A fourth grader writes that the school day should start later and supports that point of view with reasons. Which text type of the Common Core writing standards is this?Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy, Writing, grade 4, standard 1. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0005 (written and oral communication).
A kindergarten teacher asks the children to say "sun" without the first sound. No letters are shown. Which skill is being practiced?IES practice guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (NCEE 2016-4008), glossary, Phonemic awareness. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0001 (language development and emergent literacy).
A science passage tells in what order a storm becomes a hurricane. Which structure of informational text is this?IES practice guide, Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (NCEE 2010-4038), Recommendation 2, Table 6. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0003 (reading comprehension and vocabulary).
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Reading and English language arts, continued
A student hears the word "ship" and works out how to spell it from its sounds. What is this called?IES practice guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (NCEE 2016-4008), glossary, Encoding. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0002 (phonics, word analysis, spelling and fluency).
Captions, bold print, subheadings, glossaries and indexes are examples ofCommon Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy, Reading: Informational Text, grade 2, standard 5. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0004 (kinds of texts and graphic sources).
The concept that letters and letter combinations represent individual phonemes in written words is calledIES practice guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (NCEE 2016-4008), glossary, alphabetic principle. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0002 (phonics, word analysis, spelling and fluency).
During a read-aloud a teacher asks, "Why do you think the fox hid, and what might happen next?" Which kind of language does the question call for?IES practice guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (NCEE 2016-4008), glossary, Inferential language. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0001 (language development and emergent literacy).
In the structure of a narrative text, which element answers "where and when the story happened"?IES practice guide, Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (NCEE 2010-4038), Recommendation 2, Table 5. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0004 (kinds of texts and graphic sources).
In the word "flip", which letters form the onset?IES practice guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (NCEE 2016-4008), glossary, Onset-rime pairs. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0001 (language development and emergent literacy).
In the word "inspector", the part "spect" carries the main meaning but is not a word by itself. What is it?IES practice guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (NCEE 2016-4008), glossary, root. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0003 (reading comprehension and vocabulary).
In the word "kindness", the part "-ness" isIES practice guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (NCEE 2016-4008), glossary, suffix. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0002 (phonics, word analysis, spelling and fluency).
In the writing process as the IES practice guide on elementary writing lists it, which component applies only "for some writing pieces"?IES practice guide, Teaching Elementary School Students to Be Effective Writers (NCEE 2012-4058), Recommendation 2. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0005 (written and oral communication).
Oral reading fluency is the ability to read a passage of text aloudIES practice guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (NCEE 2016-4008), glossary, Oral reading fluency. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0002 (phonics, word analysis, spelling and fluency).
Which kind of text analyzes or explains factual information about the natural or social world?IES practice guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (NCEE 2016-4008), glossary, Informational text. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0004 (kinds of texts and graphic sources).
Which of these does the IES practice guide on reading comprehension treat as a strategy to teach?IES practice guide, Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (NCEE 2010-4038), Recommendation 1. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0003 (reading comprehension and vocabulary).
Which word begins with a digraph, two letters that are read as a single sound?IES practice guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (NCEE 2016-4008), glossary, digraph and consonant blend. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0002 (phonics, word analysis, spelling and fluency).
Social studies 10
A class studies life in the 1860s. Which item is a primary source of the kind the National Archives describes?National Archives, History in the Raw, opening paragraphs. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0008 (geography and social studies inquiry).
The Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, applied to which places?National Archives, Milestone Documents: Emancipation Proclamation (1863). Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0007 (U.S. and world history).
In the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the United States bought 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River from which country?National Archives, Milestone Documents: Louisiana Purchase Treaty (1803). Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0007 (U.S. and world history).
On a topographic map, each contour line connects points that have the sameU.S. Geological Survey, What is a topographic map?. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0008 (geography and social studies inquiry).
On June 15, 1215, at Runnymede, which king affixed his seal to Magna Carta after rebellious barons pressed their demands?National Archives, Featured Documents: Magna Carta. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0007 (U.S. and world history).
The President returns a bill to Congress with objections. What share of each house must then agree for the bill to become a law?Constitution of the United States, transcription, National Archives, Article I, section 7. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0006 (government and economics).
Under Article I of the Constitution, how long is the term of a United States senator?Constitution of the United States, transcription, National Archives, Article I, section 3. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0006 (government and economics).
Under the Tenth Amendment, powers that the Constitution neither delegates to the United States nor prohibits to the States areThe Bill of Rights, transcription, National Archives, Amendment X. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0006 (government and economics).
What do lines of latitude measure?NOAA National Ocean Service, What is latitude?. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0008 (geography and social studies inquiry).
Which economic term names the condition in which resources are too few to produce the goods and services that would meet everyone's wants?National Council for the Social Studies, C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards, glossary, Scarcity. Outline: NES 102 framework (Subtest I), competency 0006 (government and economics).
Mathematics 13
A circle has a diameter of 10 cm. Using 3.14 for π, what is its circumference?Answer worked twice. What is taught: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, 7.G.B.4. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0004 (geometry and measurement).
A pattern begins 3, 6, 12, 24 and each term is double the one before. What is the 6th term?Answer worked twice. What is taught: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, 4.OA.C.5. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0003 (patterns, algebra and functions).
A rectangular garden is 9 meters long and 4 meters wide. How much fencing goes all the way around it?Answer worked twice. What is taught: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, 3.MD.D.8. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0004 (geometry and measurement).
A shirt priced at $40 is marked 25% off. What is the sale price?Answer worked twice. What is taught: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, 7.RP.A.3. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0001 (numeration, number sense and operations).
A student scored 80, 90 and 78 on three tests. What score on a fourth test gives a mean of exactly 85?Answer worked twice. What is taught: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, 6.SP.B.5c. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0002 (reasoning, problem solving and data analysis).
A taxi ride costs $3 plus $2 for each mile. Which expression gives the cost in dollars of a ride of m miles?Answer worked twice. What is taught: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, 6.EE.B.6. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0003 (patterns, algebra and functions).
Solve for x: 5(x − 2) = 35Answer worked twice. What is taught: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, 7.EE.B.4a. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0003 (patterns, algebra and functions).
Two angles are supplementary. One measures 112°. What is the measure of the other?Answer worked twice. What is taught: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, 7.G.B.5. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0004 (geometry and measurement).
Two fair coins are tossed. What is the probability that both land heads?Answer worked twice. What is taught: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, 7.SP.C.8. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0002 (reasoning, problem solving and data analysis).
What is 5/8 written as a decimal?Answer worked twice. What is taught: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, 7.NS.A.2d. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0001 (numeration, number sense and operations).
What is the value of (4 + 2)² ÷ 3 − 5?Answer worked twice. What is taught: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, 6.EE.A.1. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0002 (reasoning, problem solving and data analysis).
What is the value of 2³ × 2⁴?Answer worked twice. What is taught: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, 8.EE.A.1. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0001 (numeration, number sense and operations).
Which of these decimals is the greatest?Answer worked twice. What is taught: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, 5.NBT.A.3. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0001 (numeration, number sense and operations).
Science 10
A swimmer pushes backward against the pool wall and moves forward. Which law does this illustrate?NASA Glenn Research Center, Newton's Laws of Motion, Newton's Third Law: Action and Reaction. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0006 (physical, Earth and space sciences).
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, an earthquake is caused byU.S. Geological Survey, What is an earthquake and what causes them to happen?. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0006 (physical, Earth and space sciences).
During a solar eclipse, which body casts its shadow on Earth?NASA Space Place, Lunar Eclipses and Solar Eclipses, Solar Eclipse. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0006 (physical, Earth and space sciences).
For a recessive trait to be expressed, what must an individual inherit?National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Recessive Traits and Alleles, definition. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0005 (life sciences).
In a food web, which organisms break down dead material so that its nutrients are recycled for producers?NOAA Education, Aquatic food webs. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0005 (life sciences).
In the metric system, what does the prefix "milli" mean?National Institute of Standards and Technology, Metric (SI) Prefixes. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0007 (nature of science and scientific inquiry).
Mitosis followed by division of the cell's content producesNational Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Mitosis, definition. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0005 (life sciences).
What causes the ocean tides?NOAA National Ocean Service, What are tides?. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0006 (physical, Earth and space sciences).
What is considered the basic unit of inheritance, passed from parents to offspring?National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Gene, definition. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0005 (life sciences).
Which type of rock forms from deposits that build up on Earth's surface and often shows distinctive layering?U.S. Geological Survey, What are sedimentary rocks?. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0006 (physical, Earth and space sciences).
The arts and fitness 3
In the elements of art, texture isJ. Paul Getty Museum education sheet, Elements of Art, Texture. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0008 (the arts, health and fitness).
In the federal Physical Activity Guidelines, running and jumping rope are given as examples of which kind of activity?U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition, glossary, Bone-strengthening activity. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0008 (the arts, health and fitness).
In the music standards glossary, the "elements of music" are basic characteristics of sound such asNational Core Arts Standards, Glossary for Music Standards, Elements of music. Outline: NES 103 framework (Subtest II), competency 0008 (the arts, health and fitness).
How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the published test frameworks for the two subtests of NES Elementary Education, read 2026-10-08 on the program site of the National Evaluation Series: Subtest I, test 102 (https://www.nestest.com/test/102; https://www.nestest.com/prepare/102; framework https://www.nestest.com/static/docs/NES_Framework_102.pdf), 75 multiple-choice questions, Reading and English Language Arts 62% of the score and Social Studies 38%; Subtest II, test 103 (https://www.nestest.com/test/103; https://www.nestest.com/prepare/103; framework https://www.nestest.com/static/docs/NES_Framework_103.pdf), 75 multiple-choice questions, Mathematics 50%, Science 38%, The Arts, Health, and Fitness 12%. The bank holds 26 questions for each subtest in those proportions: 16 reading and English language arts, 10 social studies, 13 mathematics, 10 science and 3 arts and fitness. Every fact was read on 2026-10-08 in the public document the question names: three practice guides of the Institute of Education Sciences, the Common Core State Standards, the founding documents and milestone documents at the National Archives, the C3 Framework glossary of the National Council for the Social Studies, NOAA, the U.S. Geological Survey, NASA, the National Human Genome Research Institute, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a Getty Museum education sheet, the National Core Arts Standards music glossary and the federal Physical Activity Guidelines. Every mathematics answer was worked twice. The health topics of Subtest II competency 0008 are left out. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.
How it works
This free NES Elementary Education practice test mixes 52 questions of our own from both subtests, 26 for each. It is unofficial and not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Pearson, which owns the National Evaluation Series.
Read the full guide
What the test covers
NES Elementary Education is two separate subtests. Subtest I (102) is Reading and English Language Arts, 62% of its score, and Social Studies, 38%. Subtest II (103) is Mathematics, 50%, Science, 38%, and The Arts, Health, and Fitness, 12%, by the frameworks read October 8, 2026.
Timing
Exam mode asks all 52 questions in 68 minutes, the pace of the two real subtests taken together.
Where the answers come from
Each explanation names its source: a practice guide of the Institute of Education Sciences, the Common Core standards, the National Archives, NOAA, NASA or the U.S. Geological Survey. The health topics of Subtest II are left out.
The test pages list no reference materials, so learn the perimeter and circumference formulas the mathematics questions use.
Weak in mathematics or science? The Subtest II page holds 53 more questions on those two domains.
Questions and answers
Is this NES Elementary Education practice test the real exam?
No. All 52 questions were written for this site from the published frameworks and public sources. None repeats or rewords a real question, a sample question or the paid practice test, and a result here is not a forecast of your score.
How many questions are on the NES Elementary Education test?
75 multiple-choice questions on each subtest. Subtest I allows 1 hour 30 minutes and Subtest II 1 hour 45 minutes, and each appointment adds 15 minutes for a tutorial and nondisclosure agreement.
What is the passing score for NES Elementary Education?
The national benchmark is a scaled score of 220 on each subtest, and each state may set its own. The test pages point candidates in Arizona, Oregon and Washington to their state's score. This page reports the number right only.
Which version of the test does this page follow?
Tests 102 and 103. The program site also lists a newer pair, 110 and 111, on frameworks dated May 2023 with different weights, so check which codes your state requires before you study.
Is there a practice test for NES Elementary Education Subtest II alone?
Yes. The Subtest II page has 60 questions on mathematics, science, and the arts and fitness. This elementary education NES practice test mixes both subtests so you can find the weaker one first.