If you need help studying for the NYSTCE Visual Arts exam or just want some more information about what the test is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free NYSTCE Visual Arts practice test!
What’s on the Exam?
There are 91 questions on the exam, which are grouped into five competencies, and the time limit is 3 hours and 15 minutes.
The questions are split into two types:
90 questions
Selected-response questions require you to select the correct answer from a list of options. Multiple-choice questions are the most common example, but you may also see true-or-false questions and “matching” questions, which ask you to match terms or concepts with their definitions.
Constructed-Response (CR)
1 question
The constructed-response question requires you to write your answer instead of selecting from a list of choices. Your response to this question is generally expected to be at least a few sentences, but you’ll be given specific details and instructions before you take the test.
Let’s take a closer look at the competencies on the exam.
1. Artistic Processes
20% of the exam
- The generation and conceptualization of artistic ideas
- Various tools and methods used in various art media
- The impact of media and processes on creative decisions and meaning-making
- Care, maintenance, and safety in related to artmaking, procedures, and technology
- Ethical practices and legal standards
2. Visual Literacy
20% of the exam
- Modernist and contemporary approaches to visual organization
- Creating an effect or communicating an idea using various approaches to visual organization
- Using different approaches to visual organization in different works of visual art
- The effect of visual imagery on pop culture
3. Historical and Cultural Context
20% of the exam
- Characteristics of art from global cultures
- Cultural and historical contexts of artwork from global cultures
- The influence of art from global cultures on other cultures
- Comparing and contrasting artwork from various eras and cultures
- The functions and roles of the visual arts in everyday life throughout history
4. Art Criticism, Integration, and Community Engagement
20% of the exam
- Art criticism and aesthetic theories
- Stages of a critical process
- The interdisciplinary nature of visual arts
- Careers in visual art and design
- Resources and opportunities for participation in visual arts locally and globally
- Selecting and curating art for specific audiences
5. Pedagogical Content Knowledge
20% of the exam
- Developmentally appropriate learning goals
- Providing a rationale for including particular learning goals in an instructional unit
- Effective instructional strategies
- Appropriate assessment and data analysis
How to Register
To get started with your registration, you’ll need to create an account on the NYSTCE website. You can then register for the exam and schedule a test date through your account.
When you submit your registration, you’ll need to pay the $122 testing fee.
Exam Scores
The test is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
You will need a score of 520 to pass the test.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone who takes the test is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
NYSTCE Visual Arts Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
FAQs
How many questions are on the NYSTCE Visual Arts exam?
The exam contains 91 questions.
What is the time limit for the NYSTCE Visual Arts exam?
The exam is timed at 3 hours and 15 minutes.
What is the passing score for the NYSTCE Visual Arts exam?
You’ll need to get a final scaled score of at least 520 to pass the exam.
How much does the NYSTCE Visual Arts exam cost?
The testing fee is $122.