How to PASS THE FTCE Subject AREA Exam TIPS AND TOOLS FROM AN EXPERIENCED TEST TAKER!
Updated: May 31, 2021
The purpose of the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) is to ensure that all teacher candidates demonstrate the necessary content and pedagogical knowledge necessary to effectively instruct students in Florida. Passing teacher certification tests is a basic requirement for teacher licensure in most states. Since each state sets its own standards, testing requirements vary from state to state.
FLORIDA TEACHER CERTIFICATION EXAMS (FTCE)
General Knowledge Exam (GK) – basic skills with four sub-tests in English Language skills, Reading, Math and Essay Writing
Professional Education Exam (PEd) – knowledge of pedagogy and professional practices in eight areas
Subject Area Exam (SAE) – skill and knowledge to teach a specific grade and/or subject area
To help you prepare for each exam, FTCE provides current test information guides. These include a description of the test, a list of competencies and skills tested, and a reference sheet with suggested resources. They also offer computer-based testing tutorials, preparation videos, and score interpretation guides.
Although these resources can be helpful, we have learned from our students that they are not comprehensive enough to adequately prepare you for the exams.
http://www.fl.nesinc.com/FL_Background.asp
The FTCE Website has a multitude of resources however, we want to offer you in addition to what they have provided.
THE BENEFITS OF FIRST-TIME SUCCESS!
We want you to
Stop Wasting Time with these companies selling you a headache and an expensive price tag.
Believe it or not, your peers/colleagues are providing resources if you seek it out and giving you firsthand knowledge of tests they have taken and I am one of those peers/colleagues who took advantage of the free test that was offered on April 1, 2020.
On April 1, 2020, the Florida Department of Education provided the opportunity to use a voucher to register and schedule to take the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) free of charge.
I decided to register for over 17 FREE TESTS!! Did I need to take all of them? Not all of them , but some of them for certification purposes. But I choose to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity of over $ 2000 dollars in savings of free tests.
Here are the standard testing fees.
You may say, this is insanity and it was, I did not know there was a limit so every subject area I thought I could potentially teach if I needed a job I applied for it. I was focused on teaching as a 1st time teacher from a non- education background. As I was struggling to provide instruction with dual modalities, I put an action plan together to start taking the exams in December. Teacher Breaks I would say, when I could focus right? BUT Guess What? I realized that the deadline to take all of the tests was May 9, 2021, that's when I began to panic.
When I initially registered for the tests, as the window dates kept extending for a further date, I kept rebooking the appointment and never cancelling, to push it so far back so I could focus on teaching my high school students how to prepare for the FSA English Reading and Writing for their graduation requirements.
Little did I know, I would receive an email in late February informing me that I needed to take the exams before May 9, 2021 or I would forfeit the voucher and I simply could not do that. The tests were booked by other test- takers and I could not call out of work.
We were all rushing to take these tests all at the same time.I decided that I would conquer 8 tests in the month of March, at least two a week and none the week of Spring Break because I knew I would be out of town. I would check the system daily; day and night to see if someone had rescheduled and choose a date that would fit best for me on the weekend. I was there every Saturday except Spring Break Saturday. The proctors remembered me and I knew the code to go to the bathroom to go wash my hands before coming into the testing room. That’s how often I was testing. OMG
Now you may wonder how did I study, when did I study, did I even study all while teaching FSA English to my students taking these exams during this time. But I did and I will show you how you can too.
Keep reading if you want tips to passing these exams from an actual test taker.
Recommendations based on my experience taking the test in March 2021
What did I learn from taking 8 exams in one month?
How did I study for all the exams?
Here are some useful tips to save you time and money.
If you do not know the right answer choose A, Test makers are lazy, it is a high % this is the right answer. I took this strategy for the humanities 6-12 exam and got close to half of the questions right. When taking the other exam the correct answer choice was more than likely letter A.
Pick an answer that makes sense, if it is a random distractor it is the wrong answer.
Know the name of the national board organization of the subject you will be testing in.
Use test questions to help you answer other questions, there will be clues in questions from another questions.
Write down the number you need to get right to pass immediately when given the test booklet. For example if you need 70% to pass and you have 120 questions that lets you know how many questions you can get wrong. Calculate this using the formula. This helps when you are struggling at the very end to make sure that you have enough correct answers to pass the test.
Mark questions you need to come back to later.
Trust yourself the first time.
Most answer choices are common sense. If it does not make sense do not use it.
TRUST NAVADED the best test prep company with test guides that will give you exactly what you need.
Quizlets are on point, if you find the right one. Most tests you only need two weeks to study for the exam to pass the exams.
You will know if you pass the exam, after you take it with certainty or and you will know if you failed it.
You only get a breakdown analysis if you fail a test.
The test competencies you need to study them. The answer choices that have these are probably the good answer choices.
Review the resources of the FTCE website, use the tips in this guide, get good night rest and ACE the TEST the FIRST TIME!
FTCE/FELE Maximum Percentages Needed to Achieve a Minimum Passing Score table-Scoring and Reporting
Source: FTCE/FELE Maximum Percentages Needed to Achieve a Minimum Passing Score table-Scoring and Reporting
Author’s Test Results
If you want more tips and tricks for tests for:
Agriculture 6–12
English 6–12 - Multiple-Choice Section
ESOL K–12
Exceptional Student Education K–12
Family and Consumer Science 6–12
Hearing Impaired K–12
Health K–12
Humanities K–12
Professional
Reading K–12
Social Science 6–12
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