LET Elementary vs Secondary: Which Should You Take?

LET Elementary vs Secondary: Which Should You Take?

The straightforward answer: your degree mostly decides it. PRC's requirements tie each level to a degree:

• LET Elementary: BEEd / BSEEd (or an equivalent degree)
• LET Secondary: BSEd or its equivalent with a major and minor, or a bachelor's degree in arts and sciences (or an equivalent degree) with at least 18 units of Professional Education

So a BEEd graduate takes Elementary, and a BSEd graduate takes Secondary. The real choices come up for career shifters and for anyone who wonders about teaching the other level. This post compares the two exams side by side.

At a glance

Both levels sit on the same Sunday, and each is a one-day exam. PRC's 2026 exam programs also list an "Elementary with specialization" track for BECEd, BSNEd, BTLEd, BTVTEd, BPEd and BCAEd graduates. It follows the Secondary pattern: Gen Ed 20%, Prof Ed 40%, Specialization 40%.

Format differences

LET Elementary is shorter: two parts, finished by 2:00 p.m.

LET Secondary is a long day. After Gen Ed and Prof Ed, you sit your Specialization for three and a half hours in the afternoon. The endurance matters: plan full-day mocks, not just morning ones.

Weighting differences matter

Elementary leans on pedagogy: Gen Ed 40%, Prof Ed 60%.

Secondary spreads the weight: Gen Ed 20%, Prof Ed 40%, Specialization 40% (your major).

The implication: Elementary review is pedagogy-heavy. Secondary review splits between your subject and pedagogy. Both share the same Gen Ed table of specifications (10 areas of 15 items).

Pass rates

PRC's results releases show Secondary passing a higher share than Elementary in each recent sitting:

PRC doesn't explain the gap, and a pass rate is not a reason to pick a level you aren't eligible for or don't want to teach. In 2025 about 77,800 people took Elementary and about 141,700 took Secondary.

Career paths

Elementary teachers usually teach several subjects to one class in the early grades, work closely with parents of young children, and grow through the teacher and Master Teacher ladder or into school leadership.

Secondary teachers teach their subject across several sections in Junior or Senior High School, and grow through the same teacher and Master Teacher ladder, subject coordination or school leadership.

Pay is the same at the same rank. DepEd uses one salary scale for both. A Teacher I (Salary Grade 11) earns ₱31,705 a month at Step 1 in 2026, rising to ₱33,387 on January 1, 2027. See the DepEd teacher salary 2026 guide.

Which suits you

Elementary teaching suits people who enjoy young learners, like teaching across subjects, and don't mind a lot of classroom management and parent contact.

Secondary teaching suits people with a strong subject they want to go deep in, who enjoy working with teenagers and preparing them for college and work.

Career shifters: the real choice

If your degree is outside education, the usual route is LET Secondary: complete at least 18 units of Professional Education, confirm eligibility with PRC, and choose the specialization that matches your background. The 18-unit route does not make you eligible for LET Elementary. For Elementary you need an elementary education degree or one PRC accepts as equivalent. The LET Elementary without a BEEd guide explains this in detail.

Can you take both?

Only if you meet the eligibility for each level. Taking the other level isn't automatic: a BSEd doesn't make you eligible for Elementary, for example. If you're thinking about it, check PRC's list of requirements for your exact degree and units first.

Most teachers license at one level and build their career there.

How Super Tutor covers each level

• LET Elementary: Gen Ed and Prof Ed in 11 study formats, practice quizzes at three difficulty levels, an AI tutor, and full LET Elementary mock exams (4,400+ questions).
• LET Secondary: Gen Ed (English, Filipino, Mathematics, Social Sciences) and Prof Ed, with practice quizzes and the AI tutor. There are no LET Secondary mock exams and no specialization (major) content, so you'll review your major separately with the official table of specifications.

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What to read next

The LET Elementary pillar guide covers the Elementary review. The LET Secondary pillar guide covers the Secondary review, and the LET Secondary major field review covers the specialization part.