GACE® Educational Leadership — Tier I (334)
Practice Test
You'll sit for a single computer-based appointment covering 90 selected-response questions (2 hours 15 minutes) and 3 constructed-response assignments (1 hour 30 minutes), separated by a scheduled 15-minute break you cannot return from. Total appointment time is 4 hours 15 minutes. The fee is $263.00 for the complete assessment — there's no option to take part of it separately. You need a scaled score of 250 or higher, plus a scorable response to each constructed-response assignment. No calculator or reference sheet is provided. Administered by Evaluation Systems of Pearson for GaPSC.
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Get Free Access →See Premium PlansGACE Educational Leadership — Tier I (334): Test at a Glance
Here’s a quick overview of the exam. It’s organized into four subareas — three tested through selected-response, one through constructed-response.
About the GACE Educational Leadership — Tier I (334)
Here’s what you need to know before you register.
The GACE Educational Leadership — Tier I exam is for individuals seeking admission to an educator preparation program, initial Tier I leadership certification in Georgia, or qualification as a school-level leader — such as an assistant principal or principal — in Georgia public schools. It is administered through Evaluation Systems of Pearson on behalf of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).
Unlike most GACE content exams, this assessment is not divided into separately purchasable testlets. You sit for one complete appointment covering both question formats. The exam runs 90 selected-response questions in 2 hours and 15 minutes, followed by a scheduled 15-minute break, followed by 3 constructed-response assignments in 1 hour and 30 minutes. Total appointment time is 4 hours and 15 minutes, including time for a tutorial and nondisclosure agreement. Once you take your break and move into the constructed-response section, you cannot return to the selected-response questions.
The exam is organized into four content subareas, weighted by importance: Visionary, Collaborative, and Ethical Leadership (20%), Student and Staff Learning (27%), and Systems and Resource Management (23%) are tested through the 90 selected-response questions. The fourth subarea — Planning Documents, Success for All Students, and Management Problem-Solving (30%) — is tested through the 3 constructed-response assignments, each requiring a written response of roughly 150 to 300 words.
The complete assessment costs $263.00, with an additional $50 fee at international testing sites. This assessment is only available during designated two-week testing windows, not on a year-round rolling basis like most GACE content exams. No reference materials are provided.
To pass, you need a scaled score of 250 or higher — notably higher than the 220 passing score used on most GACE content-area teaching assessments — and you must also submit a scorable response to each constructed-response assignment. An off-topic, blank, or otherwise unscorable response can prevent you from passing even if your overall scaled score would otherwise clear 250. To register, create a GaPSC MyPSC account at mypsc.gapsc.org, then create an Evaluation Systems GACE testing account at gace.es.pearson.com.
Four Subareas at a Glance
Three subareas are tested through selected-response questions; the fourth is tested through constructed-response assignments.
GACE Educational Leadership — Tier I (334) Exam Outline
Below you’ll find the content areas covered in each subarea, along with the confirmed structure, weighting, and timing for each section.
- Providing leadership in developing, advocating for, and enacting a shared mission, vision, and statement of core values
- Building and sustaining collaborative relationships with staff, families, and community stakeholders
- Modeling ethical leadership and adherence to professional norms
- Promoting equity and cultural responsiveness in leadership decisions
- Instructional leadership and curriculum oversight
- Supporting and evaluating effective teaching practices
- Designing and facilitating professional learning for staff
- Using assessment data to drive instructional decisions
- Supporting the needs of diverse learners, including students with disabilities and English learners
- Managing school operations and daily systems
- Allocating resources, including budget, staffing, and facilities
- Ensuring legal and policy compliance
- Promoting school safety and a positive school climate
- Overseeing technology systems that support school operations
- Analyze or develop a school planning document, such as a school improvement plan
- Address a scenario centered on ensuring success for all students, including equity considerations
- Work through a realistic school management problem-solving scenario
High-Priority Topics by Subarea
Use this section to focus your study time. These topics are drawn from the official GACE 334 content objectives.
Registration, Test Day & Scoring
Here’s what to expect when you register, show up on test day, and receive your scores.
Registration & Fees
Scoring
Test Day
Scheduling & Reference Materials
Who Needs the GACE Educational Leadership — Tier I (334)?
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Plan around the testing windows. Because this exam is only offered during designated two-week windows rather than year-round, treat your target testing window as a hard deadline for your preparation, not a flexible one. Check seat availability early, especially if your certification timeline has other fixed deadlines.
How to register: Start by creating a GaPSC MyPSC account at mypsc.gapsc.org to get your Georgia certification number. After your eligibility is confirmed, create an Evaluation Systems GACE testing account at gace.es.pearson.com/test/334 and register for the next available testing window. Always verify current certification requirements at gapsc.com.
How to Prepare for the GACE Educational Leadership — Tier I (334)
Here are some tips to help you get ready for each section.
- Build your preparation timeline around your target testing window, not the other way around. Since this exam only runs during designated two-week windows, identify your target window early and work backward to set your study schedule — you can’t simply register once you feel ready.
- Practice using your full 2 hours and 15 minutes on selected-response before you commit to your break. Because the break is a one-way transition, treat it as your final checkpoint on the selected-response section. Don’t rush through selected-response questions just to get to the break sooner.
- Prioritize Subarea 2 (Student and Staff Learning) in your review, since it carries the most weight of any subarea at 27%. Strong command of instructional leadership, data-driven decision-making, and supporting diverse learners will have an outsized effect on your scaled score.
- Practice writing timed, 150–300 word constructed responses well before test day. With only 90 minutes for three separate tasks, you need to be able to plan, write, and briefly review each response quickly — this is a distinct skill from untimed writing and needs dedicated practice.
- Never leave a constructed-response task blank or off-topic, even under time pressure. Because a scorable response is required for every constructed-response task regardless of your scaled score, a rushed but complete, on-topic response is always better than an unfinished one.
- Use the GaPSC Leader Keys Effectiveness System (LKES) and the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) as your two primary content references. Both frameworks underlie much of the leadership content tested across all four subareas, and familiarity with their language will help you recognize what each question and prompt is really asking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about the GACE Educational Leadership — Tier I exam? Here are answers to the most common ones.
Ready to Start Practicing?
Practice questions covering all four subareas — Visionary, Collaborative, and Ethical Leadership; Student and Staff Learning; Systems and Resource Management; and Planning Documents, Success for All Students, and Management Problem-Solving — aligned to the official GACE 334 blueprint, including full-length constructed-response practice with model responses.
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