If you need help studying for the Leadership Licensure Assessment (SLLA) 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 SLLA 6990 practice test!
What’s on the Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the SLLA test. There are 124 questions in total, with most being selected-response and some being constructed-response.
120 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)
4 questions
The constructed-response questions require you to write your answer instead of selecting from a list of choices. Your response to these questions is generally expected to be at least a few paragraphs, but you’ll be given specific details and instructions before you take the test.
The time limit for the test is 4 hours. There aren’t any scheduled breaks, but you’re free to take restroom breaks as needed!
Let’s take a closer look at the different sections of the test:
1. Strategic Leadership
20 questions
- Developing an educational mission
- Analyzing multiple sources of data about current practices before revision missions and goals
- Implementing a vision and goals that reflect core values
- The relation of goals to policies
- Engaging community members and staff with diverse perspectives
- Developing shared commitments and responsibilities among staff
- Evaluating progress toward a shared vision/goals
- Conducting a needs analysis
- Designing and monitoring programs, plans, and activities
- Facilitating needed change
- Promoting alignment among all aspects of school organization
2. Instructional Leadership
27 questions
- Developing and implementing professional development
- Providing ongoing feedback to teachers that improves practice and student learning
- Guiding and monitoring individual teacher professional development plans
- Establishing expectations and providing opportunities for teachers to strengthen content knowledge and skills
- Providing differentiated professional development opportunities
- Developing the capacity of faculty and staff
- Promoting an healthy work-life balance
- Fostering continuous improvement of instructional capacity
- Strengthening teachers’ knowledge of rigorous curriculum and instructional programs
- Working with teams to analyze student work and progress
- Developing curricular and instructional programs
- Aligning rigorous instruction vertically and horizontally to ensure consistency
- Assisting teachers with teaching strategies
- Evaluating emerging educational trends
- Conducting frequent classroom visits and walk-throughs
- Promoting the effective use of technology
- Improving the quality of teaching and learning by using assessment and accountability systems
- Analyzing multiple sources of data
- Using valid assessments that are consistent with knowledge of child development and learning
3. Climate and Cultural Leadership
22 questions
- Creating opportunities for faculty and staff to express their beliefs, values, and practices about teaching and learning
- Providing opportunities for teachers to take appropriate risks for improving teaching and learning
- Providing resources for a collaborative teaching and learning community
- Empowering and motivating teachers and staff
- Holding staff and faculty accountable
- Developing and supporting open, productive, and trusting working relationships
- Understanding the fair and respectful treatment of students
- Ensuring each student has equitable access to effective teachers and support
- Confronting and altering institutional biases toward protected social groups
- Acting with cultural competence and responsiveness
- Addressing matters of equity and cultural responsiveness
- Traditions and cultural history of the school and community
- Building a safe and healthy school environment
- Creating a school environment in which students are known, accepted, valued, trusted, and respected
- Promoting relationships that value and promote academic learning
- Cultivating and reinforcing student engagement in school
4. Ethical Leadership
19 questions
- Modeling personal and professional ethics
- Safeguarding and promoting individual freedom and responsibility
- Protecting the rights and confidentiality of staff and students
- Modeling transparent, consistent decision-making
- Holding staff and students accountable for ethical and legal behavior
- Establishing and maintaining an inclusive school community
- The importance of self-reflection
- Employing ethical decision-making regarding policies
- Providing moral direction for the school
5. Organizational Leadership
16 questions
- Implementing district policy for faculty use and needs
- Developing a process to ensure compliance with safety regulations
- Using technology to improve the quality and efficiency of operations and management
- Instituting and managing operations and administrative systems
- Using and maintaining data and communication systems
- Allocating funds based on student needs
- Recruiting and retaining effective and caring certified faculty and staff
- Assigning personnel to address various needs and goals
- Evaluating educational programs
- Proactively addressing challenges to the safety and security of students and staff
- Involving parents, students, and teachers in developing guidelines for student welfare and safety
- Key emergency support personnel inside and outside of the school
- Discussing safety expectations with faculty, staff, community members, students, and the community
6. Community Engagement Leadership
16 questions
- Supporting student and adult learning
- Supporting families in decision-making about children’s education
- Using effective public information strategies to communicate
- Developing positive partnerships
- Communicating effectively with the media
- Identifying the competing perspectives
- Engaging with the local community proactively
- Accommodating diverse student and community dynamics
- Strengthening educational programs and planning
- Demonstrating cultural sensitivity and competence
- Collaborating with community agencies that provide services to families and children
- Developing mutually beneficial relationships with organizations
- Seeking community support to sustain existing resources
- Advocating publicly for the school and district
7. Analysis Constructed Response
4 questions
How to Register
To register for the test, you’ll need to create an account on the ETS website. Once your account has been created, you can submit your application to take the test.
When you submit your registration, you will need to pay the $425 testing fee.
SLLA Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
SLLA Scores
The SLLA test is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
For every question you answer correctly, you get one point added to your raw score. At the end of the test, your final raw score will be converted to a scaled score. This scaled score will range somewhere between 100 and 200. The passing score is 151 (146 in South Dakota and Virginia).
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone that 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.
Receiving Your Score
When you receive your skill report, it will tell you how many questions you missed in each section and generally whether you passed or not.
Your scores will become available on your ETS account on the score reporting date. When you get the score back depends on the testing date.
FAQs
How many questions are on the SLLA test?
The test contains 124 questions.
What is the time limit for the SLLA test?
The test is timed at 4 hours.
What is the passing score for the SLLA test?
You’ll need to get a final scaled score of at least 151 to pass (146 in South Dakota and Virginia).
How much does the SLLA test cost?
The testing fee is $425.