Career Employer

Your FREE School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA 6990) Practice Test 2026 – 250+ Q&A

Realistic School Leaders Licensure Assessment (6990) practice questions across all six selected-response content categories, with instant scoring and answer explanations.

Master questions to boost your score

How ready are you?

To find us again, just search “Career Employer SLLA”

By

Click Start Test above to launch a full-length SLLA practice test weighted like the real selected-response exam, or drill a single content category — Instructional, Strategic, Climate and Cultural, Ethical, Organizational, or Community Engagement Leadership. Every question includes a clear explanation so you learn the leadership reasoning, not just the answer.

The School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA), test code 6990, is administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) and used by many states to license entry-level principals and other school leaders.[1] These free SLLA practice questions mirror the official ETS content categories, which are aligned with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL).[5] To round out your prep, pair these with our free study guide, flashcards.

SLLA at a Glance

SLLA (6990) at a glance
DetailSLLA (6990)
Test administratorEducational Testing Service (ETS), School Leadership Series
Test code6990
Questions120 selected-response + 4 constructed-response
Time limit4 hours (165-min selected + 75-min constructed)
FormatComputer-delivered; selected- and constructed-response
Score scale100–200
Passing scoreSet by each state; 151 in most (146 in some)
Standards alignmentProfessional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL / NPBEA)

What Is on the SLLA Exam?

The SLLA 6990 covers six selected-response categories — Instructional Leadership (17%), Strategic Leadership (13%), Climate and Cultural Leadership (13%), Ethical Leadership (12%), Organizational Leadership (10%), and Community Engagement Leadership (10%) — plus an Analysis Constructed Response section worth 25%.[1]

Instructional Leadership is the largest selected-response category. Our full practice test is weighted to match the selected-response categories:

SLLA selected-response weighting by content category
Instructional Leadership17% · ≈27 Qs
Strategic Leadership13% · ≈20 Qs
Climate and Cultural Leadership13% · ≈22 Qs
Ethical Leadership12% · ≈19 Qs
Organizational Leadership10% · ≈16 Qs
Community Engagement Leadership10% · ≈16 Qs
SLLA practice test — practice questions by content category with answer explanations

Practice Questions by Category

Use Start Test for a full weighted SLLA simulation, or open the hub and pick a single content category to drill your weak area. After each full exam, your results show a per-category breakdown so you know exactly where to focus your leadership study.

What Are the Requirements to Take the SLLA?

Eligibility for the SLLA is set by each state or agency that uses it rather than by ETS, so requirements vary by state.[4]Candidates are typically prospective school leaders — principals, assistant principals, or other administrators — taking the SLLA as part of their state’s certification process.

Before registering, confirm with your state licensing agency that the SLLA 6990 is the required test for your role, and check its passing score and any additional requirements.

How Do You Register for the SLLA?

You register for the SLLA (6990) through ETS at the School Leadership Series website (ets.org/sls).[2] The computer-delivered test is administered through an international network of test centers — including Prometric centers, some universities, and other locations — so you choose a convenient site.

Consult the ETS SLS site for current registration steps, fees, available dates, and accommodations, and confirm your state’s requirements before you register so you sit for the correct assessment.

What Is the Passing Score for the SLLA?

The SLLA passing score is set by each state, most requiring 151 (some 146) on a scale of 100 to 200.[1] The selected-response section is scored automatically and accounts for 75% of the maximum total score; the constructed-response section is scored by trained educational leadership professionals and accounts for the remaining 25%.

Your total raw score — correct selected responses plus a weighted sum of constructed-response scores — converts to the scaled score. Confirm the passing score required by the state where you seek licensure.

How Hard Is the SLLA?

The SLLA is challenging less because of obscure content and more because of its format and applied nature. ETS does not publish a single national first-time pass rate, partly because passing standards differ by state.[4] At 4 hours with 120 selected-response questions and 4 constructed-response tasks, it demands stamina, broad command of the PSEL-aligned standards, and the ability to write clear, evidence-based responses — the constructed-response section is where candidates most often struggle.

151
Passing score (most states)
on a 100–200 scale
25%
Constructed response
4 written tasks
4 hrs
Total testing time
two timed sections

The takeaway: drill all six selected-response categories until you’re consistently above target, and deliberately rehearse scenario-based written responses before you book your exam date.

What to Expect on Exam Day

Arrive at your test center early to check in with a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID whose name matches your registration.

[2] You’ll complete a short tutorial, then work through the 165-minute selected-response section of 120 questions, followed by the 75-minute constructed-response section of 4 scenario-based tasks built from documents and data sets a school leader might face.

The two sections are separately timed, so you cannot borrow time from one for the other. ETS processes your responses and reports your scaled score to you and your state. Having simulated the full timing with practice tests makes that long clock feel routine.

How to Use This SLLA Practice Test

  • Recreate exam conditions. Take the full selected-response set timed, with no notes.[3]
  • Diagnose, then drill. Use a full simulation to find your weakest category, then drill it.
  • Practice the written section. Rehearse structuring evidence-based responses to scenarios.
  • Learn the why. Read every explanation — leadership reasoning beats memorizing.
  • Answer everything. There’s no guessing penalty, so never leave a question blank.

Why Pass the SLLA?

In states that use it, passing the SLLA 6990 is the gateway to a principal or school-leader license — the credential that lets you lead a building and shape instruction and culture.[5] These free SLLA practice tests are the most efficient way to get there.

Conclusion

Passing the SLLA comes down to command of all six PSEL-aligned leadership categories and the ability to apply them to realistic scenarios. Use this free SLLA practice test to find your weak categories, drill them to mastery, and reinforce them with our study guide, flashcards so you walk in confident on test day.

SLLA Practice Test FAQ

The School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA), test code 6990, is administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) as part of the School Leadership Series. Many states use it to license entry-level school leaders such as principals and assistant principals. It is aligned with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL).

References

  1. 1.ETS. “SLLA (6990) Study Companion.” ETS.org. ↑
  2. 2.ETS. “School Leadership Series.” ETS.org. ↑
  3. 3.ETS. “SLLA Test Prep Resources.” ETS.org. ↑
  4. 4.ETS. “School Leadership Series State Requirements.” ETS.org. ↑
  5. 5.NPBEA. “Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL).” NPBEA.org. ↑
Career Employer

Career Employer is the ultimate resource to help you get started working the job of your dreams. We cover topics from general career information, career searching, exam preparation with free study materials, career interviewing, and becoming successful in your career of choice.

Follow Us:

All Posts

Career Employer’s Editorial Process

Here at Career Employer, we focus a lot on providing factually accurate information that is always up to date. We strive to provide correct information using strict editorial processes, article editing, and fact-checking for all of the information found on our website. We only utilize trustworthy and relevant resources. To find out more, make sure to read our full editorial process page here.