Aug 21 / DR. JASON AMPEL

FTCE General Knowledge (GK) Study Plan: How to Prep for a 2025 Pass

Introduction

Are you a Florida teaching candidate seeking certification? If so, you’ll be gearing up to take the FTCE General Knowledge (082) exam. 

Ideally, candidates want to pass the FTCE GK on the first try to avoid delays in reaching their career goals. An ambitious challenge, as the exam’s first-time pass rate is 62%, per the 2020 data.  

Stay calm. 

We, The Learning Liaisons, have helped many Florida teachers prepare for the FTCE GK. Success is possible with a solid study plan and proper implementation. Our guide will provide an overview of the FTCE GK and offer preparation solutions. 

Ready? Take a deep breath, and let’s dive in.

Fast Facts: FTCE GK

  •    Passing score: 200 scaled score per multiple-choice subtest, 6 out of 8 for the essay.
  •    Number of subtests: 4 (3 multiple-choice, 1 essay)
  •    Number of Questions: 30-35 per multiple-choice subtest, 1 essay.
  •    Question Format: Selected-response and essay.
  •    Total Testing Time: 4 hours (approximately).      
           - English Language Skills: 40 minutes.       
           - Reading: 55 minutes.         
           - Mathematics: 1 hour and 40 minutes.       
           - Essay: 50 minutes.
  •    Time to Report Scores: within 4 weeks.
  •    Time between retakes: 31 days. 
  •    Maximum number of attempts to pass: No limit.
  •    Do you have to retake the entire exam?: No. Only retake the subtests you failed.

Exam Overview: FTCE GK

The FTCE General Knowledge (082) is designed to assess teaching candidates’ basic foundation for instruction in a Florida school. The computer-administered test (CAT) is around 40 hours long, divided into four subtests:

  •    English Language Skills, ±30 multiple-choice, 40 minutes.
  •    Reading, ±30 multiple-choice, 55 minutes.
  •    Mathematics, ±35 multiple-choice, 1 hour and 40 minutes.
  •    Essay, 1 question, 50 minutes.


Candidates may elect to take the FTCE GK all at once or take the subtests individually. 

Feeling overwhelmed? Check out Dr. A’s FREE course: 7 Steps to Passing Your Certification Exam.

Also, join our #WhenYouPass FTCE Facebook Group.

FTCE GK English Language Skills (ELS) Concepts

The FTCE General Knowledge English Language Skills (826) subtest is a 40-minute multiple-choice test consisting of 30 questions. Candidates need to score 64% to achieve a weighted 200 passing score.

The FTCE GK ELS subtest uses four main question formats:

  •    Command.
  •    Sentence completion. 
  •    Passage. 
  •    Direct question.


The English questions assess a Florida teaching candidate’s knowledge of three main areas:

  •    Language Structure, 25% of the subtest. 
  •    Vocabulary Application, 25% of the subtest. 
  •    Standard English Conventions,50% of the subtest.


Want to boost your FTCE GK ELS skills? Check out the following:


FTCE GK Reading Concepts

The FTCE General Knowledge Reading (827) subtest is a 55-minute multiple-choice test with around 30 questions. Candidates need a 70% to achieve a weighted 200 passing score. 

The FTCE GK Reading subtest uses two main question formats:

  •    Passage.
  •    Sentence completion.


The reading questions assess a Florida teaching candidate’s knowledge of three main areas:

  •    Key Ideas and Details Based on Text Selections, 40% of the subtest. 
  •    Craft and Structure Based on Text Selections, 25% of the subtest. 
  •    Integration of Information and Ideas Based on Text Selections, 35% of the subtest.


Want to boost your FTCE GK ELS skills? Check out the following:

FTCE GK Mathematics Concepts

The FTCE General Knowledge Mathematics (828) subtest is a 1-hour and 40-minute multiple-choice test composed of approximately 40 questions. Candidates need a 63% to achieve a weighted 200 passing score. 56% of candidates passed the mathematics subtest on their first try. 

Please note: candidates are not allowed to bring their calculators to the testing center. A Mathematics Reference Sheet and an on-screen calculator will be provided. 

The FTCE GK Math subtest consists of five types of questions:

  •    Scenario. 
  •    Word problem.
  •    Direct question. 
  •    Command. 
  •    Graphics. 


The math questions assess a Florida teaching candidate’s knowledge of four main mathematical areas:

  •    Number sense, concepts, and operations, 17% of the subtest.
  •    Geometry and measurement, 21% of the subtest. 
  •    Algebraic thinking and the coordinate plane, 29% of the subtest.
  •    Probability, statistics, and data interpretation, 33% of the subtest.


Want to see an example test? Check out The Learning Liaisons’ FREE FTCE GK Math Practice Test. 

Want to boost your FTCE GK Math skills? Check out the following:

FTCE GK Essay Concepts

The FTCE General Knowledge Essay (825) subtest is a 50-minute written test with 1 essay question. In 2025, the passing score is 6 out of 8, whereas previously it was 8 out of 12.

The essay is evaluated on five main criteria:

  •    Focus.
  •    Organization.
  •    Support.
  •    Vocabulary and Sentence Structure.
  •    Grammar and Conventions. 


Want to learn more? Check out The Learning Liaisons’ FREE GK Essay Prompt Practice Course.

Want to boost your FTCE GK Essay skills? Check out the following:

Scoring, Retakes, and Costs

The FTCE General Knowledge (082) passing scores are 200 per multiple-choice subtest and 6 out of 8 for the essay. Scores are reported within 4 weeks of the testing date. Raw scores for the multiple-choice subtests are available after the subtest is complete. 

Please note that raw scores are not weighted and can only tell you how many questions you answered correctly. They are not your final score. 

Candidates who do not pass the FTCE GK can retake the exam as many times as they need. There is a 31-day wait after scores are verified to retake a subtest. Candidates only retake the subtests they did not pass, and do not have to take the entire exam over again. There is a charge for each retake. 

The FTCE GK costs are as follows:

  •    $32.50, 1 subtest.
  •    $65, 2 subtests.
  •    $97.50, 3 subtests. 
  •    $130, 4 subtests.

How to Prep for the FTCE General Knowledge (GK) (082)

Passing the FTCE General Knowledge (082) exam requires a solid preparation plan, proper implementation, and seeking support when needed. The test is extensive, covering a wide range of knowledge and skills. Those taking the full exam will need to begin preparing much earlier than those only taking one or two subtests. 

Not sure how to get started?

No stress.

Read on for our top tips for prepping for the FTCE GK. 

1. Design a Preparation Plan

Designing a preparation plan is like creating a road map to success. The more effort you put into it, the less likely you’ll lose your way. A solid preparation plan will involve the following:

  •    Assess your time and commitments: The FTCE GK cannot be crammed for the night before the test date. In addition, most modern lives do not have the luxury of being able to drop everything to focus exclusively on preparing for the FTCE. Take a good, hard look at all your commitments and determine how much time per week you have for preparation. The fewer hours per week available, the more weeks you’ll need to prepare. 
  •    Book your study dates. Write down your study dates as you would for any essential meeting. Do not leave it vague, as other commitments will sneak in, and your study time will vanish. Block out the time of day and the estimated duration so nothing else can weasel their way into your calendar.  
  •    Overbook. Emergencies happen. Cars break down, kids get sick, and the boss announces an essential meeting with 5 minutes’ notice. So, reduce your stress for planning for the unplanned and block out more study dates than you need. 
  •    Outline each study session. Structure produces results. Have a plan for each study session and set goals for yourself. These ensure you don’t mindlessly flip through study material and actually cover what needs to be done in an organized and efficient manner. The goals will also help keep you motivated. 
  •    Gather a variety of preparation materials. Don’t wait until the study session to find study resources. Gather them beforehand, including the official FTCE General Knowledge Test (GK) (082) Resource Materials, flashcards, boot camps, webinars, and practice tests. These should be incorporated into your study session outlines so when you get ready to study, you don’t waste time trying to find the material. 
  •    Find a study group. Study groups can be in-person or online. Joining one has many benefits, including keeping you motivated, sharing resources, gaining tips, and providing support.

2. Track Your FTCE GK Preparation Progress

Use your study sessions effectively and efficiently by tracking your progress. Keep tabs on what content areas you’ve covered and routinely assess your mastery of the skills and knowledge.

The latter can be done through practice quizzes and tests, which will reveal your strengths and what areas need more time and attention. 

It is a waste of time to keep focusing on material you already know. You want to use your study sessions where you are weakest. 

3. Take Many Practice Tests and Quizzes

Practice quizzes and tests are essential preparation. They do more than help you track your preparation progress, providing insight into your strengths and challenges. Other reasons candidates should take as many FTCE GK practice tests include: 

  •    Become comfortable with the testing format. 
  •    Helps master test-taking time management skills and other test-taking strategies.
  •    Creates familiarity, which reduces anxiety while boosting confidence. 
  •    Exercises the mind. 
  •    Provides variety to the study schedule. 

4. Find Tools to Reduce Test Anxiety

Successfully passing the FTCE GK exam requires more than mastering the content areas. Test taking is a skill in itself. One of the biggest skills is learning how to manage test anxiety. Test anxiety can cause us to freeze up and cloud our minds.

Don’t wait until the test day to work through your test anxiety. During your preparation, find effective strategies to reduce test anxiety and practice implementing them.

There are many strategies for reducing test anxiety, including the following: 

  •    Find a calming app: There are many apps on the market, many with free features, to help people reduce their stress and anxiety. The best ones do more than provide calming tools, like sound baths, meditation sessions, and breathing exercises, and actually teach you how to use techniques that can be used when not on the app. 
  •    Take care of yourself: “Self-care” has become an overused marketing term. However, sleeping well, exercising, and eating right can help manage stress and anxiety. Nor does it have to take long. Meal planning and having lots of healthy snacks can reduce your dependence on junk food. Also, don’t feel pressured to spend long periods in the gym. Even short periods of stretching and 10-minute walks can pack a positive punch. 
  •    Play Tetris: Generally, it is advised not to play video games as part of a test preparation strategy. But if you feel your anxiety rising, take a break and play Tetris. The game has been shown to help people lower their stress and anxiety so they can resume focus.  
  •    Take courses to learn testing strategies. Passing the FTCE GK requires more than learning the content. There is a knack to navigating these computer-based certification exams. Excellent preparation courses do more than teach content. They equip you with strategies for taking the test, including finding the most likely correct answer even if you don’t know. 
  •    Take timed practice tests: Taking timed practice tests in the run-up to the FTCE GK exam allows you to work on using your test anxiety reduction strategies. Try to make the experience as real as possible. The more you practice, the better you’ll become at effectively using them. 

5. Enroll in FTCE GK Preparation Courses & Tutoring

FTCE preparation courses and tutoring offer support, guidance, strategies, and tools to help Florida teaching candidates navigate their certification exams successfully. 

Benefits to enrolling are many, including

  •    Provides structure to your preparation.
  •    Helps motivate you to stick to your preparation plan.
  •    Ensures your preparation covers all exam content areas. 
  •    Uses a variety of preparation materials to keep you engaged.
  •    Regularly assess your preparation progress through practice quizzes and exams. 
  •    Equips you with exam-taking strategies, including time management and how to choose the best multiple-choice answer. 
  •    Enables familiarity with the exam structure and format.
  •    Creates access to support and coaching. 
  •    Lowers test anxiety and provides tools for managing it.
  •     Increases confidence.
     

One-on-one tutoring produces similar benefits to courses. The main difference is that the candidates receive a tailored program that targets where they need support the most. 

Conclusion

Florida teaching candidates can pass the FTCE General Knowledge (082) on the first try with a solid preparation strategy and support. The Learning Liaisons have years of experience helping candidates navigate the FTCE exams. Check out our FTCE Monthly Subscription, where you can access our FTCE GK Boot Camps and more. 

Also, our website offers free resources, including free FTCE practice tests and courses. 

The FTCE GK may not be the easiest challenge to clear, but success is possible. We look forward to helping you meet your career goals.