Any individual who is seeking a teaching license in the state of Massachusetts won’t get too far before discovering the MTEL (Massachusetts Test for Educational Licensure) tests.  Whether you are enrolling in a teacher prep program or completing a Masters degree in Education, you will have to pass the a series of MTEL’s in order to be granted licensure.  And believe it or not, there is a MTEL for Visual Arts!

A test for ART!  But WHY?

Like myself, you may be wondering if this MTEL Visual Arts test is an accurate reflection of my skills as an artist and a mentor.  After answering the 100 multiple choice questions and handwriting in pencil 2 essay’s, all within the allotted 4 hr testing period, I can safely say, well no.  However, I feel the test does demand one must have a solid understanding and APPRECIATION for the arts.  Appreciation, meaning anyone who is truly interested in visual art and has the ability to analyze works of art with just a few clues, will do just fine.  I should mention the MTEL tests are a big money maker for the state too.

So…what does this test cover?

Lots of basic stuff.  Do you know how artwork from different cultures was created and why?  If you answered  yes, you will be in good shape for the Visual  Arts MTEL.  In a nutshell, you will be tested on fundamental concepts in art making and art history.  A detailed breakdown of the objectives can be found here.  Don’t get too carried away with all the sub categories and bullets because you are better off familiarizing yourself with the format of the test!

How should I best prepare to take the Visual Arts MTEL?

Start prepping early!  I would suggest you begin reading the literature on the format of the MTEL by clicking on the link in the above paragraph.  If you don’t have much time to prep your best bet is to go right to the practice test and get comfortable understanding what the question is asking.  Remember, choose the best answer because there will be more than one answer that is directly associated with the question.  You will have 4 hours to complete the test so take your time and read the questions twice or more before penciling in your response.  You should be able to eliminate two of the answer choices immediately if you understand what the question is asking.  Even if you don’t have the best art vocabulary and technical knowledge of art you should be able to correctly answer a good amount of questions.  First, have a look at the test overview chart and some practice questions here.  For the 2 open response essays, which each count towards 20% of your score, be sure you know how to effectively analyze a work of art.  You need to know what the potential message(s) the artist is trying to convey in a selected work and describe it in your own words.  Here is an actual example that was on my test administered on March 6th (new and improved Visual Arts MTEL).

Skolund "Revenge of the Goldfish"

What do you think the artist is trying to say in the above work?

I was over 3 hours deep into the test when I saw this image.   At the time, isolation, despair, and fear were a few topics I began writing about.  I’m unsure if it was because this image evoked these emotions or if I was on the verge of a panic attack!  I had to get down to business on this essay!

Obviously, try to use relevant art related terms in your response.  A few I used to describe the elements of this image were:

• repetition
• harmony
• balance
• rhythm
• complimentary colors – max contrast
• and so on…

Be sure to use these words in the appropriate context instead of just spewing them about in short sentences.  Bear in mind that your essay will be graded by at least two Massachusetts art educators so gear your response as to “show off” to them how much you know about composition and color theory and so on.  Be creative with your responses too and don’t be afraid to take a risk on what you think the piece is about.  If you are convincing in your response by backing up your answers appropriately it wont necessarily matter if you were right on track with the artist statement or way off.  Apparently, “Revenge of the Goldfish” has a sexual connotation which I didn’t mention in my response.

A few more things to remember…

Don’t register for more than one test per administration.  Trust me on this one!  You are better off taking the MTEL tests in 3 separate sessions like I did.  One for the each the reading and writing subtest of the Communication and Literacy MTEL and the final for the Visual Art subject matter test.  It’s a bit more expensive this way but worth it in the long run.  You don’t want to have to retake a test because you were too drained from the morning administration period or you didn’t have time to eat in between sessions.

Preparation! The night before your test, be sure you have everything ready to go (admission ticket, several #2 pencils, ID, water bottle, lucky pair of underwear…)  Equally as important as your knowledge of the content on the MTEL are the following:

• being early for the test – parking usually is a pain and the locations of some of these tests are poorly marked so leave extra time to arrive at the testing site!
• getting enough sleep
• being hydrated and having a healthy breakfast
• not overly caffeinated
• wearing comfortable clothing
• being patient – you have 4 hrs, so don’t rush and remain calm.
• having confidence -  have the attitude you will pass and you most certainly will not have to retake another MTEL again!

I hope that this article may guide you in your efforts on the MTEL tests.  Good luck!  Oh yeah, you may be wondering if I passed the MTEL’s…YES!

Nick