eye contact with authority figures is a sign of respect
Explanation:
B is correct. In many cultures, children show respect by looking down when an adult or authority figure speaks. Before treating the behaviour as a problem, the teacher should ask whether it has a cultural explanation.
Rule to remember: on CTEL culture questions, the best first step is usually to consider a cultural reason for a behaviour before labelling, correcting or referring it.
Question: Which of the following is an example of a minimal pair used to demonstrate phonemic distinctions in English?
Answer: B. 'ship' and 'sheep'
Explanation:
B is correct. A minimal pair is a pair of words that differ in only a single sound in the same position, and that difference changes the meaning. 'Ship' and 'sheep' differ only in the vowel (/Ιͺ/ against /iΛ/), which shows that these vowels are separate phonemes in English.
Rule to remember: minimal pairs belong to phonology (sound contrasts). Adding prefixes, suffixes or inflections belongs to morphology.
Start with the official page. Read the CTEL test page on the CTC exams site. Note which content areas each subtest covers and whether you plan to take the subtests separately or all 3 in a single session. Look at any preparation materials the official site offers.
Find your weak areas. Take a practice set for each content area without notes, such as Language Structure and Linguistics and Assessment for English Learners. Rank the areas from weakest to strongest and spend most of your study time at the top of that list.
Study the explanations, not just the scores. For every question you miss, write down the rule behind the correct answer in a sentence. Most scenario questions follow a small set of patterns, such as learning about students and families before acting.
Practise the essays. Every subtest includes written responses. Write answers to your own scenario prompts: name the student's need, give a specific strategy and explain why it works.
Rehearse test day. If you are booking all 3 subtests in one session, plan for 6 hours and work through practice sets back to back to build stamina. If a subtest does not go well, use the 45-day wait before a retake to focus only on that subtest.
CTEL 1 costs $98, CTEL 2 costs $147 and CTEL 3 costs $99. If you take all 3 subtests in a single test-center session, the fee is $260. Retaking a subtest costs the full registration fee for that subtest again. Check the official CTC exams site before you register, because fees can change.
You need a score of 220 on each subtest. Each subtest is scored on its own, so you can pass CTEL 1 and CTEL 3 and retake only CTEL 2. You need passing scores on all 3 subtests to use the CTEL for the English learner authorization.
Yes. The official test page says online proctoring is available, so you can test remotely, including from home. You can also test on a computer at a Pearson test center. Test-center appointments are offered in select two-week windows on a first-come, first-served basis.
You must wait 45 calendar days from your test date before retaking a subtest on computer. There is no limit on how many times you can retake, but you must re-register and pay the full fee for each subtest you retake. You only retake the subtests you did not pass.
Passing scores used for certification can be no older than 10 years from the date you passed. If you pass a subtest now but apply for the authorization later, check that the score will still be within that 10-year limit when the CTC reviews your application.
The CTC checklist asks for a valid prerequisite California credential or permit. You also need either a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or proof of experience learning a second language. Check the CTC credential checklist for the full application steps.