FTCE Scoring

The Significance of FTCE Scoring

One can appreciate the significance of the scores of FTCE by first understanding the requirement of conducting this test. Adults desirous of pursuing a career in teaching would have acquired their educational qualifications and degrees from different institutions. There is no way of comparing the standards maintained by each of those institutions even if they follow the same syllabi. This is more difficult if the adults have completed their education from different institutions across the world.

Therefore, most states in the United States, including Florida have laid down their requirements and eligibility criteria for issuance of teaching credentials. You will have to meet those requirements for grant of teaching credentials following which you will be eligible to apply for teaching in educational establishments across that particular state. The scoring system ensures that only those test-takers who meet the specified requirements are able to pass the FTCE. This implies that teachers who have the Florida teaching certification are competent and successful educators as per the standards required by the State of Florida.

The Scoring System

The set of tests that you will have to take can be found by visiting www.fldoe.org/edcert, which is the website of Florida Department of Education’s Bureau of Educator Certification. Here you will find detailed information on the tests that have to be taken depending upon your reason for applying for the certification.

Some of these tests are conducted on a computer, rest are paper-based tests. The degree of difficulty and the length of tests conducted in these two formats are comparable. You will have to check the official website, http://www.fl.nesinc.com to find out the format of the test that you have to take and the format available at the test centre where you have to take the test.

Percentage of Correct Questions for Passing the FTCE

The criteria for passing any of the tests has been formulated by working out the ‘Maximum Percentages Needed to Achieve a Minimum Passing Score’ for each test. This percentage is the maximum percentage of questions, out of the total number of questions that were presented in the test, that need to be answered correctly in order to pass that test. For instance, if 65% is the maximum percentage of correct answers required to pass a particular test that is offered in a certain type of format, then another format of the same test that is slightly more difficult will have 64% as the maximum percentage of correct answers required to pass the test.

FTCE consists of three main tests. The maximum percentages that are needed to pass a test are given below along with a brief description of each test:

  1. General Knowledge Test: There are 4 subtests in this GK test designed to assess your basic academic skills that are necessary for performing well as an educator
  • English Language Skills:

This subtest is an assessment of your knowledge and understanding of English. You will be asked 40 multiple-choice questions in this test. 40 minutes will be given to you for completing this subtest. This implies that you will not have more than 1 minute to answer a question if you wish to answer all the questions within the stipulated time frame. You will have to answer 73 percent of the questions asked correctly in order to pass this subtest.

  • Reading:

Your abilities to understand written material and draw logical conclusions are put to test by this subtest. You will be given reading passages and you will have to answer multiple-choice questions based on these passages. There will be a total of 40 questions in this subtest and you will have 40 minutes to complete this subtest. You will have to exhibit a high rate of reading in order to complete the subtest well in time. As is evident, you will have just 1 minute to answer each question and this leaves you with very less time to read and understand the given passages. You need to answer 65 percent of the questions correctly for attaining the passing scores in this subtest.

  • Essay:

This subtest evaluates your writing skills by assessing the essay written by you. You will be given 50 minutes to complete this subtest. You need to score at least 6 out of a total of 12 points in order to pass this subtest. The scoring session for this subtest follows a standardized procedure for each administration of the subtest. The subtest is scored by at least two independent raters who are highly qualified and well trained for scoring essays.  The scores from the independent raters are combined for the final Essay score of the GK test.

  • Mathematics

You need to be familiar with the fundamentals of Mathematics in order to pass this subtest as the questions asked are designed to assess your abilities in solving mathematical problems. You will be given 1 hour and 40 minutes to answer the 45 multiple-choice questions that will be asked in this subtest. You will have to answer 58 percent of the questions asked correctly for passing this subtest.

An Important Point: If you fail in any of the GK subtests, you need not take all the GK subtests again. You have the liberty of taking only those subtests in which you have failed and attaining the passing scores for the GK test.

    1. Professional Education Test (PEd): This is a test of your proficiency in skills and practices related to teaching. There are no subtests in the PEd test. All questions asked will be multiple-choice questions. There will be a total of 120 questions. You will have 2 and a half hours to complete this test. You can pass the PEd test only if you have answered 73 percent of the questions asked correctly.
  1. Subject Area Examinations (SAE): There are 42 different SAEs. These are subject specific tests and you will take an SAE depending upon your subject of specialization and the testing requirements for the particular type of certification required by you. Some of the SAEs have subtests, rest are all single tests. Most of the SAEs consist of multiple-choice questions except for those that have listening, speaking or essay writing subtests. The number of questions that need to be answered correctly to pass a particular SAE can be obtained from the official website by downloading the document ‘Percentpass for ftce.pdf”.

Scale Scores

The percentage of correct answers required for passing the individual test is converted to a scale score. This is done in order to bring the different forms of the tests to a common level. The scale score required for passing the FTCE is 200.

Score Report

Your score report will not contain your scores if you have passed the test. Instead of the scores achieved, a ‘Pass’ will be displayed on your score report. Your scores will be displayed only if you have failed the test. Unofficial scores are posted on the official website by 5pm on the score report date. However, the official score reports are mailed separately. Check the official website for the dates on which your official score report will be mailed to you depending upon the date on which you have taken the test. The educational institution mentioned by you at the time of registration will receive a copy of your score report directly.

The unofficial results of the multiple-choice tests for the computer-based tests are provided at the test centre itself on successful completion of the test.

Do Not Underestimate the Preparation Required!

Do not try your luck by underestimating the amount of preparation required for passing the tests. Clearing this test is not an easy task and do not wait until the test date to realize this fact. You cannot take chances when your career is at stake. Set an aim for yourself and study hard. This is the only way to success.