Which Subjects Does the Specialized Subject Test Cover?

The Specialized Subject Test, the STT, is not a single fixed exam. It has a distinct version for each teaching specialization ETEC licenses teachers in, covering subjects that include Arabic language, Islamic studies, mathematics and science, among others, and you sit the version that matches the specialization you register under.

How do I know which version I am supposed to sit?

You register for the STT under the specific specialization you hold a bachelor’s degree in and intend to teach, matched to the subject and school stage requirements ETEC and the Ministry of Education set for that specialization. The version of the STT you sit follows directly from that registration choice, not a separate selection made on exam day.

Does the question count differ between subjects?

Yes. The STT question count is not fixed across every specialization; it runs from roughly 60 to 88 questions depending on the subject, while the two-hour testing window and multiple choice format stay the same regardless of specialization. What actually separates the GTT from the STT covers that alongside the GTT’s fixed 88-question format, which does not vary by subject the way the STT does.

Is the pass threshold different for different specializations?

No. The 50, 70 and 80 percent thresholds for the Practitioner, Advanced and Expert license tiers apply the same way regardless of which specialization’s STT you sat. How the three license tiers work covers those thresholds directly. A shorter, 60-question version of the STT and an 88-question version are still scored as a percentage against the same tier thresholds.

Does my STT specialization have to match my degree exactly?

Registration for the STT is tied to the teaching specialization requirements ETEC and the Ministry of Education set for the subject and school stage you intend to license for, based on your bachelor’s degree. Do new graduates need the license before applying for a job covers how that qualification requirement fits into the broader path to a first teaching post.

How should the specialization I am sitting affect my preparation?

Because the STT tests your subject specifically rather than general pedagogy, preparation for it should focus on the depth of content in your own specialization rather than a generic study plan built around the GTT’s professional-knowledge domains. How to prepare for the GTT and STT covers how to split preparation between the two tests. The exam’s own page, Professional License Exam for Teachers, has the full pattern for both tests.

Frequently asked questions

Can I choose to sit an easier specialization’s STT than my own degree? No, the STT specialization you sit is tied to the qualification requirements for the subject and school stage you are licensing for, based on your actual degree.

Does a specialization with fewer STT questions make passing easier? Not necessarily; the pass thresholds are percentages, so a shorter version still requires the same proportion of correct answers as a longer one.

Is Arabic language treated as its own specialization? Yes, Arabic language is one of the named specializations the STT covers, alongside Islamic studies, mathematics, science and other subjects ETEC licenses teachers in.

Does the GTT vary by specialization the way the STT does? No, the GTT is a fixed 88-question test common to every teacher regardless of specialization.