- GACE Elementary Education (P-5) (702) has five testlets worth 20% each: ELA, Math, Social Studies, Science, and The Arts, Health, and Wellness.
- Pearson's Evaluation Systems division began administering this assessment on July 1, 2025, replacing the prior ETS delivery.
- Each testlet has 30 selected-response questions, for 150 total questions across four hours of testing.
- Passing requires a cumulative scaled score of at least 220 plus meeting the minimum floor on every single testlet.
What Is A GACE, Exactly?
"What is a GACE?" is one of the most searched questions among Georgia teacher candidates, and the confusion is understandable - several credentials share the acronym. On this site, GACE refers specifically to the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators: Elementary Education (P-5) (702), a licensure exam used to certify teachers who want to work with students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Georgia public schools.
Unlike a single-subject exam, Elementary Education (P-5) (702) evaluates a candidate's readiness across every core content area an elementary teacher touches in a typical school day: reading and writing instruction, math instruction, social studies, science, and even health, wellness, and the arts. If you're comparing this assessment to other credentials with similar names, our GACE Meaning and What Does GACE Stand For? explainers walk through the naming in more detail.
Who Owns and Administers It
The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) owns the GACE program and sets the certification requirements tied to it. Test delivery, however, is handled by Evaluation Systems, Pearson, which took over administration of Elementary Education (P-5) (702) on July 1, 2025, replacing the version previously delivered through ETS. If you tested before that date, your registration process, testing platform, and even some scoring mechanics may look different from what current candidates experience today.
This distinction matters because outdated blog posts and forum threads sometimes reference the old ETS-based system. When you're researching, always confirm whether the information you're reading applies to the current Pearson-administered version. For a broader overview of how the credential fits into Georgia's certification pipeline, see GACE Certification and What Is GACE Certification?.
Test Format and Structure
Assessment 702 is built as five independent testlets rather than one monolithic exam. Each testlet contains 30 selected-response questions, and each is worth exactly 20% of your overall score. Multiply that out and you get the full picture:
- 150 total questions across the complete assessment
- Four hours of actual testing time, inside a four-hour-and-30-minute total appointment window (the extra 30 minutes covers check-in, instructions, and breaks)
- Selected-response format only - no essays or constructed-response items on this particular assessment
Because the exam is modular, candidates aren't required to sit for all five testlets in a single appointment. You can take them separately, on different testing dates, which gives you flexibility to prepare for one content area at a time rather than cramming everything at once. This structure is a major reason the pacing strategy for this exam looks different from other certification tests - a topic we unpack fully in the GACE Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Key Takeaway
Because each testlet is scored independently and can be retaken independently, you don't have to "pass everything at once." Isolate your weakest content area first.
The Five Testlets Explained
Each of the five content areas carries identical weight - 20% - so there's no shortcut of over-preparing for one domain to compensate for skipping another. Here's what each one covers at a glance.
Domain 1: English Language Arts (P-5)
Covers foundational reading skills, comprehension strategies, writing instruction, language conventions, and how young learners develop literacy over time.
- Phonemic awareness, phonics, and decoding progression
- Reading comprehension strategies across genres
- Writing process instruction and grammar/language standards
Domain 2: Mathematics (P-5)
Focuses on number sense, operations, algebraic thinking, geometry, measurement, and data - plus how to sequence these concepts for young learners.
- Whole number and fraction operations
- Early algebraic reasoning and patterns
- Geometry, measurement, and data representation
Domain 3: Social Studies (P-5)
Tests knowledge of history, geography, government/civics, and economics as taught at the elementary level, along with instructional approaches for these topics.
- U.S. and Georgia history fundamentals
- Map skills and geographic reasoning
- Civics, government structure, and economic concepts
Domain 4: Science (P-5)
Covers life science, physical science, earth and space science, and the scientific inquiry process appropriate for elementary classrooms.
- Scientific method and inquiry-based instruction
- Life science and ecosystems basics
- Physical and earth/space science concepts
Domain 5: The Arts, Health, and Wellness (P-5)
Often the most overlooked testlet, this covers visual and performing arts fundamentals plus physical education, health, and personal wellness content.
- Elements of visual art and music appreciation
- Physical fitness and motor skill development
- Health education and safety concepts for children
Because candidates frequently underestimate Domain 5, it's worth reviewing content standards early rather than assuming general knowledge will carry you through. For a deeper breakdown of every domain with sample topic lists, see the GACE Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas.
Registration, Eligibility, and Fees
Before you can register for any testlet, you need testing eligibility established through GaPSC's MyPSC portal. This step confirms you're connected to an approved educator preparation program or otherwise qualify to sit for the assessment - you can't simply pay and schedule without it.
Once eligibility is confirmed, pricing is straightforward:
- $169 to register for all five testlets together
- $34 per testlet if you register individually
Paying for all five at once is cheaper per-testlet, but registering individually lets you spread out both the cost and your study schedule - useful if you're retaking a specific section or prefer to build mastery domain by domain. A full cost comparison, including how this compares to combined registration, is available in GACE Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. For scheduling specifics and testing windows, check GACE Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
| Registration Option | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| All five testlets bundled | $169 | Candidates ready to test across all content areas in one push |
| Single testlet | $34 each | Retakes or staggered, domain-by-domain preparation |
Scoring and What "Passing" Means
Passing GACE Elementary Education (P-5) (702) isn't just about hitting one overall number. You need:
- A cumulative scaled score of at least 220 across all five testlets, and
- To meet the minimum floor score on every individual testlet - you cannot compensate for a very low score in one domain by excelling in another beyond a certain point.
This dual requirement is exactly why candidates need testlet-level strategy rather than a single blended study plan. If you pass four testlets but fall below the floor on the fifth, you'll need to retake just that one - you don't have to redo the entire assessment. For the exact score mechanics and how the floors interact with the cumulative total, see GACE Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
The Science of Reading Connection
Elementary Education (P-5) is aligned to Georgia's Application of the Science of Reading assessment requirements under the state's literacy-assessment implementation schedule. This alignment applies to:
- Initial-program candidates beginning their educator preparation program on or after June 1, 2025
- Reciprocity applicants - those certified in another state - coming into Georgia's system on or after July 1, 2026
In practical terms, this means the ELA testlet (Domain 1) increasingly reflects structured literacy principles: how phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, and evidence-based reading instruction are sequenced for P-5 learners. If your preparation program started before June 2025 and you're not pursuing reciprocity, this timeline may not directly affect your pathway - but it's worth confirming your specific status with your program advisor or through MyPSC.
Who Actually Takes This Assessment
Elementary Education (P-5) (702) is required for candidates seeking a Georgia teaching certificate to work with pre-K through fifth-grade students. That includes:
- Traditional undergraduate education majors finishing a Georgia-approved elementary program
- Career-changers enrolled in alternative certification pathways
- Out-of-state teachers pursuing Georgia reciprocity for an elementary license
School districts, charter networks, and private schools requiring state certification all rely on this credential as proof that a candidate can teach across the full elementary curriculum - not just one subject. If you're weighing whether pursuing this certification path is worth the time and testing fees relative to job opportunities, Is the GACE Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and GACE Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis go deeper into that decision. For a look at what certified elementary educators actually do day to day and where openings exist, see GACE Jobs.
A Realistic Way to Prepare
Because you can register testlet-by-testlet, the smartest preparation approach mirrors that structure - treat each domain as its own mini-project rather than trying to absorb all five subject areas simultaneously.
English Language Arts + diagnostic practice
- Review phonics progression and comprehension strategy categories
- Take a full-length practice set for Domain 1 on our practice test platform
Mathematics and Social Studies
- Rebuild fraction and algebraic reasoning fundamentals
- Drill map skills, civics structure, and historical timelines
Science, then Arts/Health/Wellness
- Focus on inquiry-based science instruction terminology
- Don't skip Domain 5 - review arts vocabulary and health standards directly
Within this plan, techniques like spaced repetition for vocabulary-heavy content (art terminology, historical dates, scientific processes) and short focused review blocks work well specifically because each testlet is self-contained - you're never trying to hold all 150 questions' worth of content in your head at once. For an honest assessment of where candidates typically struggle, read How Hard Is the GACE Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026, and check GACE Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows for outcome trends. If you want prerequisite details before you even begin studying, start with GACE Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Key Takeaway
Study one testlet at a time, register for it, pass it, and move to the next - rather than trying to master all five domains before scheduling your first test date.
When you're ready to test your knowledge under realistic conditions, practice questions modeled on the actual testlet format are the fastest way to find gaps before exam day. Reviewing a condensed reference before your appointment also helps - the GACE Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts compiles the key numbers and structural details in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
GACE Elementary Education (P-5) (702) is used by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission to certify that a candidate is qualified to teach pre-K through fifth-grade students in Georgia. Passing it is a required step in the state's educator certification process.
The complete assessment has 150 selected-response questions total, split evenly across five testlets of 30 questions each: ELA, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, and The Arts, Health, and Wellness.
Yes. The assessment is modular, so you can register for and take testlets separately rather than completing all five in a single appointment, and you can retake individual testlets if needed.
Registering for all five testlets together costs $169. Registering one testlet at a time costs $34 per testlet, which can add up to more if you eventually take all five separately.
You need a cumulative scaled score of at least 220 across all five testlets, and you must also meet the minimum floor score required on each individual testlet.