What is the FTCE General Knowledge: ELS (826) Passing Score?
The FTCE GKT ELS (826) Exam consists of 40 multiple choice questions, and you must achieve a 70% scaled score to pass. Right now you’re thinking “40 questions, 70% to pass, OK I need to get 28 questions right”. To which we reply: if only it were that simple.
How is the Exam Scored?
Florida uses a centralized bank of questions for each exam, out of which each student will receive different sets of questions. Since the questions are all different, a direct head-to-head comparison (known as a raw score) is impossible, so the questions are weighted by difficulty. To sum up a complicated issue, this means that getting 24 really hard questions correct could be enough to reach the 70% scoring threshold, even though the raw score would be below 70%; inversely, answering 30 questions correctly which are all rated as “easy” could mean that the exam is scored below 70%. Make sense? Of course not, but it’s the system! On the whole, when preparing for the exam, aiming for that 70%/28 questions correct target is a safe benchmark to work with, even though your final score report may ultimately vary a bit.
When Will I Get My FTCE Score?
In Florida, official score reports for multiple choice exams (like the ELS) are received on the spot at the conclusion of the exam. A more comprehensive score report will be posted to your account within 4 weeks of the test date.
How Do I Understand My Score Report?
This one’s easy: if you pass, you will see the “PASS” status on your score report. If you do not pass, you will see the “NOT PASS” status on your score report with a numeric score.
For those who pass the exam, this is probably the end of what you need to know. For those who fail the exam, you will want to study your comprehensive score report closely in order to dissect what you did wrong so that you can correct it for next time.
For more information on understanding your score report, see here.
What if I Need to Retake the Exam?
If you happen to fail the exam, don’t fret, it happens all the time: the first-attempt pass rate for the General Knowledge Test in Florida is only 62%. To retake the exam, you will just need to wait 31 days and pay the exam fee again. No problem!
Please PAY ATTENTION to that ‘31 days’ part: the registration system does not block you from re-registering within 31 days. Instead, it allows you to register and take the exam again, but when your score is processed and the administrators figure out that you didn’t wait the full time, they’ll then invalidate the new score and keep your fee payment (no refunds). So be wary and make sure to wait it out.
Also: if you happen to fail the exam within 10 scale points of passing, there is an option called a Score Verification session, wherein for $75 you can review your test and submit scoring challenges for review. This could result in a score being changed from a Fail to a Pass, so it’s an option worth knowing about should you find yourself in this position!
Final Thoughts
The General Knowledge Test ELS (826) Exam can be tough, but it shouldn’t feel daunting. With the right preparation you can go into the test feeling confident, and confidence pays dividends. Please feel free to peruse our resources and put them to full use- we want you to succeed! Good luck and please reach out to us if you have any questions or if we can help in any way.
More FTCE General Knowledge Test English Language Skills (826) Resources
