GACE® Health (P–12) (729)
Practice Test
You'll prepare for three testlets — 507 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (20 questions, 30 min, $34.00), 508 Skills for Enhancing Health and Reducing Risks (30 questions, 45 min, $34.00), and 509 Health and Physical Education Program (20 questions, 30 min, $34.00). Combined: 70 questions, 1 hour 45 minutes, $101.40. You need a cumulative score of 220 or higher, and you must also meet the floor score for each individual testlet. No calculator or reference sheet is provided. Administered by Evaluation Systems of Pearson for GaPSC.
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Get Free Access →See Premium PlansThis is one of the shortest and least expensive GACE content exams. At 70 total questions and $101.40 combined, it’s notably shorter and cheaper than most other GACE secondary and P–12 content assessments, which typically run 100+ questions and $169.00. Testlet 508 is your largest at 30 questions and 45 minutes; Testlets 507 and 509 are equal and shorter at 20 questions and 30 minutes each. No reference materials are provided for any testlet.
All three testlets also appear on GACE Health and Physical Education (737). The 737 combines these same three health testlets (507, 508, 509) with two additional physical education testlets (326, 327) for a combined fee of $169.00. If you’re seeking Health-only certification rather than combined Health and Physical Education certification, the 729 covers just the health-specific content.
GACE Health (P–12) (729): Test at a Glance
Here’s a quick overview of the exam. Testlet 508 is the largest at 30 questions. Testlets 507 and 509 each have 20 questions.
About the GACE Health (P–12) (729)
Here’s what you need to know before you register.
The GACE Health (P–12) exam is for individuals seeking admission to an educator preparation program, initial certification in Georgia, or qualification to teach health education from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in Georgia public schools. It is administered through Evaluation Systems of Pearson on behalf of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).
The exam is made up of three testlets, which you can take together in one session or separately. Testlet 508 (Skills for Enhancing Health and Reducing Risks) is your largest, with 30 questions and a 45-minute time limit. Testlets 507 (Health Promotion and Disease Prevention) and 509 (Health and Physical Education Program) are equal and shorter, each with 20 questions and a 30-minute time limit. Combined, all three testlets total 70 questions in 1 hour and 45 minutes — and cost $101.40 together, notably less than most other GACE content exams, which typically run $169.00.
All three testlets cost the same individually — $34.00 each. Plan for extra time beyond the testing minutes themselves: add 15 minutes per testing session for a tutorial and to complete a nondisclosure agreement.
These same three testlets also appear on GACE Health and Physical Education (737), which combines them with two additional physical education testlets. If you’re seeking Health-only certification, the 729 is the exam you want; if you’re seeking combined Health and Physical Education certification, you’ll need the 737 instead. The exam is delivered entirely by computer in a selected-response (multiple-choice) format. No reference materials are provided for any of the three testlets.
To pass, you need a cumulative score of 220 or higher, and you must also meet the floor — the minimum required score — for each individual testlet. To register, create a GaPSC MyPSC account at mypsc.gapsc.org, then create an Evaluation Systems GACE testing account at gace.es.pearson.com.
Three Testlets at a Glance
Testlet 508 is the largest at 30 questions. Testlets 507 and 509 each have 20 questions. All three cost $34.00 individually.
GACE Health (P–12) (729) Exam Outline
Below you’ll find the content areas covered in each testlet, along with the confirmed question count and time limit for each.
- Health education philosophy and foundational models
- Chronic disease prevention, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes
- Communicable disease prevention and basic epidemiology
- Health behavior theories, including the Health Belief Model and Stages of Change
- Environmental health factors and health disparities
- Health literacy and accessing valid health information
- Decision-making and goal-setting skills related to health
- Interpersonal communication and refusal skills
- Self-management and self-monitoring skills
- Advocacy for personal, family, and community health
- Analyzing internal and external influences on health behavior
- Risk reduction strategies across substance abuse, violence, sexual health, and mental health
- Designing a health education curriculum
- National Health Education Standards
- Coordinated and whole-school approaches to health education
- Assessment practices in health education
- Professional responsibilities and advocacy for school health programs
High-Priority Topics by Testlet
Use this section to focus your study time. These topics are drawn from the official GACE 729 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
Reference Materials
Who Needs the GACE Health (P–12) (729)?
Find out if this is the right exam for your teaching goals.
729 vs. 737 (Health and Physical Education): If you’re seeking certification in Health only, the 729 is the right exam. If you’re seeking combined Health and Physical Education certification, you’ll need GACE Health and Physical Education (737) instead, which adds two physical education testlets to these same three health testlets. Verify the correct certification for your teaching assignment with your educator preparation program and at gapsc.com.
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/729 and register for your testlets. Always verify current certification requirements at gapsc.com.
How to Prepare for the GACE Health (P–12) (729)
Here are some tips to help you get ready for each testlet.
- Testlet 508 is your largest at 30 questions — prioritize your study time accordingly. At roughly 43% of the total questions on the exam, strong command of health skills like refusal skills, decision-making, and analyzing influences carries the most weight toward your cumulative score.
- Because you must meet the floor on every testlet, don’t neglect Testlets 507 and 509 just because they’re shorter. At 20 questions each, these testlets carry fewer points, but falling below the floor on either one means you don’t pass — regardless of how well you scored on Testlet 508.
- For Testlet 507, know the health behavior theories by name and by their specific components. Questions often ask you to identify which theory or model explains a described scenario, so memorize the specific components of each — not just the general concept.
- For Testlet 508, study the National Health Education Standards directly. This testlet is built around the skill-based standards, so familiarity with the standards themselves — not just general health knowledge — will help you recognize what each question is really testing.
- For Testlet 509, understand how classroom health education connects to broader school health systems. Questions in this testlet often test your understanding of coordinated school health models and how a health educator’s role fits within that larger structure.
- Use the National Health Education Standards and the Georgia Standards of Excellence for Health Education as your two primary content references. Both frameworks define what depth of content is expected, and they’re the standards the GACE Health exam is built around.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about the GACE Health exam? Here are answers to the most common ones.
Ready to Start Practicing?
Practice questions covering all three testlets — Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (507), Skills for Enhancing Health and Reducing Risks (508), and Health and Physical Education Program (509) — aligned to the official GACE 729 blueprint. Detailed answer explanations so you understand not just the right answer, but why it’s right.
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