GACE School Counseling

The School Counseling 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: individual development and learning; educational exploration and career planning; and counseling and guidance. The topics covered by the individual development and learning subarea are: personal and social development from childhood to adulthood; growth and change as related to the needs and well-being of students; the learning process and the academic environment; and issues related to fairness, equity, and diversity in educational, counseling, and guidance contexts. The topics covered by the educational exploration and career planning subarea are: career development theories and life factors related to career decision making; the process of education planning in relation to career goals; and the development of academic, personal, social, and career skills and their applications in career and education planning. The topics covered by the counseling and guidance subarea are: the principles of counseling, counseling processes, and helping relationships; the various individual counseling strategies; group dynamics and the principles of group counseling; and the principles for developing and implementing classroom guidance curricula.

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: consultation and collaboration; assessment instruments and strategies; and professional identity and practice. The topics covered by the consultation and collaboration subarea are: the theories and processes of consultation; strategies for collaborating with teachers, other school personnel, families, and community agencies; crisis interventions strategies for students, families, schools, and communities facing emergency situations; and the role of the school counselor as advocate. The topics covered by the assessment instruments and strategies subarea are: the characteristics of various types of assessment instruments and approaches; the measurement and statistical concepts applicable to individual and group assessment in school settings; and the interpretation and use of assessment for fostering individual growth and achievement. The topics covered by the professional identity and practice subarea are: strategies for running a comprehensive school guidance program; the roles and professional standards of school counselors; legal and ethical rights and responsibilities of students, parents, and school personnel; and the uses of current and emerging technology in education and the practice of school counselors.

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 School Counseling Practice Questions

1. A school counselor notices that one of her students is failing several classes but is excelling in one. What is the most likely explanation for this scenario?

A: The student is autistic.
B: The student is gifted.
C: The student only has one good teacher.
D: The student has a traumatic family life.

2. What is the best description of the role of the student support team (SST)?

A: It provides discounted school lunches.
B: It assesses student needs and provides relevant services.
C: It makes sure that students have transportation to and from school.
D: It provides financial assistance to students who love in foster care.

3. Which of the following is NOT characteristic of a student who has been physically or sexually abused?

A: guilt
B: distrust of adults
C: intense interest in family privacy
D: gregariousness

4. When dealing with an unruly child, school counselors will often recommend avoiding open-ended questions. For instance, a teacher might ask "Would you like a blue pen or a black pen" rather than asking "What would you like?" What is the name for this technique?

A: controlled choice
B: implied attribution
C: circumscribed boundaries
D: limited efficacy

5. A school has five fulltime counselors. What is the best way for these individuals to coordinate their activity?

A: email
B: weekly meetings
C: by electing a leader to set tasks for the others
D: meetings called whenever necessary

Answer Key

1. B. Gifted students often are bored in their classes and receive poor marks.
2. B. Student support teams are responsible for finding innovative solutions to a wide range of individual problems.
3. D. Abused children typically have a hard time making connections with their peers.
4. A. Controlled choice reinforces the adult's elevated status.
5. B. Most counseling authorities recommend scheduling weekly meetings to keep staff members abreast of one another's work.