- The exam has 80 multiple-choice questions in 2.5 hours, with History alone worth 33% of the score.
- History, Geography, and Civics and Government together account for 83% of all questions.
- Registration costs $150 per attempt; retakes require a 31-day wait with no attempt limit.
- A passing scaled score is 200, and Florida's maximum-percentage table caps around 61% correct.
What the FTCE MGSS 5-9 (038) Certification Actually Is
The FTCE MGSS 5-9 (038) certification is one of the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations, governed by the Florida Department of Education and developed and administered by Pearson Evaluation Systems (also referred to as NES). It is classified as a Subject Area Examination, meaning it verifies that a candidate has the content knowledge needed to teach social science to middle grades students, rather than testing general teaching skills. The test is delivered as a computer-based exam at testing centers throughout Florida and at additional locations nationwide, which makes it accessible whether you're finishing an education program in-state or completing certification requirements remotely.
Unlike some certification exams that blend content and pedagogy in roughly equal measure, this one is deliberately content-heavy. If you want the full breakdown of what each section actually tests, the FTCE MGSS 5-9 (038) Exam Domains 2026 guide walks through all five content areas in depth.
Who Needs This Certification
This exam exists for candidates pursuing Florida certification to teach social science in grades 5 through 9. There is no prerequisite examination or coursework required simply to register for the test, but actual certification requires holding a bachelor's degree along with appropriate subject-area preparation. That means you can sit for the exam as part of an education degree program, as a career-changer adding a certification area, or as an out-of-state teacher aligning credentials with Florida requirements.
Because the certification is tied directly to Florida's public middle school system, the people who "need" it are almost always either current or aspiring middle grades teachers. If you're still deciding whether the credential fits your career path, the ROI analysis on whether this certification is worth it lays out the practical trade-offs, and the requirements guide covers eligibility details step by step.
Exam Format and Registration Mechanics
The FTCE MGSS 5-9 (038) consists of approximately 80 multiple-choice questions administered over 2 hours and 30 minutes. Some forms may include unscored field-test questions mixed in with scored items - you won't know which questions are which, so every question deserves your full attention and time budget as if it counts.
Registration costs $150 for your first attempt, and each subsequent retake also costs $150. There's no bundled discount for multiple attempts, so treating your first sitting as your real shot - rather than a "practice run" - matters financially as well as academically. A full cost breakdown, including verification fees, is available in the certification cost guide.
No reference materials, calculators, or notes are provided during the test. Everything from Supreme Court case names to map-reading conventions has to live in your memory on test day. This is one of the reasons candidates often underestimate the exam going in - for a realistic gut-check, see the difficulty guide.
Key Takeaway
Since no reference materials are allowed, build memorization drills for names, dates, amendments, and geographic terms early in your prep rather than relying on "I'll look it up" habits from open-note coursework.
The Five Knowledge Domains
The exam blueprint breaks into five domains, and the weighting tells you exactly where to invest your study hours.
Domain 1: Knowledge of History (33%)
The single largest domain, covering world civilizations across Africa, the Americas, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe, and Oceania. Candidates must also analyze primary sources and understand a distinct Florida strand covering immigration and settlement patterns along with the individuals, events, and characteristics of Florida's historical periods.
- Expect questions spanning multiple continents and eras, not just U.S. history
- Primary source interpretation questions test analysis, not just recall
- Florida-specific history is tested separately from broader U.S. history
Domain 2: Knowledge of Geography (25%)
Covers the themes and elements of geography, interpreting maps and spatial tools, mental maps, how regions are defined, human adaptation and environmental impact, migration, and economic development as it intersects with geography.
- Map-reading and spatial-tool questions require applied skills, not memorized facts
- Human-environment interaction themes recur across multiple question types
Domain 3: Knowledge of Civics and Government (25%)
Covers the structure and purposes of government, the U.S. Constitution and other founding documents, comparative political systems, elections, federal/state/local government structures, the legal system, major Supreme Court cases, foreign policy, international bodies, and citizen rights and responsibilities.
- Landmark Supreme Court cases are a recurring, high-value study target
- Comparative government questions test knowledge beyond just the U.S. system
Domain 4: Knowledge of Economics (10%)
A smaller but still meaningful domain. Economic concepts also intersect with geography (economic development) and history, so this content overlaps with your study time in other domains rather than existing entirely on its own.
Domain 5: Knowledge of Social Science Curriculum and Instruction (7%)
The smallest domain, focused on how to teach social science content effectively - instructional strategies, assessment, and curriculum design rather than the content itself.
Combined, History, Geography, and Civics and Government make up 83% of the entire test. That means a candidate who masters those three domains thoroughly has effectively covered the exam, with Economics and Curriculum and Instruction rounding out the remainder. For a section-by-section strategy on tackling each domain, see the exam domains guide.
| Domain | Weight | Study Priority |
|---|---|---|
| History | 33% | Highest |
| Geography | 25% | High |
| Civics and Government | 25% | High |
| Economics | 10% | Moderate |
| Social Science Curriculum and Instruction | 7% | Lower |
How Passing Works
Passing requires a scaled score of at least 200. Because test forms are equated for difficulty, the number of raw questions you need correct isn't fixed - it varies slightly by form. Florida's published maximum-percentage table puts the ceiling around 61% correct, which is notably one of the more forgiving passing thresholds within the FTCE program. That doesn't mean the content is easy; it means the passing bar accounts for the breadth of material covered across five domains and multiple world regions and eras.
For a deeper look at exactly how scaled scoring translates to what you need on test day, read the passing score breakdown.
Retake Rules and Score Reporting
If you don't pass on your first attempt, you must wait 31 calendar days before retaking the exam, and there's no cap on the total number of attempts you're allowed. Once you do pass, however, you cannot retake that same test for three years - so if you're aiming to improve an already-passing score, plan accordingly.
Score reports are typically released within four weeks of testing. If you need to verify a score for licensure or employment purposes, verification costs $75. Every retake carries the same $150 registration fee as the first attempt, so multiple failed attempts add up quickly - another reason a structured first attempt pays off. See the cost breakdown for the full fee picture and the exam dates guide for scheduling logistics around retake windows.
Building a Domain-Weighted Prep Plan
Because History, Geography, and Civics and Government together make up 83% of the exam, your prep schedule should mirror that weighting rather than splitting time evenly across all five domains. A simple approach: dedicate the largest block of study weeks to History given its 33% share, follow with roughly equal blocks for Geography and Civics and Government, then finish with shorter, focused reviews of Economics and the Curriculum and Instruction domain.
History Foundations
- Review world civilizations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania
- Practice primary source analysis questions
- Study Florida's historical periods and immigration/settlement patterns
Geography and Civics
- Drill map and spatial-tool interpretation
- Memorize major Supreme Court cases and founding documents
- Compare government structures at federal, state, and local levels
Economics and Instruction
- Cover core economic development concepts
- Review instructional strategy basics for the Curriculum and Instruction domain
Full-Length Practice
- Take timed practice sets under 80-question, 2.5-hour conditions
- Identify weak domains and review targeted content one more time
For candidates who want a condensed reference during this final review stretch, the one-page cheat sheet consolidates must-know facts across all five domains. And if you'd rather follow a more detailed week-by-week plan built specifically around this exam's structure, the full study guide expands on this framework considerably.
Whatever schedule you build, timed practice under realistic conditions matters as much as content review. Working through full-length practice questions on the main practice test site lets you get used to the 2-hour-30-minute pace and multiple-choice question style before test day, rather than encountering that pressure for the first time when it counts.
After You Pass
Passing the FTCE MGSS 5-9 (038) is a required step toward Florida certification to teach middle grades social science, and it typically opens doors with school districts across the state looking to staff social studies classrooms for grades 5 through 9. Because the certification is content-focused rather than pedagogy-heavy, it signals to hiring administrators that you have deep command of history, geography, civics, and economics - the substance of what you'll actually be teaching.
If you're weighing how this credential fits into your broader career and compensation picture, the salary guide and the ROI analysis both dig into that question in more detail. And once you're certified, revisiting practice questions on the practice test platform can still be useful - many certified teachers use it later to refresh content knowledge for classroom instruction.
Key Takeaway
Remember that a passed test cannot be retaken for three years, so if you pass with room to spare, there's no need to "improve" the score - focus your energy on the classroom instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exam includes approximately 80 multiple-choice questions, administered in a 2 hour and 30 minute testing session. Some forms may contain unscored field-test questions mixed in, which do not affect your final score.
Registration costs $150 for your first attempt and $150 for every retake. There is no discount for multiple attempts, and score verification is an additional $75 if needed.
You need a scaled score of at least 200. Because forms are equated for difficulty, the exact raw percentage needed varies, but Florida's published maximum-percentage table puts the ceiling around 61% correct.
History, which accounts for 33% of the exam - the largest single domain. Combined with Geography (25%) and Civics and Government (25%), these three domains make up 83% of all questions.
Yes. There is no limit on the number of attempts, but you must wait 31 calendar days between attempts. Once you pass, you cannot retake that same test for three years.