- The exam has two independently scored sections: ~60 multiple-choice items in 90 minutes and one written response in 60 minutes.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 200+ on multiple-choice and 5 of 8 points on the written performance section.
- Language Arts Content and Pedagogical Content for Teaching Language Arts each carry 24% weight - nearly half the exam.
- Since February 28, 2023, candidates can split sections across two appointments and retake only the section they failed.
What FTCE MGE 5-9 (014) Certification Actually Certifies
FTCE Middle Grades English 5-9 (014) is a Florida Department of Education subject area examination, developed and administered by Pearson Evaluation Systems (NES), that verifies a candidate's readiness to teach English Language Arts to students in grades five through nine. It is not a general teaching credential - it is a content-and-pedagogy checkpoint that Florida school districts use alongside other requirements to confirm subject-matter competence for middle-grades English placements. If you're still asking basic questions about scope and purpose, our companion pieces on what FTCE MGE 5-9 (014) is and what the credential means for your certification file go deeper into that groundwork.
Because the test is delivered as a computer-based exam both in Florida and at nationwide testing centers, out-of-state candidates pursuing Florida certification can sit for it without traveling to Florida. That matters for career-changers and relocating teachers who need to complete requirements before a hiring window opens.
Exam Format: Two Independent Sections
The exam is structured as two separate, independently administered and scored sections rather than one continuous test:
- Multiple-choice section: approximately 60 questions, 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- Written performance section: one extended response, 1 hour.
These sections are reported separately, and time cannot be transferred between them - if you finish the multiple-choice portion early, that leftover time does not carry into your written response, and once you submit a completed section you cannot go back to revise it. No reference materials, glossaries, or style guides are provided during testing, so terminology and grammar rules need to be internalized rather than looked up. For a full breakdown of exact score thresholds, see our FTCE MGE 5-9 (014) passing score guide.
Key Takeaway
Treat the two sections as two separate exams during prep - build distinct study blocks for content recall (multiple-choice) and for applied evaluative writing (the written performance task), since they test different skills entirely.
The Six Competency Domains
The multiple-choice section draws from six competency domains, revised by the State Board of Education in March 2022. Weighting is uneven, and two domains dominate the test. A full walkthrough of each domain's subskills lives in our FTCE MGE 5-9 (014) exam domains guide, but here's the shape of what you're facing:
Domain 1: Characteristics of Students (12%)
Covers developmental, linguistic, and cultural factors that shape how middle-grades students engage with reading and writing tasks.
- Adolescent literacy development markers
- Differentiation for diverse learners, including ELL considerations
Domain 2: Evidence-Based Research and Best Practices (14%)
Tests familiarity with research-backed instructional strategies for language arts classrooms.
- Applying research findings to lesson design
- Recognizing effective vs. ineffective instructional approaches
Domain 3: Language Arts Content (24%)
The single heaviest domain, covering grammar, literary analysis, vocabulary, rhetoric, and composition mechanics that a middle-grades teacher must model accurately.
- Grammar and usage conventions
- Literary devices, genres, and text structures
- Vocabulary acquisition and word analysis
Domain 4: Pedagogical Content for Teaching Language Arts (24%)
Tied with Domain 3 as the heaviest area - this is about translating content knowledge into classroom instruction.
- Instructional sequencing for reading and writing skills
- Strategies for teaching argumentative and informative writing
Domain 5: Assessment and Data Use (14%)
Covers formative and summative assessment types and how to use resulting data to adjust instruction.
- Interpreting assessment data for instructional decisions
- Selecting appropriate assessment formats for skills being measured
Domain 6: Collaborative Processes of Reading and Writing (12%)
Focuses on the interconnected nature of reading and writing instruction, including peer collaboration and process-based writing instruction.
- Writing process stages and peer feedback structures
- Reading-writing connections in text-based instruction
Inside the Written Performance Section
The written performance section was redesigned effective January 2024, and it now asks candidates to evaluate a middle-grades student's argumentative essay against a B.E.S.T.-aligned learning objective and rubric, then provide meaningful feedback and a course of action for that student. This is not a personal essay-writing task - it is an evaluative, teacher-facing writing task that mirrors real classroom grading and feedback work.
Responses are scored holistically by two raters on three criteria: completion, application of content, and support. Florida's guidance targets a response of 300 to 500 words, with a hard cap of 1,500 words. Passing requires at least 5 of 8 points, which is equivalent to the 8 of 12 points required under the previous rubric before the redesign.
- Practice identifying specific strengths and gaps in a sample student essay against a stated rubric.
- Write feedback that names a concrete next instructional step, not just general praise or criticism.
- Keep responses within the target word range - overwriting past 500 words rarely adds scoring value and risks running out of time.
Key Takeaway
Because this section rewards application of content and support over sheer volume, practice writing concise, rubric-anchored feedback rather than long free-form essays.
Registration, Fees, and Retakes
Understanding the mechanics of registering and retaking the exam prevents avoidable delays and costs. Full pricing detail is in our FTCE MGE 5-9 (014) certification cost breakdown, but the essentials are:
- Fee: $150 to take both sections together, or $75 per section if taken separately; retakes are charged at the same per-section rate.
- Scheduling flexibility: Since February 28, 2023, candidates may split the two sections across separate appointments or take them together in one sitting.
- Failed sections only: If you pass one section and fail the other, you only need to retake the section you failed.
- Retake wait: A 31-calendar-day wait is required between attempts, with no cap on total attempts.
- Locked-in passes: A section you've already passed cannot be retaken for three years.
- Score verification: Available for $75 if you want your results rechecked.
- Reporting window: Scores are released within four weeks of testing.
For candidates mapping out testing windows around district hiring deadlines, our exam dates and scheduling guide lays out how to time appointments so results arrive before application deadlines.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full exam fee (both sections) | $150 |
| Single section fee | $75 |
| Multiple-choice passing score | Scaled score of 200+ |
| Written performance passing score | 5 of 8 points |
| Retake wait period | 31 calendar days |
| Passed section retake lockout | 3 years |
Who Needs This Certification
Florida school districts hiring for middle-grades English Language Arts positions - typically grades 5 through 9 - use this certification as a subject-area verification step for teacher candidates. It's relevant for career-changers entering education through alternative certification pathways, education majors completing state licensure requirements, and out-of-state teachers seeking Florida reciprocity in a middle-grades ELA role. If you're evaluating whether pursuing this path fits your career goals, our guides on eligibility and prerequisites and whether the certification is worth it walk through the practical tradeoffs, while job outlook information covers where this credential opens doors.
Florida's 2020 Annual Administration and Technical Report placed pass rates at 46% for the multiple-choice section and 53% for the written performance section - figures that place this exam among the more demanding middle-grades subject tests in the state's certification system. That context alone is a strong argument for structured, domain-by-domain preparation rather than last-minute review. Our pass rate analysis breaks down what those numbers mean for how you should prepare, and our difficulty guide compares this exam's demands against other Florida subject tests.
Building a Domain-Weighted Prep Schedule
Given that Domains 3 and 4 make up nearly half the multiple-choice section, an efficient study plan allocates time proportionally rather than treating all six domains equally. A simple way to structure this is to schedule the heaviest domains earliest, when your energy and review time are most available, and save lighter domains and full practice tests for the final stretch.
Language Arts Content (Domain 3) and Pedagogical Content (Domain 4)
- Drill grammar, usage, and literary analysis terminology
- Review instructional strategies for teaching writing and reading skills
Assessment and Research Domains (5 and 2)
- Practice interpreting sample assessment data
- Match research-based strategies to classroom scenarios
Student Characteristics and Collaborative Processes (Domains 1 and 6)
- Review developmental literacy stages
- Practice writing-process and peer-collaboration scenarios
Written Performance Practice and Full Review
- Draft rubric-based feedback responses within the 300-500 word target
- Take a full timed practice run of both sections
For a condensed reference you can revisit the week before testing, our one-page cheat sheet consolidates the must-know facts across all six domains. And if you want a step-by-step version of this entire plan with more detail on pacing and resource selection, the full study guide expands on each week's tasks.
Whichever schedule you follow, practicing under realistic timed conditions matters as much as content review - try full-length timed sets on our practice test platform to build the pacing instincts you'll need when the 90-minute and 60-minute clocks are actually running.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Since February 28, 2023, candidates can schedule the multiple-choice and written performance sections separately, paying $75 per section, or take both together for $150.
You only need to retake the section you failed. A section you've already passed is locked in and cannot be retaken for three years, and the failed section can be retaken after a 31-calendar-day wait.
No. No reference materials are provided for either the multiple-choice or written performance section, so grammar rules, literary terminology, and rubric criteria need to be memorized in advance.
Two raters score the response holistically on completion, application of content, and support. A passing score is at least 5 of 8 points, and the target length is 300 to 500 words with a 1,500-word cap.
Language Arts Content and Pedagogical Content for Teaching Language Arts each account for 24% of the multiple-choice section, together nearly half the test, making them the highest-priority areas for review.