ILTS Principal Practice Test

Unofficial practice for both subtests of the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader test, fields 195 and 196.

Subtest

Subtest 1 (195): planning, accountability and instruction. Subtest 2 (196): vision, community, management, law and ethics.

A principal wants staff to give up a long-standing schedule. In Kurt Lewin's three-stage model of change, what is the first stage, in which inertia is overcome and the existing mind set dismantled?

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Illinois State Board of Education or Pearson. Bank checked October 11, 2026.

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Subtest 1: all 20 questions

Planning, change and accountability 8

  • A grade-level team scores the same set of essays twice in one week, and the scores for the same papers come out very differently. Which quality of the measure is in doubt? Wikipedia, Reliability (statistics), lead. Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0002
  • A principal wants staff to give up a long-standing schedule. In Kurt Lewin's three-stage model of change, what is the first stage, in which inertia is overcome and the existing mind set dismantled? Wikipedia, Kurt Lewin, Change process. Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0001
  • A school improvement team rewrites 'improve reading' as 'raise the share of grade 3 students reading at benchmark from 42% to 55% by May'. Which two SMART criteria did the first goal most plainly lack? Wikipedia, SMART criteria, lead. Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0001
Show all 20 questions (17 more)

Planning, change and accountability, continued

  • A school posts an early gain in ninth-grade attendance four months into a new advisory program. In John Kotter's eight stages of change, why do such short-term wins matter? Wikipedia, John Kotter. Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0001
  • In Illinois teacher evaluation, a teacher and her evaluator agree to measure student growth with a rigorous test the teacher wrote for her own course. Which type of assessment is this under 23 Ill. Adm. Code 50.30? 23 Ill. Adm. Code 50.30, Definitions (Illinois State Board of Education). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0002
  • Once an Illinois district is past the first years of its evaluation plan, student growth must make up at least what share of a teacher's performance evaluation rating under 23 Ill. Adm. Code 50.110? 23 Ill. Adm. Code 50.110, Student Growth Components (Illinois State Board of Education). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0002
  • Teachers have collected data and formed a hypothesis about why students miss inference questions. In the data use cycle of the IES guide on student achievement data, what comes next? Institute of Education Sciences, practice guide Using Student Achievement Data to Support Instructional Decision Making, Recommendation 1. Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0001
  • Under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, a state identifies for comprehensive support and improvement at least what share of its lowest-performing Title I schools? 20 U.S.C. 6311(c)(4)(D), State plans: statewide accountability system (Legal Information Institute). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0002

Instructional improvement 12

  • A family moves in with a two-year-old who receives early intervention services under Part C of the IDEA. Which written plan governs those services? 34 CFR 303.20, Individualized family service plan. Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0004
  • A principal plans staff development on the premise that adult learners are self-directed and autonomous, with the presenter as a facilitator. Which concept is this? Wikipedia, Andragogy. Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0005
  • A principal reviews unit plans for rigor against the revised Bloom's taxonomy. Which level sits at the top of its cognitive domain? Wikipedia, Bloom's taxonomy, Cognitive domain. Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0004
  • A school teaches and acknowledges a small set of behavior expectations in every setting. In the PBIS framework, for whom are these Tier 1 supports? Center on PBIS, What is PBIS?. Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0003
  • A tenured Illinois teacher is rated 'needs improvement'. Within how many school days must the evaluator, in consultation with the teacher, develop a professional development plan under 105 ILCS 5/24A-5? 105 ILCS 5/24A-5(h), Content of evaluation plans (Illinois General Assembly). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0005
  • A tenured Illinois teacher is rated 'unsatisfactory' and the deficiencies are deemed remediable. Unless a collective bargaining agreement sets a shorter time, how long is remediation in the classroom under 105 ILCS 5/24A-5? 105 ILCS 5/24A-5(i), Content of evaluation plans (Illinois General Assembly). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0005
  • An Illinois attendance center enrolls 23 English learners who share one home language. What must the district establish under 23 Ill. Adm. Code 228.25? 23 Ill. Adm. Code 228.25, Program Options, Placement, and Assessment (Illinois State Board of Education). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0004
  • An Illinois principal considers a two-day out-of-school suspension. Under 105 ILCS 5/10-22.6(b-15), when may a suspension of 3 days or less be used? 105 ILCS 5/10-22.6(b-15), Suspension or expulsion of students (Illinois General Assembly). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0003
  • How many observations of a nontenured Illinois teacher are required each school year under 23 Ill. Adm. Code 50.120, and how many must be formal? 23 Ill. Adm. Code 50.120(c), Professional Practice Components for Teachers (Illinois State Board of Education). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0005
  • How often must an Illinois school district review and re-evaluate its bullying prevention policy under 105 ILCS 5/22-110? 105 ILCS 5/22-110, Bullying prevention (Illinois General Assembly). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0003
  • Under 105 ILCS 5/2-3.153, how often does each Illinois school district administer the state's climate survey of learning conditions? 105 ILCS 5/2-3.153, Survey of learning conditions (Illinois General Assembly). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0003
  • When an Illinois district evaluates a child for a specific learning disability, which process must be part of the evaluation procedure under 23 Ill. Adm. Code 226.130? 23 Ill. Adm. Code 226.130, Additional Procedures for Students Suspected of or Having a Specific Learning Disability (Illinois State Board of Education). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 1 (195), objective 0004

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to Subtest 1 (field 195) of the Illinois Licensure Testing System test Principal as Instructional Leader in the test framework of January 2014, copyright Illinois State Board of Education (https://www.il.nesinc.com/Content/Docs/IL_fld195_196_FW.pdf; test page https://www.il.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/IL195_TestPage.html, read 2026-10-11): 56 multiple-choice questions and 2 constructed-response assignments in 3 hours 45 minutes, passing score 240; Planning, Change, and Accountability (objectives 0001 and 0002, 24% of the subtest in multiple choice) and Instructional Improvement (0003 to 0005, 36%). This set holds 20, four for each objective. Every fact was read on the public page named under its question: the Illinois School Code on the General Assembly's website, the State Board's rules at 23 Ill. Adm. Code Parts 50, 226 and 228, federal law, a practice guide of the Institute of Education Sciences, the Center on PBIS and the named Wikipedia articles. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.

Subtest 2: all 20 questions

Visionary leadership, collaboration and contexts of education 12

  • A leadership team drafts two statements. One says why the school exists and what its overall goal is. What is that statement called? Wikipedia, Mission statement, lead. Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0001
  • A parent says her employer will not let her leave work for a conference with her son's teacher. Under the Illinois School Visitation Rights Act, how much leave must an employer grant in a school year? 820 ILCS 147/15, School Visitation Rights Act: School conference and activity leave (Illinois General Assembly). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0002
  • A principal wants the staff to reach consensus on a mission. How does consensus differ from unanimity? Wikipedia, Consensus decision-making, lead. Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0001
Show all 20 questions (17 more)

Visionary leadership, collaboration and contexts of education, continued

  • A Title I school and its parents jointly write a document that outlines how parents, staff and students will share responsibility for improved achievement. What does 20 U.S.C. 6318 call it? 20 U.S.C. 6318(d), Parent and family engagement (Legal Information Institute). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0002
  • Before setting a new vision, a planning team lists a shrinking tax base and a new charter school nearby. In a SWOT analysis, under which headings do such external factors go? Wikipedia, SWOT analysis, Internal and external factors. Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0001
  • How is the Illinois State Board of Education made up under 105 ILCS 5/1A-1? 105 ILCS 5/1A-1, Members and terms (Illinois General Assembly). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0003
  • In an Illinois district outside the City of Chicago, by what date each year must the evaluation of a principal, with its data on student growth and its observations, be completed under 23 Ill. Adm. Code 50.300? 23 Ill. Adm. Code 50.300(c), Plan Components Required for the Evaluation of Principals and Assistant Principals (Illinois State Board of Education). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0001
  • In Lau v. Nichols, the Supreme Court found that a district gave no meaningful education to students who spoke no English. Which law did the Court hold the district had violated? Wikipedia, Lau v. Nichols. Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0003
  • In the PBIS framework, about what share of students typically receive Tier 2 supports, an added layer aimed at their specific needs? Center on PBIS, What is PBIS?. Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0002
  • Under 105 ILCS 5/10-10, how many members sit on the board of education of an Illinois school district of 1,000 to 500,000 inhabitants, and for what term is a member elected? 105 ILCS 5/10-10, Board of education; term; vacancy (Illinois General Assembly). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0003
  • Under 105 ILCS 5/10-20.14, an Illinois school board develops its policy guidelines on student discipline with which body? 105 ILCS 5/10-20.14, Student discipline policies; parent-teacher advisory committee (Illinois General Assembly). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0002
  • Which level of government has 'the primary responsibility for financing the system of public education' under Article X of the Illinois Constitution? Constitution of the State of Illinois, Article X, Section 1 (Illinois General Assembly). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0003

School management and legal and ethical guidelines 8

  • A qualified school secretary with a disability asks for a reasonable accommodation. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, when may the district decline to make it? 42 U.S.C. 12112(b)(5), Discrimination (Legal Information Institute). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0005
  • A school board's agenda for a regular meeting must be posted how far in advance under the Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/2.02? 5 ILCS 120/2.02, Open Meetings Act: Public notice (Illinois General Assembly). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0006
  • A teacher tells the principal she has reasonable cause to believe a student may be an abused child. Under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, 325 ILCS 5/4, what must she do? 325 ILCS 5/4, Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act: Persons required to report (Illinois General Assembly). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0006
  • An eligible teacher asks for leave to care for her newborn. To how much leave in a 12-month period does the Family and Medical Leave Act entitle her? 29 U.S.C. 2612(a)(1), Leave requirement (Legal Information Institute). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0005
  • For how long before final action must an Illinois school district's tentative budget be made conveniently available for public inspection under 105 ILCS 5/17-1? 105 ILCS 5/17-1, Annual Budget (Illinois General Assembly). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0005
  • How many school evacuation drills for fire incidents must an Illinois school conduct during each academic year under 105 ILCS 128/20? 105 ILCS 128/20(a), School Safety Drill Act: Number of drills (Illinois General Assembly). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0004
  • The Illinois Educator Code of Ethics at 23 Ill. Adm. Code 22.20 sets out responsibilities to students, to self, to colleagues and the profession, to parents, families and communities, and to whom else? 23 Ill. Adm. Code 22.20, Code of Ethics for Illinois Educators (Illinois State Board of Education). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0006
  • Under the Illinois School Safety Drill Act, by when in each school year must a school hold at least one law enforcement lockdown drill? 105 ILCS 128/20, School Safety Drill Act: Number of drills (Illinois General Assembly). Written to the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader framework, Subtest 2 (196), objective 0004

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to Subtest 2 (field 196) of the Illinois Licensure Testing System test Principal as Instructional Leader in the test framework of January 2014, copyright Illinois State Board of Education (https://www.il.nesinc.com/Content/Docs/IL_fld195_196_FW.pdf; test page https://www.il.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/IL195_TestPage.html, read 2026-10-11): 56 multiple-choice questions and 2 constructed-response assignments in 3 hours 45 minutes, passing score 240; Visionary Leadership, Collaboration, and Contexts of Education (objectives 0001 to 0003, 36% of the subtest in multiple choice) and School Management and Legal/Ethical Guidelines (0004 to 0006, 24%). This set holds 20: four for each of objectives 0001 to 0003, two for 0004 and three each for 0005 and 0006. Every fact was read on the public page named under its question: the Illinois School Code, School Safety Drill Act, Open Meetings Act, Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, School Visitation Rights Act and Constitution on the General Assembly's website, the State Board's rules at 23 Ill. Adm. Code Parts 22 and 50, federal law, the Center on PBIS and the named Wikipedia articles. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.

How it works

This free ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader practice test has a 20-question set for Subtest 1 (195) and one for Subtest 2 (196). It is unofficial and not affiliated with the Illinois State Board of Education or Pearson.

Read the full guide

ILTS Principal study guide: what each subtest weighs

By the framework of January 2014 on the ILTS site, read October 11, 2026, Subtest 1 is Planning, Change, and Accountability 40% and Instructional Improvement 60%. Subtest 2 is Visionary Leadership, Collaboration, and Contexts of Education 60% and School Management and Legal/Ethical Guidelines 40%. In each, multiple choice carries 60% of the score and two constructed-response assignments 40%.

Illinois law in the answers

Twenty-two questions rest on Illinois law as it reads today: teacher evaluation under Article 24A and Part 50, short suspensions, the bullying policy, safety drills, open meetings, mandated reporting, the budget calendar and the educator Code of Ethics. The exam here has no clock, because the real time also covers the written work.

  • Bullying prevention has moved in the School Code: the section once numbered 27-23.7 is now 105 ILCS 5/22-110.

Questions and answers

Is this ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader practice test free?

Yes, with no sign-up. Every question is our own, written from the published framework and the public page its explanation names. Nothing is taken or reworded from the real test or the study guides' sample questions.

What is on ILTS Principal Subtest 2?

Field 196 has six objectives: a shared vision, communication and community partnerships, the political and legal contexts of education, organizational management and safety, budgets and personnel, and legal and ethical guidelines. The Subtest 2 set holds 20 questions on them.

How many questions are on the ILTS Principal as Instructional Leader test?

Each subtest has 2 constructed-response assignments and 56 multiple-choice questions, with 3 hours 45 minutes of testing time in a 4-hour appointment. You must take and pass both subtests and may sit them on the same day.

What is the passing score for the ILTS Principal test?

240 on each subtest, by the test page read October 11, 2026. The written assignments are part of that score, so this page reports your number right and gives no pass verdict.

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