FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5–9 (038): Best Study Resources

So you’re taking the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) exam and you’re asking some of the following questions:

Where do I find a free practice test?
An exam breakdown?
How do I register for the test?

Those are all great questions, and you’ve found the right place to get them answered!

My name is Meaghan Flaherty, and at TestPrepPractice we are here to help you get familiar with everything you need to know about the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) exam.

FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 Video Overviews

In this video, 240 Tutoring will break down what you need to know about FTCE scores. This is super helpful so you can know what you will need to earn to pass.

Unsure about how much the FTCE will cost? This is the video for you! 240 Tutoring will break down the costs of the FTCE.

Do you have questions about the registration process? 240 Tutoring walks you through everything you need to know about registering for the FTCE’s in this short video.

In this video 240 Tutoring will discuss which exams you need to take to earn your certification. It’s likely you will be required to take more than one exam in the FTCE series. This video will help you figure out the ones you need to take.

First Thing to Know

The FTCE, or Florida Teacher Certification Examinations, are a series of exams that offer teacher candidates the opportunity to demonstrate the necessary pedagogical and content knowledge to teach students in Florida. The FTCE include several types of exams: general knowledge, leadership, and subject area exams.

The FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) exam is used to assess the content knowledge of educators interested in teaching social science for grades 5-9.

What does “038” mean? The identification number for the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5–9 is 038. This number helps test administrators and agencies identify the specific exam by its number instead of using the entire name.

FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 Exam Breakdown

The FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5–9 (038) exam is a CBT (computer-based test) made up of five competency areas assessed through 120 multiple-choice questions. You will have two and a half hours to complete the exam unless you qualify for accommodations.

You must complete the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) exam in one session. If you do not pass and need to retake the exam, you have to retake the entire exam. You have to wait at least 31 days after your most recent attempt to retake the exam.

What is a Passing Score

You need a scaled score of at least 200 to pass the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) exam. It is important to note that points are not deducted for wrong answers! It is better to make an educated guess than to leave answers blank. You should receive a pass/non-pass status immediately after completing the test. You will receive the official score within four weeks of taking the exam.

How to Register for the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 Exam

New to Teaching?

If you are completely new to education, you will need to complete a teacher certification program before taking any exams. Florida offers several pathways to certification. You can review them here.

If you are making a career change, you can view Florida’s alternative certification program here.

After you decide which pathway works best for you and have completed the necessary program, you can register for your exam.

Create an account here by clicking the “Create Account” button.
Create a username and password.
Enter the required personal information. It is important to enter this information correctly or you might experience delays or problems receiving your scores.
Review and confirm your personal information.
After you create an account and log in, you will be taken to your account home page. From here, you can register for an exam.
Click “Register for the FTCE/FELE” to select a test.
Read and agree to testing policies.
If you qualify for accommodations, you will need to request them while registering.
Select the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) from the menu and agree to the retake information.
Complete the background information questions and select where your scores will be sent. You are encouraged to submit your scores to your institution or certification program so they can evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the preparation program.
Review the rescheduling/absentee policies.
Verify your registration information to ensure you have selected the correct exam and institution/district to receive your scores.
Return to your account homepage and you should see your exam under “Open Registrations.”
You are almost done! Click schedule to select the testing site, time, and date of your exam.
Review your registration and submit payment.

You have successfully registered to take the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) exam! Congrats! You will arrive at the testing center on the day you selected and complete your exam. Once you pass the exam and any other required exams, you will be certified to teach social science in grades 5-9!

Already Certified?

If you are already certified to teach in Florida, this process should be relatively easy.

Log in to the FTCE/FELE Registration Page. If it has been a while since you logged in, you might need to click “Forgot your username?” or “Forgot your password?” to access your login information.
Once you log in, click “Register for the FTCE/FELE” to select a test.
Read and agree to testing policies.
If you qualify for accommodations, you will need to request them while registering.
Select the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) from the menu and agree to the retake information.
Complete the background information questions and select where your scores will be sent. You are encouraged to submit your scores to your institution or certification program so they can evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the preparation program.
Review the rescheduling/absentee policies.
Verify your registration information to ensure you have selected the correct exam and institution/district to receive your scores.
Return to your account homepage and you should see your exam under “Open Registrations.”
You are almost done! Click schedule to select the testing site, time, and date of your exam.
Review your registration and submit payment.

You are now registered to take the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) exam! You will arrive at the testing center on the day you selected and complete your exam. Once you pass the exam, you are qualified to teach social science in grades 5-9 in the state of Florida as long as you have met any other requirements!

Congratulations!

FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5–9 (038) Free Practice Test

Now that you have registered for the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) exam, you’re probably wondering if you will pass.

One great way to get started studying is to take a practice test. There are so many practice tests out there it can feel overwhelming. How do you know which one to choose?

You have come to the right place! We’ve done the research for you and found the most reliable practice tests for the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) exam.

Best Free Practice Test

240 Tutoring’s FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) Diagnostic Practice Test

240 Tutoring has been helping teachers pass their exams since 2011. They offer an online, completely free practice test for the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) exam. This practice test will give you a free score breakdown, so you can see exactly what you need to study.

FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5–9 (038) Paid Practice Test

Best Paid Practice Test

240 Tutoring’s Online FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 Study Guide

In addition to their free practice test, 240 Tutoring also offers a full study guide and practice test. Their FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) Study Guide has close to 300 practice questions, more than 60 pages of material, and flash cards! So you are definitely getting a lot for your money.

One of the best things? The guide comes with a money-back guarantee that you will pass the test.

BONUS: 240 Tutoring is a month-to-month subscription service. You will get all of their FTCE study guides — including the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) guide — for one monthly price of $39.99. By subscribing to one guide, you gain access to all study guides in that series. This is an especially great deal if you are planning to take multiple exams in a series!

Runner-Up for Practice Test

FTCE/FELE’s Practice Test

FTCE/FELE offers a free 30-question practice test to help you get comfortable with the test format and some of the content. This practice test is good because it is created by the test makers. Each question tells you which competency it comes from, which is helpful to guide your studying. However, since it is only 30 questions, it is not entirely comprehensive. You will most likely need an additional practice test to identify the content areas you need to study. Also, unlike other practice tests, this one does not provide explanations for the correct answer.

FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) Practice Test

Honorable Mention

Mometrix FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) Practice Test

Mometrix provides a free 10-question practice test. One good thing about this practice test is that the questions are similar to what you will see on the actual test, and they are accompanied by explanations why the answers are correct. The negative side of this practice test is that it is very short: only 10 questions. It will be difficult to identify which content areas you need to review from just 10 questions and you’ll most likely need an additional practice test to help you guide your studying.

Mometrix FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) Practice Test

FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5–9 (038) Free Study Guide

Now that you have taken some practice tests, you’re ready to start studying. Where do you begin? It can be a bit overwhelming to get started, especially with so many study guides available. How do you know which ones are reliable and cost effective?

Don’t worry! We’ve done the work for you and found the best free and paid study guides for the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) exam.

Best Free Study Guide

240 Tutoring’s FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) Ultimate Guide

240 Tutoring’s Ultimate Guide is a great resource. Not only does it provide a thorough overview of the exam, it also includes specific examples of content you might see on the test. They even provide you with some helpful test-taking tips!

FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5–9 (038) Paid Study Guide

Best Paid Study Guide

240 Tutoring’s Online FTCE Middle Grades Social Studies 5-9 Study Guide

In addition to their free Ultimate Guide, 240 Tutoring also offers a paid study guide. Their FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) Study Guide has close to 300 practice questions, more than 60 pages of material, and flash cards! So you are definitely getting a lot for your money.

One of my favorite things? The guide comes with a money-back guarantee that you will pass the test.

BONUS: 240 Tutoring is a month-to-month subscription service. You will get all of their FTCE study guides — including the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) guide — for one monthly price of $39.99. By subscribing to one guide, you gain access to all study guides in that series. This is an especially great deal if you are planning to take multiple exams in a series!

Runner-Up for Study Guide

Study.com

Study.com offers a comprehensive study course for the FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) exam. Their course is almost overwhelming and includes more than 450 lessons, more than 50 chapters, and video lessons! This course costs $59.99 per month and comes with a 30-day risk-free money back guarantee.

Study.com’s FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) Study Guide

Honorable Mention

Mometrix

Mometrix offers a thorough FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) study guide. The Mometrix study guide includes content overview, practice questions, and test-taking tips. You have the option to purchase a printed book or an e-book, whichever works better for you. Both options are $39.99 and come with a 100% money-back guarantee for one year.

Mometrix FTCE Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 (038) Study Guide

About the Author

Maegan Flaherty

Meaghan Flaherty

Meaghan is a former educator with six years of experience working with second and third graders. She has spent time volunteering in Costa Rica, Chile, and Peru, where she studied Spanish and tutored children at local schools. Meaghan has a master’s degree in education with a focus in literacy from UTSA. In her free time she enjoys traveling, hiking, camping, reading, and knitting.

Competency	Approximate Percentage of Exam
Knowledge of history	33%
Knowledge of geography	25%
Knowledge of civics and government	25%
Knowledge of economics	10%
Knowledge of social science curriculum and instruction	7%