FTCE Professional Education Exam

Last week I took the third of three exams required for my certification.  In my opinion this was the hardest exam of the three. This test consists of 120 multiple choice questions to be answered in 2.5 hours.  It took me a little over two hours to complete including reviewing questions I wanted to spend more time on.  All of the questions are scenario based, which is one of the reasons why it was so difficult.  To wrap my mind around a new teaching scenario for every question was mentally exhausting.  I used the Cliff Notes Pro Ed exam book for about three weeks and took all three practice exams included with the book.  I failed my first attempt since I used it as a diagnostic test to narrow down what I really needed to study.  I passed the other practice exams, but not as well as I wanted to.  You are required to answer approximately 88 questions correctly in order to pass.

Here are my recommendations for passing the test:
1. If you are already familiar with your state's laws and statutes related to teaching and professional conduct, then you are already at an advantage.  If not, look them up now!

2. Pay attention to the questions that ask you to choose the "best" or "first" thing to do in a situation.  The answers will most likely point to "realizing student potential" and/or the most logical choice given among the four answers if you exercise a bit of common sense.

3.  Review the Bill of Rights (especially Amendments 1 and 5) and also Amendment 14.

4.  Memorize the court cases related to  ending segregation, any type of discrimination, disabilities, and ESOL students.

5.  The topics of ESOL, ESE, and gifted were emphasized in my exam.

Apparently, I studied enough in those three weeks to pass the exam the first time!  I hope my post will help you in your preparation.  Good Luck!