GACE English (020/021) Practice Test

The Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) English exam is designed to assess the knowledge and skills of individuals seeking admission to an educator preparation program, certification in Georgia, or wanting to become qualified in teaching 6th-12th-grade English in Georgia public schools.

Click “Start Test” above to take a free GACE English practice test, and check out our premium-quality GACE test prep resources by clicking the links below!

GACE English Exam Outline

The GACE English exam is made of two subtests, which you can take individually in two different sessions or all at once in one session (the testing code for the combined session is 520). The the total combined time limit is 4 hours, and the total number of questions is 134.

Each subtest is split into multiple subareas.

Subtest I (020)

This subtest contains 65 selected-response questions and two constructed-response questions, and you will be given a time limit of 2 hours. The questions are grouped into the following three subareas:

I. Reading for Literature (37.5%)

• Major works, authors, and contexts of world, US, British, and young adult literature
• Defining characteristics of primary literary genres
• Interpreting and analyzing literary text
• Literary elements and figurative language in text
• Commonly used research-based reading strategies and literary theories

II. Writing (37.5%)

• Characteristics of various modes of writing
• The importance of purpose and audience
• Characteristics of clear and coherent writing
• Effective and ethical research practices in writing
• Commonly used research-based approaches to teaching writing and the use of digital

III. Analysis (25%)

• Analyzing the central idea and key literary elements of a literary excerpt
• Analyzing student work
• Identifying and describing appropriate instructional activities

Subtest II (021)

This subtest contains 65 selected-response questions and two constructed-response questions, and you will be given a time limit of 2 hours. The questions are grouped into the following four subareas:

I. Reading for Information (37.5%)

• Comprehending and analyzing informational text
• Different rhetorical strategies that authors use in informational text
• Evaluating arguments in informational text
• Interpreting media and non-print text

II. Speaking and Listening (15%)

• The components of delivering an effective speech and presentation
• The components of effective oral communication in a variety of settings

III. Language (22.5%)

• The conventions of standard English grammar and language use
• Using reference materials and research-based approaches to support and enhance language development

Analysis (25%)

• Analyzing the central idea and key rhetorical features in an informational text excerpt
• Analyzing student work
• Identifying and describing appropriate instructional activities

GACE English Exam Registration

To register for the GACE English exam, you need to use your MyPSC account. If you do not have an account, create your account to receive your Georgia certification number. After you register for the English exam on MyPSC, create an ETS GACE testing account. Your ETS account lists the test(s) you are approved to take. You will register for the exam through your ETS GACE testing account.

Fees

You can register to take the tests individually ($123) or combined ($193). Your test fee includes a $25 registration fee and a $28 test center fee. Individuals taking the GACE exam at an international testing site are subject to an additional $50 test site fee.

Test Day

On testing day, you should report to the testing center 15-30 minutes before your scheduled exam. If you arrive later than the listed reporting time on your admission ticket, you will not be able to take the exam and your testing fees will be forfeited.

During the check-in process, you will be asked to provide at least one form of valid identification, which must contain your photo and signature. Once the check-in process is complete, you will be asked to place all personal items (cell phone, wallet, keys, bags, accessories etc.) in a secure locker outside the testing room.

Once you are ready, the proctor will lead you to the testing area and provide some short instructions before starting the exam.

How the GACE English Exam is Scored

When you have completed your exam, you are given the option to report or cancel your scores. They cannot be reinstated if you choose to cancel your scores.

You should also receive an unofficial score report right after the exam. Your official report will be made available about three weeks after the testing window closes.

Passing Score

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC), along with local education committees, established the minimum passing scores for the GACE content assessments:

• 220-249: Induction level
• 250: Professional level

If you take the combined test and one of your scores is at the induction level and the other is at the professional level, you will be considered as having only passed at the induction level.

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