Expert Guide to the GACE Test: Fees, Scoring, and More

The GACE is the Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators, a group of tests that help educators in the state of Georgia. This Georgia teacher certification is an important step for future and current educators, as it provides both certification and recertification. Read on for an overview of the GACE Tests and helpful resources.

What Is the GACE Test?

The GACE test, or the Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators is a group of tests that are used for those who are applying for admission to enter an educator preparation program, those who are seeking an educator certification, or those who seek to become highly qualified in a core subject area.

To know which test you have to take, the first step is to check with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, GaPCS. The GaPCS will provide information on the test you need to take as well as additional steps required to receive your certification.

Whether or not you receive your teaching certification depends on the requirements laid out by the GaPCS, and a passing score on your GACE test does not necessarily mean you are a certified teacher.

How to Register and Choose GACE Test Dates

You can register online for the GACE by creating an account and searching for your test.

Test Centers and Dates

You can also search for test centers and GACE test dates for your required test.

Test Fees

The registration fees vary based on the test. Registration fees are as follows. The $25 test fee and the $28 test center fee are included except with the ASLPI test. 

Additional fees include a $25 fee for a test center, date or time change, and a 50% of the total exam fee is charged for cancellations. You can also review fees for the Georgia Ethics Assessments and the Teacher Leadership Assessments. 

Format of the GACE Exam

Each exam has multiple-choice questions and constructed response (short answer or essay) section. The chart below provides a more detailed explanation of what you can find on each test.

GACE Scoring

Surprise! A passing score depends on the test you take. When you complete your test, you'll see your final score as well as your pass/did not pass status. The chart below details the GACE scores you need to be considered passing, at the induction and at the professional level according to the GaPCS.

*The ASLPI is evaluated by a team of professionals, and examinees are awarded a score on a 0-5 scale. The score is then converted to a GACE score between 100 and 300. 

Sample Questions

We’ve included some sample questions based on the Program Admission Test, since it covers multiple subtests. Hopefully, this helps you get a sense of what kind of questions you’d find on the tests.

Math

Question: What is the sum of the decimal values 0.03435+0.9984-0.111

1. 0.78854
2. 0.97465r
3. 0.74657
4. 0.92175

Answer: The answer is 4, 0.92175. This question is simply a math problem that needs to be solved; it tests the test-takers arithmetic ability and knowledge of math concepts.

Reading

Sample Passage: Many species of North American bears hibernate during the winter. Before hibernation, bears can consume up to 20,000 calories and gain up to three pounds per day. The bears then go into their remote dens, where they enter their hibernate state; in this state, their heart rate drops to about 8-10 beats per minute and their body temperatures drop significantly. However, new studies suggest that bears are not in a coma-like sleep like many people assume. Instead, they move around, stretch, and even give birth and care for young cubs in hibernation. By studying bear hibernation, we can learn how to conserve energy and allow the body to live off its own resources. Some scientists suggest that studying bear hibernation behavior may ever help with space travel.

Question: Why does this paragraph provide details about bears’ heartbeats?

1. To provide factual evidence to help us understand how bear hibernation works
2. To offer advice about slowing heartbeats
3. To suggest that slowing heartbeats will help achieve space travel
4. To demonstrate one ability of bears

Answer: The answer is, To provide factual evidence to help us understand how bear hibernation works. The sentence is part of the paragraph that details hibernation, and providing evidence of hibernation helps the reader contextualize.

Writing

Question: Find the error in the following sentence: The puppy is supposed to go back to the vet for his next round of shots in three-to-four months.

1. Three-to-four
2. Puppy
3. Vet
4. Next round

Answer: The answer is three-to-four. Three-to-four does not require hyphenation. The writing test will ask questions about grammar, sentence structure, and more.

Links to GACE Practice Tests

Luckily, the GACE site offers lots of resources for practice tests, as well as instructions for registering and choosing GACE test dates.

The links to the practice tests can be found on the official GACE page under the prepare option.

Now that you’ve explored your options for taking the GACE test, the next step is to check with the GaPCS to see what test you have to take in order to begin achieving a certification for your chosen subject or subjects. Remember, there are lots of options for the GACE so make sure that you understand your requirements before diving into your study plan.

What's Next?

Are you thinking about becoming a teacher? Check out our guides on early childhood education and our guide on becoming a teacher.

Or, if you're already a teacher, check out our favorite alphabet games and the best science experiments for kids.