GACE: Health Education

The Health 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 personal health, wellness, disease, and drug abuse prevention. The topics covered by the personal health and wellness subarea are: human growth and development; the structures and functions of the major body systems; the basic principles and techniques for personal care and hygiene promotion; nutrients and nutritional management; the effects of food choices and eating patterns on personal health and weight management; and the components of health-related fitness. The topics covered by the disease and drug abuse prevention subarea are: the nature of disease, the types of diseases, and the role of disease prevention in health; the types, characteristics, and the effects of sexually transmitted diseases, as well as the methods of STD prevention; and the roles of resistance, refusal, goal setting, and decision-making in preventing risks to personal health.

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 social relationships, family living, community health, and safety. The topics covered by the social relationships and family living subarea are: the importance of good mental health and psychological well-being for healthy relationships; interpersonal and social relationships; family roles, relationships, and responsibilities; family planning and parenting; and family health resources and family consumerism. The topics covered by the community health and safety subarea are: accident prevention; environmental health issues and safety practices; first aid and emergency procedures and planning; violence prevention and conflict resolution in the promotion of community health and safety; and community and public health issues and resources.

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.

Practice Questions

1. Which of the following is NOT a function of the lymphatic system?

A: It secretes the hormones that regulate metabolism.
B: It filters out organisms that cause disease.
C: It produces white blood cells.
D: It drains fluids from swelling body tissues.

2. What is another name for exercise in which the muscle does not contract?

A: isotonic exercise
B: isometric exercise
C: dynamic resistance
D: isokinetic exercise

3. What is the name of the process through which cancer cells spread to the rest of the body by means of the lymphatic system or blood stream?

A: excision
B: mutation
C: metastasis
D: leukemia

4. What is the name of the blood fat that flows through the blood after meals, and is especially present when the diet is high in calories, sugar, alcohol, and starches?

A: triglycerides
B: lipoproteins
C: cholesterol
D: triptophan

5. Which is the most common form of HIV test?

A: Western blot test
B: HIV-III
C: Rorschach
D: ELISA

Answer Key

1. A. The endocrine system is responsible for secreting these hormones.
2. B. In this kind of exercise, the muscle exerts itself against a stationary object.
3. C. Cancers that metastasize place the individual's life in serious jeopardy.
4. A. High levels of triglycerides are directly linked to heart disease.
5. D. The results of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay are often confirmed with a Western blot test.