GACE® Special Education Deaf Education (P–12) (734)
Practice Test
You'll prepare for three testlets — 403 Human Growth and Development and the Auditory Process (20 questions, 30 min, $56.50), 404 Assessment and Individualized Instruction for Deaf Education (30 questions, 45 min, $56.50), and 405 Developing and Promoting Language and Communication (30 questions, 45 min, $56.50). Combined: 80 questions, 2 hours, $169.00. 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 PlansTestlet 403 is your shortest testlet; Testlets 404 and 405 are equal and larger. Testlet 403 (Human Growth and Development and the Auditory Process) has 20 questions and a 30-minute time limit. Testlets 404 (Assessment and Individualized Instruction) and 405 (Developing and Promoting Language and Communication) each have 30 questions and a 45-minute time limit. All three cost the same: $56.50 individually or $169.00 combined.
Testlet 405 covers the full range of communication approaches used in deaf education. This includes American Sign Language, Total Communication, Auditory-Oral approaches, Cued Speech, and bilingual-bicultural approaches. You’ll need working knowledge of each, not just the one you may be most familiar with. No reference materials are provided for any testlet.
GACE Special Education Deaf Education (P–12) (734): Test at a Glance
Here’s a quick overview of the exam. Testlets 404 and 405 are your largest at 30 questions each. Testlet 403 has 20 questions.
About the GACE Special Education Deaf Education (P–12) (734)
Here’s what you need to know before you register.
The GACE Special Education Deaf Education (P–12) exam is for individuals seeking admission to an educator preparation program, initial certification in Georgia, or qualification to teach students who are deaf or hard of hearing, 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 403 (Human Growth and Development and the Auditory Process) is your shortest, with 20 questions and a 30-minute time limit. Testlets 404 (Assessment and Individualized Instruction for Deaf Education) and 405 (Developing and Promoting Language and Communication) are equal and larger, each with 30 questions and a 45-minute time limit. Combined, all three testlets total 80 questions in 2 hours.
All three testlets cost the same — $56.50 individually or $169.00 combined. Plan for extra time beyond the testing minutes themselves: add 15 minutes per testing session for a tutorial and to complete a nondisclosure agreement.
The exam is delivered entirely by computer in a selected-response (multiple-choice) format. No reference materials are provided — you won’t have access to a calculator, formula sheet, or any other aid during 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. Scoring well above 220 on two testlets doesn’t make up for falling below the floor on the third. 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
Testlets 404 and 405 are your largest at 30 questions each. Testlet 403 has 20 questions. All three cost $56.50 individually.
GACE Special Education Deaf Education (P–12) (734) Exam Outline
Below you’ll find the content areas covered in each testlet, along with the confirmed question count and time limit for each.
- Human growth and development across the lifespan, with attention to the impact of hearing loss on development
- Anatomy and physiology of the auditory system
- Types, causes, degrees, and configurations of hearing loss
- Basic interpretation of audiological assessment results, including audiograms
- The cognitive, social, emotional, and academic implications of hearing loss
- Assessment instruments and procedures specific to deaf and hard-of-hearing students
- Developing and implementing individualized education programs for students who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Individualized instructional strategies appropriate to a student’s hearing status and communication needs
- Educational placement options and the continuum of services for deaf education
- Collaborative teaming with audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and interpreters
- Communication methodologies used in deaf education, including American Sign Language, Total Communication, Auditory-Oral approaches, Cued Speech, and bilingual-bicultural approaches
- Language acquisition patterns in children who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Literacy development strategies for deaf and hard-of-hearing students
- Supporting families as they make informed communication choices for their child
- Awareness of Deaf culture and the Deaf community
High-Priority Topics by Testlet
Use this section to focus your study time. These topics reflect the general content areas covered by the GACE 734 testlets.
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 Special Education Deaf Education (P–12) (734)?
Find out if this is the right exam for your teaching goals.
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/734 and register for your testlets. You can take all three testlets together in one appointment or separately in any combination. Always verify current certification requirements at gapsc.com.
How to Prepare for the GACE Special Education Deaf Education (P–12) (734)
Here are some tips to help you get ready for each testlet.
- Testlets 404 and 405 are your largest at 30 questions each — prioritize your study time accordingly. Together they make up 75% of the total questions on the exam, so strong command of assessment/instruction practices and communication methodologies carries the most weight toward your cumulative score.
- Because you must meet the floor on every testlet, don’t treat Testlet 403 as less important just because it’s shorter. At 20 questions, this testlet carries fewer points, but falling below the floor here means you don’t pass — regardless of how well you scored on the other two.
- For Testlet 403, build fluency with audiogram interpretation. Being able to read degree and configuration of hearing loss from an audiogram, and connect that to classroom implications, is a core skill this testlet is likely to test directly.
- For Testlet 405, study all five major communication methodologies with equal depth, not just the one you’re most familiar with. Many candidates come into this exam with strong knowledge of one approach (often ASL or Auditory-Oral) but weaker knowledge of the others. This exam expects working knowledge across the full range, including Total Communication, Cued Speech, and bilingual-bicultural approaches.
- For Testlet 404, practice connecting assessment results to individualized instruction decisions. This testlet doesn’t just test assessment tools in isolation — it tests your ability to translate assessment data into appropriate IEP goals and placement recommendations.
- Use the official GACE 734 Study Guide and resources from the National Association of the Deaf as your two primary references. The study guide is available through your Evaluation Systems GACE testing account, and NAD resources provide valuable context on Deaf culture and community perspectives that inform this exam’s content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about the GACE Special Education Deaf Education exam? Here are answers to the most common ones.
Ready to Start Practicing?
Practice questions covering all three testlets — Human Growth and Development and the Auditory Process (403), Assessment and Individualized Instruction for Deaf Education (404), and Developing and Promoting Language and Communication (405) — aligned to the official GACE 734 blueprint. Detailed answer explanations so you understand not just the right answer, but why it’s right.
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