GACE: Science

The Science 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 earth science and life science. The topics covered by the earth science subarea are: current scientific views of the universe; distribution of water; the role of water in earth processes; the atmosphere, climate, and weather; the earth, and the processes that have shaped its surface; and the earth's natural resources. The topics covered by the life science subarea are: the diversity of living organisms and their classification; the structure and function of living systems; the inheritance of biological traits; the interdependence of organisms; the flow of energy and matter in ecosystems; the theory of evolution; the role of natural selection.

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 physical science and the characteristics of science. The topics covered by the physical science subarea are: the nature of matter and its classification; changes in matter; energy; force, mass, and the motion of objects; waves, sound and light; and electricity and magnetism. The topics covered by the characteristics of science subarea are: the characteristics of scientific knowledge and the process of scientific inquiry; scientific tools, instruments, materials, and safety practices; scientific communication and data analysis skills; and the unifying concepts of science and technology.

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. Why are plant proteins called "incomplete proteins"?

A: they supply less energy than animal proteins
B: they contain cholesterol
C: they contain no amino acids
D: they lack some of the essential amino acids

2. Which of the following is an example of a third-class lever?

A: scissors
B: bottle opener
C: baseball bat
D: wheelbarrow

3. Which problem occurs when the human eyeball is too long?

A: glaucoma
B: nearsightedness
C: astigmatism
D: farsightedness

4. A heavy stone wheel is resting on the ground. A student attempts to roll it forward, but finds it impossible. Which form of friction is acting against the student?

A: sliding friction
B: fluid friction
C: rolling friction
D: static friction

5. A plastic bottle is filled with water and sealed. If the bottle is squeezed at its base, where will the increase in water pressure be the greatest?

A: the increase in pressure will be the same throughout the water
B: near the top of the bottle
C: near the bottom of the bottle
D: in the center of the bottle's gravity

Answer Key

1. D. Animal proteins contain the full battery of amino acids.
2. C. A third-class lever has an input force in the same direction as the output force, with both forces positioned on the same side of the fulcrum.
3. B. When the eyeball is too long, it is impossible for distant objects to become accurately focused on the retina.
4. D. Static friction is the force that makes it more difficult to set a stationary object in motion than to keep it in motion.
5. A. The fact that force applied to a confined fluid results in a uniform increase in pressure is known as Pascal's principle.