GACE Agricultural Education

The Agricultural Education assessment, offered as part of the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators, is divided into two tests.

The first test consists of 60 selected-response questions (80% of the test score) and 2 constructed-response assignments (20% of the test score). The content areas covered by the first test are agriculture and agricultural education; agricultural business management, economics, and marketing; and agricultural mechanics and technology. The topics covered by the agriculture and agricultural education subarea are: foundations of agricultural science; career development in agricultural education; the role of the Future Farmers of America in agricultural education; and safety in agricultural education. The topics covered by the agricultural business management, economics, and marketing subarea are: agricultural business management; and agricultural economics, marketing, and sales. The topics covered by the agricultural mechanics and technology subarea are: basic agricultural power systems and equipment; agricultural wood and metal fabrication; and agricultural construction.

The second test consists of 60 selected-response questions (80% of the test score) and 2 constructed-response questions (20% of the test score). The content areas covered by the second test are animal science; plant science; and environmental science, natural resource management, and forestry. The topics covered by the animal science subarea are: classification, anatomy, physiology, and genetics of animals; animal production and management; and animal facilities, consumer issues, and environmental issues in animal production and management. The topics covered by the plant science subarea are: soil science; plant classification, anatomy, and physiology; plant reproduction and genetics; crop production and management; nursery production and landscape design; and floriculture and floral design. The topics covered by the environmental science, natural resource management, and forestry subarea are: ecological principles and natural resource management; and the basic principles of forestry.

The examination must be completed within four hours. The total test score is placed on a scale of 100 to 300, with 220 as the lowest passing score. Scores are based on the number of selected-response questions answered correctly and the scores assigned by judges to the constructed responses. Test-takers will also receive performance indices indicating their success in each subarea of the examination. Scores will be available approximately a month after the date of the examination; unofficial results are posted on the internet, and an official score report is mailed to the test-taker, the Professional Standards Commission, and the institution specified by the test-taker during registration.

GACE Agricultural Education Practice Questions

1. Which order of soil is formed from volcanic ash?

A: gelisol
B: spodosol
C: oxisol
D: andisol

2. Which federal law provided land grants for the development of agricultural education?

A: George-Barden Act
B: Smith-Hughes Act
C: Morrill Act
D: Vocational Education Act

3. What is the effect of a high-fiber diet on a dairy goat?

A: more milk is produced
B: milk becomes creamy
C: less milk is produced
D: milk goes sour

4. What is the term for the number of small particles of fat in a piece of lean meat?

A: maturity
B: texture
C: marbling
D: leanness

5. What is the name of the process by which nitrogen evaporates from a plant and enters the atmosphere?

A: volatilization
B: atmospheric fixation
C: plant uptake
D: biological fixation

Answer Key

1. D. Andisol soils contain a great deal of glass.
2. C. The Morrill Act was passed in 1862.
3. B. Fiber tends to increase the amount of butterfat in goat's milk.
4. C. A high degree of marbling indicates a piece of meat will be juicy.
5. A. Heat causes volatilization.