Start Here · 3 min read
Exam Overview
GACE Health (729) is part of the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) program. It measures whether a candidate has the knowledge and skills needed to teach health education in Georgia public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12.
Who Runs the GACE Program
| Organization | Role |
|---|---|
| Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) | Sets certification requirements and passing standards for Georgia educators |
| Evaluation Systems group of Pearson | Develops, delivers and scores the GACE assessments for GaPSC |
The exam is computer-delivered by appointment at Pearson VUE test centers in Georgia and across the country. Check the GACE website for current testing options before you register.
Purpose of the Exam
The assessment checks that a new health teacher can:
- Explain human growth and development, disease prevention, nutrition and wellness
- Teach the skills students need to enhance health and avoid risk behaviors
- Recognize mental, emotional and social health needs and respond appropriately
- Plan, deliver and assess standards-based health instruction
- Work within the school's health programs, policies and legal requirements
Exam Format
| Testlet | Content area | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 507 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | 20 | 30 min |
| 508 | Skills for Enhancing Health and Reducing Risks | 30 | 45 min |
| 509 | Health and Physical Education Program | 20 | 30 min |
| All three | Full assessment | 70 | 1 h 45 min |
All questions are selected-response items with four answer choices. There are no constructed-response items. You may take all three testlets in one appointment or register for them separately.
| Option | Fee |
|---|---|
| All three testlets in one appointment | $101.40 |
| Each testlet taken separately | $34 |
Testlets 507, 508 and 509 are the same testlets that make up the health half of the GACE Health and Physical Education (737) assessment.
Content Areas
| Section | Testlet | Content Area | Share of questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 1 | 507 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | About 29% |
| Section 2 | 508 | Skills for Enhancing Health and Reducing Risks | About 43% |
| Section 3 | 509 | Health and Physical Education Program | About 29% |
Many questions present a teaching or student-health scenario and ask for the most appropriate action, so plan to apply knowledge rather than recall isolated facts.
Scoring
| Scoring element | Description |
|---|---|
| Score range | 100–300 scaled score |
| Passing standard | 220 overall, plus the minimum score set for each testlet |
| Compensation | A strong testlet cannot make up for a testlet below its minimum |
| Banking | Passed testlets are kept; retake only the testlets you did not pass |
| Retakes | Wait 30 days after your last attempt, then register again |
There is no penalty for wrong answers, so answer every question. Some questions may be unscored pilot items. Fees and policies can change, so confirm them on the GACE website before you register.
Key Points to Remember
- 70 selected-response questions with four choices in three testlets: 507, 508 and 509
- 1 hour 45 minutes of testing time in total (30 + 45 + 30 minutes)
- Passing requires a scaled score of 220 and the minimum on every testlet
- Passed testlets are banked; wait 30 days before retaking a testlet
- Delivered by Pearson (Evaluation Systems) for the Georgia Professional Standards Commission
Finished reading?
Next, start the first chapter.