If you need help studying for the GACE History test or just want some more information about what the test is like, you’ve come to the right place!
Click below to take a free GACE History practice test!
What’s on the Test?
The GACE History test contains 160 multiple-choice questions and is timed at 4 hours and 20 minutes.
The exam is split into two subtests, which are taken in separate testing sessions (but can be taken on the same day if you’d like).
SUBTEST I (034)
80 questions | 2 hours and 10 minutes
World History to 1450 CE (40%)
- World geography
- The impact of global climatic and environmental factors on human historyThe significance of the early river valley civilizations
- The significance of the early American civilizations
- The rise and significance of the classical civilizations
- The spread of major religions
- The collapses of empires
- The formation of new empires and political systems
- The spread of Islam and its impact
- Developments in medieval Europe from 600 to 1450 CE
- Interregional networks
World History from 1450 CE to the Present (60%)
- Causes and major events of European exploration and colonization
- Major new political entities around the world from 1450 to 1750 CE
- The Atlantic, trans-Saharan, and East African slave trades
- The Renaissance and Reformation
- Absolutism, the Enlightenment, and the Scientific Revolution
- The Industrial Revolution
- Causes, major events, and indigenous reactions to Western nationalism, imperialism, and colonization
- WWI and WWII
- The rise of communism and the Cold War
- Decolonization and nationalist movements in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia from 1890 to 1990
- The rising prominence of women in politics in the 20th century
- Economic and technological changes over the last 50 years
- Major genocides of the 20th century
SUBTEST II (035)
100 questions | 2 hours
US History to 1877 (40%)
- North American geography, people, and cultures prior to European colonization
- The reasons European colonies were founded in North America
- Economic, cultural, and social effects of slavery in the British colonies
- Major causes and events of the American Revolution
- Major political developments in the US from the 1790s until the Civil War
- The effects of territorial expansion in the US
- The emergence, development, and effects of the market economy
- Major causes and events of the Civil War
- Legal, social, and political aspects of Reconstruction
US History from 1877 to Present (40%)
- The effects of industrialization, urbanization, and immigration on the development of the US
- Regional developments in the late 19th century and early 20th century
- US participation in WWI
- Causes and effects of the Great Depression
- Goals and programs of the New Deal
- US participation in WWII
- International and domestic effects of the Cold War
- The civil rights movements of various groups
- Global technological changes in the late 20th century and early 21st century
History of Georgia (20%)
- Native American cultures in Georgia prior to European colonization
- Reasons the colony of Georgia was founded
- The role of Georgia in the American Revolution
- Georgia’s Constitution
- Factors that affected Georgia’s development as part of the growth of the US
- The impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction on Georgia
- The impact of events in the US and the world from 1918 to 1941 on Georgia’s development
- The role of Georgia in the modern civil rights movements
- Significant economic, political, social, and demographic changes in Georgia since 1970
How to Register
To get started with the registration process, you’ll need to create a MyPSC account on the GaPSC website. You should receive a Georgia Certification ID (GA CERT ID) during this process, which you’ll use for identification throughout the registration and testing process.
The next step is to create an ETS GACE testing account on the ETS website. This account will allow you to register for the exam and pay the testing fee(s). If you take each subtest separately, the fee is $123 for each subtest. If you take both subtests together, the fee is $193.
GACE History Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
How the Exam is Scored
The GACE History test is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
For every question you answer correctly, you get one point added to your raw score. At the end of the test, your final raw score will be converted to a scaled score. You’ll need a scaled score of at least 220 to pass the exam.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone that takes the test is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Passing Scores
There are two passing levels for this exam: induction and professional. Each level has its own minimum passing score requirements:
- Induction Level: 220-249
- Professional Level: 250
Here’s something to keep in mind: You have to pass at the professional level on BOTH subtests in order for your final exam scores to count at the professional level. If you only pass at the induction level on one of the subtests, your final exam score will only count at the induction level.
Retaking the Exam
If you don’t get the score you want on your first try, that’s okay! You can take the exam again after a mandatory 30-day waiting period.
FAQs
How many questions are on the GACE History test?
The test contains 160 questions.
What is the time limit for the GACE History test?
The test is timed at 4 hours and 20 minutes.
What is the passing score for the GACE History test?
You’ll need a final score of at least 220 to pass the test.
How much does the GACE History test cost?
The full test fee is $193.