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100+ Free NYSTCE 117 Practice Questions

Pass your NYSTCE Blind and Visually Impaired Content Specialty Test (117) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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A learning media assessment (LMA) is conducted primarily to determine which of the following for a student with a visual impairment?

A
B
C
D
to track
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: NYSTCE 117 Exam

60 + 4 + 1

Selected-Response + Transcription Tasks + Constructed Response

NYSTCE Field 117 test page

520

Scaled Passing Score

NYSTCE Field 117 test page

$122

Current Exam Fee

NYSTCE Field 117 test page

4 hours

Testing Time

NYSTCE Field 117 test page

60% / 40%

Selected-Response vs Constructed-Response Weight

NYSTCE Field 117 test design

8

Competencies Across Foundations, Braille, and ECC

NYSTCE Field 117 framework

9

Areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum

Expanded Core Curriculum for students with visual impairments

The current NYSTCE Field 117 test page lists 60 selected-response items, a transcription assignment of 4 tasks, and 1 extended constructed-response item, with a 4-hour testing window inside a 4 hour 15 minute appointment, a 520 passing score, and a $122 fee. The selected-response items count for 60% of the score and the transcription assignment and constructed response together count for 40%. Candidates must bring their own Classic Perkins Brailler to complete the UEB and Nemeth Code transcription tasks.

Sample NYSTCE 117 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your NYSTCE 117 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under IDEA, a child is determined eligible for special education under the category of 'visual impairment including blindness' only when the impairment, even with correction, does which of the following?
A.Reduces near visual acuity below 20/70 in the better eye
B.Adversely affects the child's educational performance
C.Causes total absence of light perception
D.Restricts the visual field to less than 60 degrees
Explanation: IDEA defines visual impairment including blindness as an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child's educational performance. Eligibility is functional and educational, not based on a fixed acuity or field threshold. This distinguishes the IDEA educational definition from the legal definition of blindness.
2The legal definition of blindness in the United States is best described as central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with best correction, or which of the following field conditions?
A.A visual field of 20 degrees or less
B.A visual field of 60 degrees or less
C.Any loss of peripheral vision
D.Loss of color discrimination
Explanation: Legal blindness is defined as best-corrected central acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better eye, OR a visual field that subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees (tunnel vision). This definition is used for benefits eligibility, not for educational programming decisions, which rely on functional vision.
3A teacher of students with visual impairments (TVI) supervises a paraprofessional who supports a student who is blind. Which action best reflects the TVI's professional responsibility for that paraprofessional?
A.Having the paraprofessional design the student's IEP goals independently
B.Providing training, modeling, and ongoing feedback on specialized techniques
C.Delegating all braille instruction to the paraprofessional
D.Avoiding observation so the paraprofessional can build autonomy
Explanation: The TVI is responsible for supervising, observing, and providing feedback to paraprofessionals, including training and modeling specialized techniques. The TVI remains accountable for instructional decisions while building the paraprofessional's skills. Direct braille instruction and IEP goal development remain the certified teacher's role.
4Which professional organization is most directly associated with rehabilitation and education standards for the field of blindness and visual impairment?
A.American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
B.Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER)
C.National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
D.American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
Explanation: AER (Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired) is the leading professional organization for educators and rehabilitation professionals serving people who are blind or visually impaired. It supports professional development, certification, and ethical standards in the field.
5A TVI suspects a 4-year-old shows signs of a previously unidentified visual impairment. According to standard referral procedures, what is the most appropriate first step?
A.Begin braille instruction immediately
B.Refer the child for a clinical eye examination and functional vision evaluation
C.Place the child directly in a residential school
D.Recommend the family delay any action until kindergarten
Explanation: When a visual impairment is suspected, the appropriate first step is referral for a clinical low vision/eye examination and a functional vision assessment to confirm and characterize the impairment. Diagnosis and functional data must precede any instructional or placement decisions, consistent with early identification and intervention practice.
6The structure of the eye that contains the highest concentration of cone photoreceptors and is responsible for sharp central vision is the:
A.Optic disc
B.Fovea
C.Sclera
D.Ciliary body
Explanation: The fovea, located at the center of the macula, has the highest density of cone photoreceptors and provides the sharpest central, detailed, and color vision. Damage to the macula or fovea, as in macular degeneration, causes loss of central acuity while peripheral vision may remain.
7A student has a documented eye condition that causes loss of peripheral vision while central acuity remains relatively intact, producing 'tunnel vision.' This pattern is most characteristic of:
A.Macular degeneration
B.Retinitis pigmentosa
C.Cataract
D.Amblyopia
Explanation: Retinitis pigmentosa is a progressive condition that typically destroys peripheral rod photoreceptors first, producing constricted peripheral fields (tunnel vision) and night blindness while sparing central vision until later stages. This field loss has major implications for orientation and mobility instruction.
8A young child consistently presses on or rubs the eyes, holds objects very close, and tilts the head when looking at materials. A TVI would most appropriately interpret these behaviors as:
A.Definitive proof of total blindness
B.Possible signs of a visual impairment warranting evaluation
C.Typical attention-seeking behavior to ignore
D.Evidence the child should skip a vision exam
Explanation: Behaviors such as eye pressing (the oculodigital sign), holding materials close, head tilting, and squinting can indicate a visual impairment and warrant a referral for evaluation. These observations are screening clues, not diagnoses, and should prompt clinical and functional vision assessment.
9Cortical (cerebral) visual impairment (CVI) differs from most ocular visual impairments primarily because CVI results from:
A.Clouding of the crystalline lens
B.Damage to the visual pathways or visual cortex of the brain
C.Abnormal curvature of the cornea
D.Increased intraocular pressure
Explanation: CVI is a neurological visual impairment caused by damage to the brain's visual pathways or visual cortex rather than to the eye itself. Students with CVI may have relatively normal eye structures yet show variable visual function, difficulty with visual complexity, and characteristic behaviors that respond to specialized intervention.
10Which statement best reflects how congenital (from birth) versus adventitious (later-onset) blindness affects concept development?
A.Age of onset has no effect on concept development
B.Adventitiously blind students may draw on prior visual concepts that congenitally blind students never formed
C.Congenitally blind students always develop concepts faster
D.Visual memory is irrelevant to learning after blindness
Explanation: Students who lose vision later (adventitious) can draw on a store of visual concepts and memories formed before vision loss, while congenitally blind students build concepts through nonvisual senses from the start. Understanding age and onset of vision loss helps the TVI plan concept development and instruction.

About the NYSTCE 117 Exam

The NYSTCE Blind and Visually Impaired Content Specialty Test (117) is the New York exam for candidates seeking certification as a teacher of students who are blind and visually impaired (TVI). It assesses content and pedagogical knowledge across eye conditions and low vision, braille literacy in UEB and Nemeth Code, orientation and mobility, assistive technology, the expanded core curriculum, and IEP/IDEA program planning, and it includes a hands-on braille transcription assignment.

Questions

62 scored questions

Time Limit

4h 15m appointment (4h testing)

Passing Score

520 (scaled)

Exam Fee

$122 (New York State Education Department / Pearson Evaluation Systems)

NYSTCE 117 Exam Content Outline

10% of total score

Foundations of Blind and Visually Impaired Education

Historical, theoretical, legal, and ethical foundations, IDEA and New York policies, roles and collaboration, paraprofessional supervision, confidentiality, mandated reporting, and AER.

10% of total score

Knowledge of Students Who Are Blind and Visually Impaired

Visual system anatomy, eye conditions and etiologies, age of onset, cognitive, language, motor, and psychosocial development, and the impact of additional disabilities.

10% of total score

Assessment and Individual Program Planning

Functional vision and learning media assessments, interpreting ophthalmological reports, IFSP/IEP/504 components, accommodations, transition planning, and progress monitoring.

10% of total score

Learning Environment and Classroom Interventions

Environmental adaptations, low vision devices, sighted guide and basic O&M, sensory efficiency, positive behavior supports, and access to the general curriculum.

10% of total score

Instructional Planning and Delivery

Evidence-based specially designed instruction in reading, writing, and math, the abacus, tactile graphics, accessible materials (NIMAC), and assistive technology.

10% of total score

Language, Literacy, and Expanded Core Curriculum

Braille reading and writing, the nine ECC areas, social skills, independent living, self-determination, and communication for diverse and deafblind learners.

20% of total score

Transcribing Using UEB and Nemeth Code

A four-task assignment requiring accurate reading and production of Unified English Braille and Nemeth Code on a manual Perkins Brailler, both print-to-braille and braille-to-print.

20% of total score

Analysis, Synthesis, and Application

A scenario-based constructed response analyzing student profiles and assessment data to recommend evidence-based instruction, interventions, accommodations, or modifications.

How to Pass the NYSTCE 117 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 520 (scaled)
  • Exam length: 62 questions
  • Time limit: 4h 15m appointment (4h testing)
  • Exam fee: $122

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NYSTCE 117 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Practice UEB and Nemeth Code transcription daily on a manual Perkins Brailler, since the four-task assignment is worth 20% of your score
2Memorize the nine areas of the expanded core curriculum and a concrete teaching example for each
3Connect each eye condition to its functional impact, such as central versus peripheral field loss and lighting or contrast needs
4Distinguish the legal definition of blindness from the IDEA educational definition and from Section 504 eligibility
5Rehearse constructed-response scenarios by analyzing assessment data and recommending evidence-based interventions for a specific student
6When two answers seem reasonable, choose the option that maximizes the student's independence, access, and grade-level participation

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the NYSTCE Blind and Visually Impaired (117) exam?

The current Field 117 test page lists 60 selected-response items, a transcription assignment of 4 tasks, and 1 extended constructed-response item. You have 4 hours of testing time inside a 4 hour 15 minute appointment.

What passing score do I need for NYSTCE 117?

You need a scaled score of 520 to pass the NYSTCE Blind and Visually Impaired CST. Selected-response items count for 60% of the score and the transcription assignment and constructed response count for 40%.

How much does the NYSTCE 117 exam cost?

The current NYSTCE fee for Field 117 is $122. Always verify the fee in your NYSTCE account at registration in case the testing program updates pricing.

Do I need to bring a brailler to the NYSTCE 117 exam?

Yes. Candidates must bring a Classic Perkins Brailler capable of accommodating 11 by 11.5 inch paper to complete the four-task transcription assignment in Unified English Braille and Nemeth Code.

What braille codes are tested on NYSTCE 117?

The exam tests both Unified English Braille (UEB) for literary text and Nemeth Code for mathematics and scientific notation. You must be able to read and accurately produce both on a manual brailler.

What is the expanded core curriculum and is it on the test?

The expanded core curriculum (ECC) covers disability-specific skills such as compensatory skills, orientation and mobility, social interaction, independent living, recreation, career education, assistive technology, sensory efficiency, and self-determination. The ECC is a major content area on Field 117.