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GACECode: 717GACE®Code: 717Georgia GaPSC100 Questions · 3 Testlets · 2.5 HoursGrades 6–12 Science

GACE® Science (6–12) (717)
Practice Test

Comprehensive preparation for prospective 6th–12th grade science teachers in Georgia. Three testlets spanning all three secondary science domains — 230 Physical Science (40 questions, 60 min), 231 Life Science (30 questions, 45 min), and 232 Earth and Space Science (30 questions, 45 min). Combined: 100 questions, 2.5 hours, $169.00. Individual testlets: $56.50 each. Administered by Evaluation Systems of Pearson for GaPSC. Passing score: 220.

100
Questions
2h 30m
Time limit
220
Pass score
4
Domains
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Three testlets covering all three secondary science domains. Testlet 230 Physical Science (40 questions, 60 min) covers chemistry and physics; Testlet 231 Life Science (30 questions, 45 min) covers biology and ecology; Testlet 232 Earth and Space Science (30 questions, 45 min) covers geology, astronomy, and environmental science. Each testlet is $56.50 individually or all three for $169.00 combined ($25 registration + $28 test center fee). An additional $50 applies at international testing sites.

Primary source: GACE 717 official test page at gace.es.pearson.com/test/717 (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 Science (6–12) (717): Test at a Glance

Here’s a quick overview of the exam. Note that Testlet 230 has more questions and a longer time limit than Testlets 231 and 232.

Assessment code
717
GACE Science (6–12)
Total questions
100
All three testlets combined
Combined time
2.5 hrs
All three in one appointment
Passing score
220
Scaled 100–300
Combined fee
$169
All three testlets together
Per-testlet fee
$56.50
Each taken individually
Testlet 230
Physical Science (6–12)
40 questions · 60 min
Testlet 231
Life Science (6–12)
30 questions · 45 min
Testlet 232
Earth and Space Science (6–12)
30 questions · 45 min
Wrong answer penalty
None
Always answer every question
Unofficial score
Instant
Displayed after exam ends
Score release
~3 wks
After testing window closes

About the GACE Science (6–12) (717)

The GACE Science (6–12) exam covers all three secondary science domains. Here’s what you need to know before you register.

The GACE Science (6–12) exam is for individuals seeking admission to an educator preparation program, initial certification in Georgia, or qualification to teach science 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 three testlets, which you can take individually in separate sessions or all at once in a single appointment. The total combined time limit is 2.5 hours, and the total number of questions is 100. Testlet 230 (Physical Science) has 40 questions and a 60-minute time limit. Testlets 231 (Life Science) and 232 (Earth and Space Science) each have 30 questions and a 45-minute time limit. You can register for each testlet individually at $56.50 each, or pay $169.00 for all three combined (which includes a $25 registration fee and a $28 test center fee).

If you want to teach multiple science disciplines at the secondary level — including chemistry, physics, and earth science — the 717 is the right choice. If you plan to teach only biology, you may consider the GACE Biology (710) instead. Check with your educator preparation program and GaPSC to confirm which certification applies to your assignment.

To pass the exam, you need a scaled score of 220 on a scale of 100–300. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so be sure to answer every question. To register, start by creating a GaPSC MyPSC account at mypsc.gapsc.org to receive your Georgia certification number. Then create an Evaluation Systems GACE testing account at gace.es.pearson.com to register for your testlets.

Three Testlets at a Glance

The GACE Science exam is made up of three testlets. You can take them together in one session or separately. Each testlet is $56.50 individually, or $169.00 for all three combined.

Fee reminder (from official GACE Assessment Fee Schedule):$56.50 per individual testlet (230, 231, or 232) · $169.00 for all three combined · +$50 for international testing sites
Testlet 230
Physical Science (6–12)
Questions40
Testing time60 min
Individual fee$56.50
Characteristics/properties/structures of matter; chemical reactions and energy within systems; force, motion, energy, and work; waves, electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetism. Covers AP Chemistry and AP Physics content depth.
Testlet 231
Life Science (6–12)
Questions30
Testing time45 min
Individual fee$56.50
Organisms and life processes; genetics and evolution; organisms, matter, and energy within ecosystems. Covers AP Biology and AP Environmental Science depth including genetics, evolution, ecology, and human-environment interactions.
Testlet 232
Earth and Space Science (6–12)
Questions30
Testing time45 min
Individual fee$56.50
The universe, space, and geological systems; Earth’s spheres, weather, and climate; resources and human interaction with the environment. Covers astronomy, geology, atmospheric science, and environmental science including climate change.

GACE Science (6–12) (717) 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 717 Study Guide.

Testlet 230
Physical Science (6–12)
There are 40 selected-response questions in this testlet, and you’ll be timed at 1 hour. These questions test your knowledge and abilities regarding the following:
  • Characteristics, properties, and structures within matter
  • Chemical reactions and their relationship to energy within systems
  • Force, motion, energy, and work and their relationships to each other
  • Waves, electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetism
40q
60 minutes
Largest testlet
Testlet 231
Life Science (6–12)
This testlet contains 30 selected-response questions, with a testing time of 45 minutes. You’ll be assessed on your knowledge and skills in the following areas:
  • Organisms and life processes
  • Concepts and principles related to genetics and evolution
  • Organisms, matter, and energy within ecosystems
30q
45 minutes
$56.50 individual
Testlet 232
Earth and Space Science (6–12)
This testlet contains 30 selected-response questions, with a testing time of 45 minutes. You’ll be assessed on your knowledge and skills in the following areas:
  • The universe, space, and geological systems
  • Characteristics of Earth’s spheres, weather, and climate
  • Resources and human interaction with the environment
30q
45 minutes
$56.50 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 230

Physical Science — Top Topics

40q · 60 min · Largest testlet
Periodic trends and chemical bonding. Know that atomic radius decreases left to right across a period and increases top to bottom in a group. Ionization energy and electronegativity follow the opposite trend. Use the electronegativity difference to predict bond type: >1.7 = ionic; 0.4–1.7 = polar covalent; <0.4 = nonpolar covalent. Also know the four intermolecular forces in order of increasing strength: London dispersion, dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonding, and ion-dipole.
Newton’s laws and kinematics. Know all three of Newton’s laws and how to apply them. For kinematics, be comfortable using the constant-acceleration equations and applying them to free fall and projectile motion. Remember that horizontal and vertical components in projectile motion are always independent of each other.
The electromagnetic spectrum. Know the order from lowest to highest energy: radio, microwave, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma. Know which types are ionizing and which are not. For optics, be ready to apply the law of reflection and Snell’s law for refraction.
Ohm’s law and electric circuits. Know Ohm’s law (V = IR) and the key differences between series and parallel circuits — how current, voltage, and resistance behave in each. Know how to calculate power and understand the principle of electromagnetic induction behind generators and transformers.
Testlet 231

Life Science — Top Topics

30q · 45 min · $56.50
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Know where each stage occurs and what it produces. For photosynthesis, the light reactions occur in the thylakoid membranes and the Calvin cycle in the stroma. For cellular respiration, glycolysis is in the cytoplasm, the Krebs cycle in the mitochondrial matrix, and the electron transport chain on the inner mitochondrial membrane. The ETC produces the most ATP.
Genetics. Be able to set up and interpret monohybrid and dihybrid Punnett squares. Know the key extensions beyond simple Mendelian genetics: incomplete dominance, codominance, and sex-linked inheritance. For molecular genetics, know the central dogma, the difference between transcription and translation, and how mutations affect the resulting protein.
Natural selection and evolution. Know Darwin’s four conditions and the three types of natural selection: directional, stabilizing, and disruptive. Be ready to distinguish homologous structures from analogous structures and explain what each tells us about evolutionary relationships.
Energy flow and biogeochemical cycles. Know the 10% rule and why fewer organisms exist at higher trophic levels. For the carbon cycle, understand how photosynthesis, respiration, and combustion move carbon between the atmosphere and living things. For the nitrogen cycle, know the roles of nitrogen-fixing and denitrifying bacteria.
Testlet 232

Earth and Space Science — Top Topics

30q · 45 min · $56.50
Plate tectonics. Know the evidence for plate tectonics and the three boundary types. Divergent boundaries create new crust and mid-ocean ridges. Convergent boundaries produce subduction zones, volcanic arcs, and fold-thrust mountain belts. Transform boundaries produce strike-slip faults and shallow earthquakes, but no volcanism.
Climate change. Know the difference between weather and climate. Understand the greenhouse effect mechanism and be able to identify the main lines of evidence for anthropogenic climate change: rising CO₂, rising global temperatures, rising sea levels, retreating glaciers, shrinking Arctic sea ice, and ocean acidification.
The rock cycle and geologic time. Know how each rock type forms: igneous from cooling magma or lava, sedimentary from compacted sediment, and metamorphic from heat and pressure. For geologic time, understand how radiometric dating works and what the law of superposition tells you about relative age.
Earth’s spheres and their interactions. Know how the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere interact through the water and carbon cycles. Know the four atmospheric layers and what occurs in each. Be familiar with how Georgia’s regional geology — such as the Piedmont’s red clay soils — shapes local ecosystems.

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 3 testlets)$169.00
Per testlet (230, 231, or 232)$56.50 each
International surcharge+$50
Program administratorEvaluation Systems of Pearson

Scoring

Score scale100–300 (scaled)
Passing score220
Wrong answer penaltyNone — answer every question
Unofficial scoreDisplayed immediately after exam
Cancel scoresOption given post-exam; irreversible
Official score release~3 weeks after testing window closes

Test Day

Combined questions100 (3 testlets)
Combined time2.5 hours (150 minutes)
Testlet 23040 questions · 60 min
Testlet 23130 questions · 45 min
Testlet 23230 questions · 45 min
Arrive~30 min before scheduled time
ID requiredPhoto + signature ID (original)

Who Needs the GACE Science (6–12) (717)?

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

Georgia Requirement: You need the GACE Science (6–12) (717) if you are seeking a Georgia teaching certificate in Science for grades 6 through 12. You must pass all three testlets (230, 231, and 232) to earn the full certification. Passing this exam qualifies you to teach chemistry, physics, earth science, environmental science, physical science, and biology at the secondary level.

717 vs. 710 (GACE Biology): If you want to teach multiple science disciplines, the 717 is the right exam for you. If you plan to teach only biology, you may take the GACE Biology (710) instead. Both exams are in the same $56.50/$169 fee tier. Some candidates take both. Check with your educator preparation program and verify the correct certification 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/717 and register for your testlets. Always verify current requirements at gapsc.com.

How to Prepare for the GACE Science (6–12) (717)

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

  • Testlet 230 (Physical Science, 40 questions, 60 minutes) is the largest testlet on the exam. You’ll have about 90 seconds per question, so focus on applying concepts quickly rather than memorizing definitions. Your highest-priority topics are periodic trends and bond types, Newton’s laws, conservation of energy, Ohm’s law, series vs. parallel circuits, and the electromagnetic spectrum. Stoichiometry comes up regularly — know how to balance a basic equation and work with moles.
  • Testlet 231 (Life Science, 30 questions, 45 minutes) tests biology and ecology at secondary depth. Focus your prep on photosynthesis and cellular respiration, genetics, natural selection, and energy flow through ecosystems. Expect questions that ask you to apply these concepts to scenarios rather than just recall definitions.
  • Testlet 232 (Earth and Space Science, 30 questions, 45 minutes) covers four content areas. Your top priorities are plate tectonics, climate change, the rock cycle, and stellar evolution. Know Kepler’s three laws of planetary motion for astronomy questions, and be ready to explain the difference between weather and climate.
  • The GACE 717 covers more content than any other GACE science exam — six disciplines across three testlets. Identify your weakest domain early and put more study time into it. The exam is designed for a beginning teacher who can teach all of these subjects, so the depth required goes beyond introductory high school courses.
  • For Testlet 232, climate change is tested at the level of detail found in NGSS and IPCC guidelines. Know the main lines of evidence, the difference between the natural and human-enhanced greenhouse effect, and the HIPPO framework for biodiversity threats: Habitat destruction, Invasive species, Pollution, Population growth, and Overharvesting.
  • Use the official GACE 717 Study Guide and the Georgia Standards of Excellence for Science as your two main references. The study guide is at gace.es.pearson.com/studyguide/717. The GSE maps what is taught at each grade level from middle school through high school — use it to calibrate how deep to go on each topic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about the GACE Science exam? Here are answers to some of the most common ones.

How many questions are on the GACE Science (6-12) (717)?
There are 100 selected-response questions in total. Testlet 230 (Physical Science) has 40 questions with a 60-minute time limit. Testlets 231 (Life Science) and 232 (Earth and Space Science) each have 30 questions with a 45-minute time limit. You can take all three together in one 2.5-hour session or schedule them separately.
What is the passing score for the GACE Science (717)?
Your final score will be 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 Science (717) 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 $56.50. If you’re testing at an international site, an additional $50 fee applies. Fees are verified from the official GACE Assessment Fee Schedule.
How is the GACE Science (717) different from the GACE Biology (710)?
The GACE Science (717) covers all three secondary science domains — Physical Science (chemistry and physics), Life Science (biology and ecology), and Earth and Space Science (geology, astronomy, and environmental science). The GACE Biology (710) covers only biology. If you want to teach multiple science subjects at the high school level, the 717 is the right choice. If you plan to teach only biology, you may consider the 710 instead. Both exams have 100 questions, cost $56.50 per testlet ($169 combined), and require a passing score of 220. Check with your preparation program and verify at gapsc.com.
Are the three testlets the same size on the GACE Science (717)?
No — Testlet 230 (Physical Science) is the largest, with 40 questions and a 60-minute time limit. Testlets 231 and 232 each have 30 questions and a 45-minute time limit. Even though the testlets are different sizes, you’ll pay $56.50 for each one individually. You can take all three together in a single 2.5-hour session or schedule them in separate appointments.
How do I register for the GACE Science (717)?
To register, you’ll need to use 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/717 and register for the testlets you want to take.
When will I receive my GACE Science (717) 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 three testlets — Physical Science (230), Life Science (231), and Earth and Space Science (232) — aligned to the official GACE 717 blueprint. Testlet-level analytics so you know exactly where to focus your study time.

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Sources: GACE Science (6–12) (717) 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 717 Study Guide (Evaluation Systems of Pearson); GaPSC — Georgia Professional Standards Commission; Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS Lead States, 2013); Georgia Standards of Excellence for Science (Georgia Department of Education); National Science Teaching Association (NSTA); Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); NOAA — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; NASA Earth Science. 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