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GACECode: 721GACE®Code: 721🍍 Georgia GaPSC100 Questions · 4 Testlets · 2 HoursGrades 6–12 History

GACE® History (6–12) (721)
Practice Test

Comprehensive preparation for prospective 6th–12th grade history teachers in Georgia. Four equal testlets — 242 United States History to 1877 (25q, 30 min, $42.50), 243 United States History from 1877 to the Present (25q, 30 min, $42.50), 244 World History to 1750 (25q, 30 min, $42.50), and 245 World History from 1750 to the Present (25q, 30 min, $42.50). Combined: 100 questions, 2 hours, $169.00. Administered by Evaluation Systems of Pearson for GaPSC. Passing score: 220.

100
Questions
2 hrs
Time limit
220
Pass score
4
Domains
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Four perfectly equal testlets — each 25 questions, 30 minutes, and $42.50 individually. Every testlet carries equal weight: each one counts for exactly 25% of your total score. You can take all four together in a single 2-hour session, or schedule them separately in any combination. The combined fee is $169.00 (including a $25 registration fee and $28 test center fee), verified from the official GACE Assessment Fee Schedule (PDF). An additional $50 applies at international testing sites.

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Primary source: GACE 721 official test page at gace.es.pearson.com/test/721 (Evaluation Systems of Pearson). Testlet codes and fees verified against the official GACE Assessment Fee Schedule (PDF). The GACE program transitioned from ETS to Evaluation Systems of Pearson on July 1, 2025. Verify current requirements at gapsc.com.

GACE History (6–12) (721): Test at a Glance

Here’s a quick overview of the exam. All four testlets are equal in size, time, fee, and score weight.

Assessment code
721
GACE History (6–12)
Total questions
100
25 per testlet
Combined time
2 hours
30 min per testlet
Passing score
220
Scaled 100–300
Combined fee
$169
All four testlets together
Per-testlet fee
$42.50
Each taken individually
Testlet 242
US History to 1877
25q · 30 min · 25% of score
Testlet 243
US History 1877–Present
25q · 30 min · 25% of score
Testlet 244
World History to 1750
25q · 30 min · 25% of score
Testlet 245
World History 1750–Present
25q · 30 min · 25% of score
Wrong answer penalty
None
Answer every question
Unofficial score
Instant
Displayed after exam ends
Score release
~3 wks
After testing window closes

About the GACE History (6–12) (721)

Here’s what you need to know before you register.

The GACE History (6–12) exam is for individuals seeking admission to an educator preparation program, initial certification in Georgia, or qualification to teach history in Georgia secondary schools. It is administered through Evaluation Systems of Pearson on behalf of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).

The exam is made up of four testlets, which you can take together in one session or separately in any combination that works for you. Every testlet is identical in structure: 25 selected-response questions and a 30-minute time limit. Each testlet also counts for exactly 25% of your total score. You can register for each testlet individually at $42.50 each, or pay $169.00 for all four combined (which includes a $25 registration fee and a $28 test center fee).

The four testlets divide history into two paired tracks: US History (242: to 1877; 243: from 1877 to the present) and World History (244: to 1750; 245: from 1750 to the present). This structure means you can strategically schedule your strongest periods first, or take all four in one sitting.

To pass, you need a scaled score of 220 on a scale of 100–300. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so make sure you answer every question. To register, start by creating a GaPSC MyPSC account at mypsc.gapsc.org, then create an Evaluation Systems GACE testing account at gace.es.pearson.com.

Four Testlets at a Glance

All four testlets are equal in every way — 25 questions, 30 minutes, $42.50 individually, and 25% of your total score each.

Testlet 242
United States History to 1877
Questions25
Time30 min
Score weight25%
Individual fee$42.50
Early American Indian civilizations, European exploration and colonization, the American Revolution, the Articles of Confederation, early presidential administrations, territorial expansion and Manifest Destiny, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.
Testlet 243
United States History from 1877 to the Present
Questions25
Time30 min
Score weight25%
Individual fee$42.50
Industrialization and urbanization, the forced reservation system, the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, US rise as a world power, social change in the 1920s, WWII, the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, and major US developments since 1945.
Testlet 244
World History to 1750
Questions25
Time30 min
Score weight25%
Individual fee$42.50
The Neolithic Revolution, ancient Greece and Rome, post-Roman Europe, Asian empires and trade routes, world religions, African civilizations, the Byzantine Empire and Islamic civilization, the decline of feudalism, the Reformation, European exploration, and the Enlightenment.
Testlet 245
World History from 1750 to the Present
Questions25
Time30 min
Score weight25%
Individual fee$42.50
The Age of Revolutions, the Industrial Revolution, imperialism, WWI, WWII, global political developments, technological and transportation advances, the Cold War and Soviet collapse, and major global challenges since 1991.

GACE History (6–12) (721) Exam Outline

Below you’ll find the content areas covered in each testlet. Testlet codes and fees are verified from the official GACE Assessment Fee Schedule. Content objectives are drawn from the GACE 721 Study Guide.

Testlet 242
United States History to 1877
There are 25 selected-response questions in this testlet, and you’ll be timed at 30 minutes. These questions test your knowledge and abilities regarding the following:
  • Governments, social structures, religions, technologies, and agricultural practices of early American Indian cultures and civilizations
  • Reasons for European exploration and colonization of the Western Hemisphere
  • Causes, effects, key events, and significant figures of the American Revolution
  • Problems arising under the Articles of Confederation
  • Early presidential administrations
  • Connections between territorial expansion through treaties and purchases, economic and industrial development, Manifest Destiny, and more
  • Effects, key events, and significant figures of the Civil War
  • Effects of the Reconstruction period
25q
30 minutes
$42.50 individual
Testlet 243
United States History from 1877 to the Present
There are 25 selected-response questions in this testlet, and you’ll be timed at 30 minutes. These questions test your knowledge and abilities regarding the following:
  • The emergence of the US as an urban industrial society
  • The intensified conflict with American Indians and the resulting forced reservation system
  • Political and social structures and conflicts of the South after Reconstruction
  • The emergence of the US as a world power
  • Contributions to the unrest, tension, and social change in the 1920s
  • US participation in World War II
  • The origins, issues, and events associated with the Cold War and US foreign policy since 1945
  • Major developments in the US since 1945
  • The aims, activities, prominent figures, and achievements of the struggle for African American equality
25q
30 minutes
$42.50 individual
Testlet 244
World History to 1750
There are 25 selected-response questions in this testlet, and you’ll be timed at 30 minutes. These questions test your knowledge and abilities regarding the following:
  • Changes arising from the Neolithic Revolution and the birth of human civilization
  • The civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome and their enduring effects on later civilization
  • Major developments in Europe following the decline of the Roman Empire
  • The empires and states of Asia and the trade routes that contributed to their growth
  • Principal beliefs and historical development of various world religions
  • Major characteristics of civilizations in Africa
  • Major characteristics of the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic civilization
  • Developments surrounding the decline of feudalism in Europe
  • Religious, social, political, and economic changes arising from the Protestant Reformation
  • Causes and effects of European explorations and conquests
  • Major figures, writings, and ideas of the Enlightenment
  • Major literary, artistic, intellectual, and scientific developments across the world
25q
30 minutes
$42.50 individual
Testlet 245
World History from 1750 to the Present
There are 25 selected-response questions in this testlet, and you’ll be timed at 30 minutes. These questions test your knowledge and abilities regarding the following:
  • Causes and effects of revolutions
  • Ways in which the Industrial Revolution changed the means of production
  • Causes and effects of the imperial expansion of industrialized nations
  • Major political developments
  • Major developments in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas
  • Positive and negative effects of advances in technology, communication, and transportation
  • Connections between World War I and subsequent events
  • Causes of and major events surrounding the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War
  • Major issues and challenges in the world since 1991
25q
30 minutes
$42.50 individual

High-Priority Topics by Testlet

Use this section to focus your study time. These are the concepts that show up most often in each testlet.

Testlet 242

United States History to 1877 — Top Topics

25q · 30 min
The American Revolution and the founding of the republic. Know the major causes of the Revolution (taxation without representation, Proclamation of 1763, the Intolerable Acts), key figures (Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Paine), and the significance of the Declaration of Independence. Be ready to explain how the Revolution challenged existing social hierarchies and set the ideological foundation for American democracy.
The Constitution and the early republic. Know the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation that led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Understand the key compromises that shaped the Constitution (Great Compromise, Three-Fifths Compromise), the system of checks and balances, and the role of the Federalist Papers. Know how early presidential administrations set lasting precedents for executive power.
Territorial expansion and sectional conflict. Understand how the Louisiana Purchase, the Mexican-American War, and the doctrine of Manifest Destiny drove westward expansion — and how that expansion intensified the debate over slavery. Know the key legislative compromises (Missouri Compromise of 1820, Compromise of 1850, Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854) and how each temporarily or permanently altered the sectional balance.
The Civil War and Reconstruction. Know the major causes of the Civil War beyond slavery alone (states’ rights, economic differences, political failures). Be familiar with key military turning points, Lincoln’s war aims, and the Emancipation Proclamation. For Reconstruction, know the competing visions (Presidential vs. Radical Reconstruction), the constitutional amendments (13th, 14th, 15th), and the factors that led to the end of Reconstruction in 1877.
Testlet 243

United States History from 1877 to the Present — Top Topics

25q · 30 min
Industrialization, immigration, and the Progressive Era. Know how rapid industrialization after 1877 created both economic growth and profound inequality. Understand the rise of labor unions, the conditions that drove the Progressive Era reforms, and key figures like Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Know how the US shifted from isolation to becoming a world power through events like the Spanish-American War and WWI.
World War II and its aftermath. Know the causes of US entry into WWII, the major theaters of war, and the significance of Allied strategy. Understand the domestic impact of the war (wartime mobilization, Japanese American internment, the role of women and African Americans in the war effort). Know how WWII set the stage for the Cold War, including the formation of the United Nations, the Marshall Plan, and the Truman Doctrine.
The Cold War and US foreign policy since 1945. Know the origins and key events of the Cold War: the Berlin Blockade, the Korean War, McCarthyism, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and détente. Understand how the policy of containment shaped US foreign policy decisions across four decades, and what led to the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union.
The Civil Rights Movement. Know the aims, strategies, key figures, and legislative achievements of the Civil Rights Movement. Be familiar with landmark events (Brown v. Board of Education, Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965) and the key figures who shaped the movement, including Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall, and John Lewis.
Testlet 244

World History to 1750 — Top Topics

25q · 30 min
Ancient Greece, Rome, and their legacies. Know the major political innovations of ancient Athens (direct democracy, citizenship) and Sparta, the legacy of Alexander the Great’s conquests in spreading Hellenistic culture, and the key institutions of the Roman Republic and Empire. Understand what Rome’s fall meant for the Western world and how Roman law, language, and governance shaped later European civilization.
World religions and their historical development. Know the origins, core beliefs, sacred texts, and historical spread of the major world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Be ready to explain how religion shaped political authority, social structure, and cultural development in different civilizations — and how religious conflict and exchange drove major historical events from the Crusades to the Reformation.
Asian empires, trade routes, and cross-cultural exchange. Know the major empires of Asia (the Han and Tang dynasties in China, the Gupta Empire in India, the Mongol Empire) and the trade networks that connected them to the rest of the world. Understand how the Silk Road facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, religion, and disease, and how that exchange shaped both Asia and Europe in the medieval period.
The Reformation and European exploration. Know the religious, social, political, and economic causes of the Protestant Reformation and the key figures involved (Luther, Calvin, Henry VIII). Understand how the Reformation fractured European Christianity and spurred the Counter-Reformation. Know the major causes and effects of European exploration and colonization, including the Columbian Exchange, the Atlantic slave trade, and the impact of conquest on indigenous populations.
Testlet 245

World History from 1750 to the Present — Top Topics

25q · 30 min
The Age of Revolutions. Know the causes and effects of the major revolutions of the late 18th and early 19th centuries: the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution, and the Latin American independence movements. Understand how Enlightenment ideas about natural rights, popular sovereignty, and separation of powers fueled each of these movements and reshaped the political map of the Atlantic world.
The Industrial Revolution and imperialism. Know how industrialization transformed means of production, labor, and daily life — beginning in Britain and spreading globally. Understand how industrialized nations used their economic and military advantages to build empires in Africa and Asia, and know the causes and effects of that imperial expansion on both colonizers and colonized peoples.
World War I, World War II, and their connections. Know the underlying causes of WWI (militarism, alliances, imperialism, nationalism — MAIN) and how the peace settlement at Versailles created the conditions for WWII. Understand the rise of totalitarianism in Europe and Asia, the major turning points of WWII, the Holocaust, and how the war ended. Be ready to explain the connections between these two conflicts as a sequence of cause and effect.
The Cold War, decolonization, and the post-1991 world. Know the origins of the Cold War and the ideological conflict between the US and Soviet Union. Understand how decolonization reshaped Asia, Africa, and the Middle East in the postwar decades. Know the events that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and what the post-Cold War world looks like — including globalization, regional conflicts, and the major challenges facing the international community since 1991.

Registration, Test Day & Scoring

Here’s what to expect when you register, show up on test day, and receive your scores.

Registration & Fees

Step 2Submit testing eligibility request
Combined (all 4 testlets)$169.00
Per testlet (242, 243, 244, or 245)$42.50 each
International surcharge+$50.00

Scoring

Score scale100–300 (scaled)
Passing score220
Each testlet’s weight25% of total score
Wrong answer penaltyNone — answer every question
Unofficial scoreDisplayed immediately after exam
Official score release~3 weeks after testing window closes

Test Day

Arrive30 min before scheduled time
ID requiredPhoto + signature ID (original)
Personal itemsStored in secure locker
Combined questions100 (4 × 25)
Combined time2 hours (4 × 30 min)
Late arrivalsNot admitted; fees forfeited

Standards Alignment

GaPSC requirementsgapsc.com

Who Needs the GACE History (6–12) (721)?

Find out if this is the right exam for your teaching goals.

Georgia Requirement: You need the GACE History (6–12) (721) if you are seeking a Georgia teaching certificate in History for grades 6 through 12. You must pass all four testlets (242, 243, 244, and 245) to earn the full certification.

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/721 and register for your testlets. You can take all four testlets together or separately in any combination you choose.

Important: The GACE program transitioned from ETS to Evaluation Systems of Pearson on July 1, 2025. Always verify current certification requirements at gapsc.com.

How to Prepare for the GACE History (6–12) (721)

Here are some tips to help you get ready for each testlet.

  • All four testlets are equal — give each one equal attention. Because every testlet carries exactly 25% of your total score and is the same size (25 questions, 30 minutes), you can’t afford to neglect any one period. If you’re significantly stronger in US History than World History (or vice versa), start with your weaker testlets while your energy is highest. A score below 220 on even one testlet will affect your overall pass.
  • For Testlet 242 (US History to 1877), focus on causation and consequence, not just memorizing dates. The GACE tests whether you can explain WHY events happened and what they led to — not just WHEN. Be especially ready to explain the causes of the Civil War beyond slavery, the competing visions of Reconstruction, and the ideological foundations laid by the Constitution and the early republic.
  • For Testlet 243 (US History 1877 to the Present), the Civil Rights Movement and the Cold War are your two highest-priority topics. Know the landmark legislation, key figures, and major strategies of the Civil Rights Movement. For the Cold War, understand the policy of containment and how it drove US foreign policy decisions from Korea to Vietnam to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
  • For Testlet 244 (World History to 1750), world religions and cross-cultural exchange are consistently tested. You need to know the origins, beliefs, and historical spread of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — and how each shaped the civilizations it touched. The Reformation and European exploration are also high-priority: know the causes, key figures, and global consequences of each.
  • For Testlet 245 (World History 1750 to the Present), look for connections between events, not just descriptions of them. The GACE tests whether you understand how WWI’s settlement led to WWII, how the Industrial Revolution enabled imperialism, and how decolonization and the Cold War reshaped the global order. Practice explaining these chains of cause and effect in your own words.
  • Use the official GACE 721 Study Guide and the Georgia Standards of Excellence for Social Studies as your two primary references. The study guide is at gace.es.pearson.com/studyguide/721. The Georgia GSE for Social Studies maps what is taught at each grade level from middle school through high school — use it to calibrate the depth of content knowledge you’ll need for each testlet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about the GACE History exam? Here are answers to the most common ones.

How many questions are on the GACE History (721)?
There are 100 selected-response questions in total, spread equally across four testlets of 25 questions each. Each testlet has a 30-minute time limit, for a combined time of 2 hours. You can take all four testlets together in one session or schedule them separately in any combination.
What is the passing score for the GACE History (721)?
Your final score is a scaled score between 100 and 300. To pass, you need to achieve a score of 220. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so make sure you answer every question. You’ll receive an unofficial score right after the exam, and your official score will be available about three weeks after the testing window closes.
How much does the GACE History (721) cost?
The fee for the full exam is $169, which includes a $25 registration fee and a $28 test center fee. If you prefer to take testlets individually, each one costs $42.50. An additional $50 fee applies at international testing sites. Fees are verified from the official GACE Assessment Fee Schedule.
Are the four testlets the same size?
Yes. All four testlets are perfectly equal: each has 25 selected-response questions, a 30-minute time limit, and counts for exactly 25% of your total score. Each testlet also costs $42.50 if taken individually.
Can I take the testlets separately?
Yes. You can take all four testlets together in one 2-hour session, or schedule them individually or in any combination that works for you. If you fail one testlet, you only need to retake that testlet — not the entire exam.
How do I register for the GACE History (721)?
To register, you’ll need your MyPSC account. If you don’t have one, create an account at mypsc.gapsc.org to receive your Georgia certification number. Once your eligibility is confirmed, create an Evaluation Systems GACE testing account at gace.es.pearson.com/test/721 and register for the testlets you want to take.
When will I receive my GACE History (721) score?
You’ll receive an unofficial score report right after the exam. Your official score will be available about three weeks after the testing window closes.

Ready to Start Practicing?

Adaptive practice questions covering all four testlets — United States History to 1877 (242), United States History from 1877 to the Present (243), World History to 1750 (244), and World History from 1750 to the Present (245) — aligned to the official GACE 721 blueprint. Testlet-level analytics so you know exactly where to focus your study time.

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Sources: GACE History (6–12) (721) official test page (Evaluation Systems of Pearson, 2025–26) — primary source; GACE Assessment Fee Schedule (official PDF) (Evaluation Systems of Pearson) — testlet codes and fees verified; GACE 721 Study Guide (Evaluation Systems of Pearson); GaPSC — Georgia Professional Standards Commission; Georgia Standards of Excellence for Social Studies (Georgia Department of Education); C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards (NCSS); National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). GACE® is a registered trademark of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Evaluation Systems is a division of Pearson. Not affiliated with or endorsed by GaPSC, Pearson, or any state licensing agency. Always verify current requirements at gapsc.com.
Last Updated: August 12, 2026