Study Tips and Resources for Middle and High School Subject Tests MTELs

General Tips for Subject MTELs

• Review the Test Information Booklet and complete the practice questions in the booklet.
• Take the Practice Test on the MTEL website, if available
• Download the Test Objectives and the Curriculum Frameworks and use as a study guide
• MCAS tests taken by MA public school students can be downloaded. They are useful for MTEL subject tests studying.
• MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) has all courses available online at no cost. The material is very helpful, especially when studying for middle and high school subject tests.

Art

• Visual Art List of Resources

English

• Study Guides for the SAT II - Literature, Writing (Barron's, Princeton Review, etc.)
• Norton Anthology of American Literature - print and online; Norton Anthology of World Literature - print and student website

General Science/Science

• Reviewing Intermediate Level Science, Preparing for your Eighth-Grade Test, 2nd edition, Paul S. Cohen, Anthony V. Sorrentino, AMSCO School Publications - this 8th grade review book gives the scope of material that is on the MTEL and is a good place to begin studying. Thirteen chapters cover topics in life, physical, earth and space science; scientific method; and technology. Multiple choice and constructed response questions in each chapter.
• Science Matters: Achieving Scientific Literacy, by Robert M. Hazen, James Trefil, Released: 01 December, 1990
• Khan Academy - has excellent, brief informational videos online about Biology, Chemistry, Physics

Following is a list of good high school science texts to study from. If you have access to other up-to-date texts those will work as well.

• Biology:BSCS Biology, A Molecular Approach, 8th edition, 2001; Biology, The Web of Life, Eric Strauss and Marylis Lisowski, 1996
• Chemistry:Modern Chemistry, Raymond Davis, et al, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2002; Chemistry: Concepts and Applications, Cheryl Winstrom, et at, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2002
• Earth Science: Modern Earth Science, William Ramsey & Raymond Buckley, Holt, Rinehart and Winston
• Physics, Physical Science:Conceptual Physics, Paul Hewitt, Prentice Hall, 2002; Conceptual Physical Science, Paul Hewitt, Prentice Hall, 2001.
• Study Guides for the SAT II - Biology, Chemistry, Physics (Barrons, Princeton Review, etc.)

History

• Khan Academy has a variety of brief information videos on US and World History (under Humanities topic)
• History textbooks used in public schools
• Digital History is a website containing 20 major eras in American history. Each era includes overview; recommended documents, textbooks, quizzes and other useful information

Mathematics

• MTEL Mathematics (REA) - The Best Teachers' Test Prep by staff of REA (Paperback:Research & Education Association, www.rea.com) Also available at Sherrill Library.
• Math textbooks used in public schools, for example Algebra I Geometry, Rubinstein; Algebra 2 Geometry, Rubinstein; Algebra 3 Trigonometry, Rubinstein; Geometry, Larson; Advanced Algebra, Ellis
• Study Guides for the SAT II- Algebra, Geometry, etc. (Barrons, Princeton Review, etc.)
• Khan Academy - excellent informational online videos about many mathematical subjects/concepts
• Free ALEKS Math software subscription available through MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to help candidates prepare for General Curriculum Math Subtest (03) or Elementary (53) or Middle School Math (47)