- NES here stands for National Evaluation Series, Pearson's testing program - Elementary Education uses codes 102 and 103.
- Elementary Education is two subtests, each about 75 multiple-choice questions, scored separately.
- Subtest I runs 1 hour 30 minutes; Subtest II runs 1 hour 45 minutes, both closed-book.
- Passing score is 220 on each subtest; failed subtests require a 30-day wait before retaking.
What NES Means in "NES Elementary Education"
"NES" is an abbreviation that gets recycled across the testing world, which is exactly why so many candidates land on the wrong information when they search for it. In this context, NES stands for National Evaluation Series, a set of educator licensure exams developed and administered by Pearson's Evaluation Systems group. The exams are delivered through Pearson VUE test centers as well as online proctoring, which gives candidates some flexibility in how and where they sit for the test.
The specific exam this article covers is NES Elementary Education (102/103), one of several subject-area assessments built on the same NES framework. If you've seen other pages online using "NES" to describe a completely different certification with different fees, different domains, or different scoring - that's not this exam. Everything in this article, and everything you should trust when preparing, ties back to the National Evaluation Series structure described here. For a broader orientation to the acronym itself, see our companion explainer on NES Meaning and What Does NES Stand For?
Why Test Codes 102 and 103 Matter
Elementary Education isn't a single exam - it's identified by two test codes, 102 and 103, corresponding to Subtest I and Subtest II respectively. States that use the NES system typically list these codes explicitly in their licensure requirements, and you should confirm your state accepts codes 102 and 103 before registering. This matters because some states use different subject tests, different code numbers, or a different testing vendor entirely for elementary licensure, even if they also reference "NES" somewhere in their certification language.
If you're unsure whether your state recognizes this exact combination, check your state's educator certification office listing before you pay any fees. For a fuller walkthrough of eligibility rules tied to these codes, see NES Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Exam Structure and Question Format
NES Elementary Education is built as two separately scored subtests, and understanding that separation early changes how you should plan your prep time.
- Subtest I: Approximately 75 multiple-choice questions, 1 hour 30 minutes allotted.
- Subtest II: Approximately 75 multiple-choice questions, 1 hour 45 minutes allotted.
Both subtests are entirely multiple-choice and closed-book - no reference materials, formula sheets, or notes are provided during the test. That single fact changes your study priorities: you can't rely on look-up recall the way you might in an open-resource assessment. Terminology, formulas, and content knowledge need to be internalized before test day, not just recognized when you see them.
Because the two subtests are scored independently, you can pass one and not the other, and you only need to retake the subtest you didn't pass - you don't have to redo both. That's a meaningful planning advantage covered in more depth in NES Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Treat Subtest I and Subtest II as two distinct study projects with two distinct content universes - Reading/ELA and Social Studies live in Subtest I, while Mathematics, Science, and The Arts/Health/Fitness live in Subtest II.
What Each Domain Actually Covers
Domain weighting is calculated within each subtest, not across the whole exam, so it's worth knowing exactly where your time will pay off. Here's the full breakdown:
| Subtest | Domain | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Subtest I | Reading and English Language Arts | 62% |
| Subtest I | Social Studies | 38% |
| Subtest II | Mathematics | 50% |
| Subtest II | Science | 38% |
| Subtest II | The Arts, Health, and Fitness | 12% |
Subtest I - Reading and English Language Arts (62%)
This is the single largest domain on either subtest, meaning it deserves the largest single block of your Subtest I prep time.
- Foundational literacy concepts: phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency development
- Reading comprehension strategies across genres and text complexity levels
- Writing process instruction, grammar/conventions, and vocabulary development
- Language acquisition and how it informs elementary-level instruction
Subtest I - Social Studies (38%)
Smaller than Reading/ELA but still substantial, this domain rewards breadth over depth.
- History, geography, civics, and economics fundamentals appropriate for elementary curricula
- How to connect social studies concepts to inquiry-based instruction
- Cultural and community-based content typically taught in early grades
Subtest II - Mathematics (50%)
Exactly half of Subtest II, and the domain most candidates underestimate if they haven't taught math recently.
- Number sense, operations, and place value reasoning
- Algebraic thinking appropriate for elementary grade bands
- Geometry, measurement, and data/statistics fundamentals
- Problem-solving strategies and how to model math thinking for young learners
Subtest II - Science (38%)
Covers the core scientific domains at a conceptual, instructional level rather than advanced technical depth.
- Physical science, life science, and earth/space science basics
- Scientific inquiry and the process of investigation
- Safety practices and how to structure elementary science instruction
Subtest II - The Arts, Health, and Fitness (12%)
The smallest domain by weight, but still a guaranteed portion of Subtest II questions.
- Visual and performing arts concepts relevant to elementary instruction
- Health education topics including nutrition and personal wellness
- Physical education and motor skill development fundamentals
For a deeper, question-level walkthrough of each area, see NES Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas.
Registration, Fees, and Retake Rules
Understanding the fee structure helps you avoid paying twice for something you could have scheduled once. There are three registration paths:
- Single computer-based subtest: $85 - register for just Subtest I or just Subtest II.
- Combined computer-based appointment: $165 - both subtests scheduled together in one sitting.
- Online-proctored subtests: $85 each, registered separately (not combined into one appointment).
If you're confident in both content areas and want to knock out the whole exam in one visit, the combined appointment is generally the more efficient route. If one subtest concerns you significantly more than the other, registering separately lets you study one domain set intensely before committing money and a testing slot to the second.
On the passing side, the NES profile lists 220 as the passing score for each subtest, and each is scored independently. If you don't pass, you must wait 30 days before retaking that same subtest - plan your study calendar with that gap in mind rather than assuming you can retest immediately. For the complete fee picture including how these numbers stack up over multiple attempts, read NES Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Who Requires This Credential
NES Elementary Education (102/103) is used by state education agencies as part of the licensure process for candidates seeking to teach elementary grades. Teacher preparation programs, alternative certification pathways, and out-of-state licensure transfers commonly point candidates toward this exam when their target state has adopted the National Evaluation Series for elementary licensure. School districts themselves don't administer or score the exam, but hiring for elementary teaching positions typically requires proof of a passing score as part of the credentialing file submitted to the state.
If you're trying to connect exam completion to actual job prospects and career trajectory, our guides on NES Jobs and NES Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis go into more detail on how this credential fits into the broader hiring picture. And if you're still weighing whether to pursue it at all, Is the NES Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 lays out the considerations without inflating numbers that aren't part of the official exam data.
A Domain-Aware Way to Prepare
Generic study advice - flashcards, spaced repetition, timed practice - only helps if it's pointed at the right targets. Given that Reading/ELA carries 62% of Subtest I and Mathematics carries 50% of Subtest II, your calendar should reflect that imbalance rather than splitting time evenly across all five domains.
Reading and English Language Arts
- Review phonics, phonemic awareness, and fluency frameworks
- Practice comprehension questions across multiple text types
- Drill grammar, conventions, and vocabulary-in-context items
Social Studies
- Build a broad review of history, geography, civics, and economics basics
- Practice connecting content to elementary instructional strategies
Mathematics
- Rebuild fluency with number sense, operations, and algebraic reasoning without a calculator
- Practice geometry, measurement, and data interpretation problems
Science, then Arts/Health/Fitness
- Review physical, life, and earth/space science fundamentals
- Finish with a lighter pass on arts, health, and fitness content
- Take full-length timed practice sets under 1:30 and 1:45 limits
This sequencing front-loads the two heaviest domains - Reading/ELA and Mathematics - while still leaving room for the smaller domains before test day. For a more detailed week-by-week framework and practice-test strategy, see NES Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and if you want an honest read on overall difficulty before you commit to a timeline, check How Hard Is the NES Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Running full-length, timed practice questions on our practice test platform is one of the most direct ways to simulate the no-reference-materials format before you're actually sitting in a Pearson VUE test center. Since both subtests are strictly multiple-choice with fixed time limits, pacing practice matters just as much as content review - you can build both using realistic NES-style practice questions.
Key Takeaway
Don't split study time evenly across five domains - weight your schedule toward Reading/ELA (62% of Subtest I) and Mathematics (50% of Subtest II) since they carry the most questions.
If you want quick, factual answers on related terminology questions before diving deeper, our short reference pieces - What Is NES?, What Is A NES?, and What Is NES Certification? - cover adjacent definitional questions without repeating the domain-level detail found here. For scheduling logistics once you're ready to register, NES Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling explains how Pearson VUE availability typically works, and NES Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts condenses the numbers on this page into a single quick-reference sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
NES stands for National Evaluation Series, a testing program developed and administered by Pearson's Evaluation Systems group and delivered through Pearson VUE test centers and online proctoring.
Separately. Subtest I and Subtest II each have their own passing score of 220, so you can pass one without passing the other and only need to retake the one you missed.
Subtest I allows 1 hour 30 minutes for approximately 75 multiple-choice questions. Subtest II allows 1 hour 45 minutes for approximately 75 multiple-choice questions.
No. No reference materials are provided for either subtest, so all formulas, terminology, and content must be memorized ahead of test day.
You must wait 30 days before retaking the same subtest. This applies per subtest, so a failed Subtest I doesn't affect your ability to sit for Subtest II in the meantime.