United States
Hong KongIs the FTCE General Knowledge Test multiple choice?
Three of the four subtests are. English Language Skills, Reading and Mathematics are 95 multiple-choice questions between them, scored by machine at the test center. The fourth subtest is a written essay of 50 minutes, scored holistically by two qualified raters whose scores are summed to a passing total of 6.
Mostly, and the exception is the part candidates most often forget to plan for.
Which subtests are which
| Subtest | Format | Questions | Minutes | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay (825) | One written response | n/a | 50 | Two qualified raters |
| English Language Skills (826) | Multiple choice | 30 | 40 | Machine, at the center |
| Reading (827) | Multiple choice | 30 | 55 | Machine, at the center |
| Mathematics (828) | Multiple choice | 35 | 100 | Machine, at the center |
Format and timings from the FTCE Test Structure document effective 1 January 2026.
The essay is a whole subtest, not a section
It has its own code, its own registration and its own pass standard. You write one response to a choice of one to four prompts, in 50 minutes. Two independent qualified raters score it holistically at standardized sessions and their scores are summed, with 6 as the passing total under Rule 6A-4.0021.
It is also the subtest with the lowest published first-attempt pass rate of the four, at 64% in FLDOE's 2025 report. A multiple-choice-only revision plan walks straight into that.
What multiple choice does not mean here
It does not mean quick. Mathematics is multiple choice and gives you 100 minutes for 35 questions, because the questions take working out. English Language Skills is multiple choice and gives you 40 minutes for 30, which is the tightest clock on the test at about 1.33 minutes an item by our own division of FLDOE's figures.
Same format, entirely different pacing problems.
What we cannot show you
Official sample questions. Those live in the vendor's Test Information Guides, which are the vendor's copyright and are published on a site that blocks automated access. We do not reproduce or paraphrase them anywhere on this site, so what you get here is a description of the format from FLDOE's own documents and practice questions we wrote ourselves against the published competencies.
Common questions
Is the FTCE General Knowledge Test multiple choice?
Three of the four subtests are. English Language Skills, Reading and Mathematics carry 95 multiple-choice questions between them. The fourth subtest is a written essay, so the test is not entirely multiple choice.
Does the FTCE General Knowledge Test have an essay?
Yes. Subtest 825 is one written response to a choice of one to four prompts in 50 minutes, scored holistically by at least two qualified raters. Their scores are summed and the passing total is 6.
How many multiple-choice questions are there?
95 in total: 30 in English Language Skills, 30 in Reading and 35 in Mathematics. FLDOE notes that the number can vary between versions and that some questions may be experimental and unscored.
Are there any written answers besides the essay?
No. The other three subtests are multiple choice and are scored by machine at the test center, which is why you get those results the same day and wait about four weeks for the essay.
Do you publish official FTCE sample questions?
No. The official samples are in the vendor's Test Information Guides and are the vendor's copyright. Our practice questions are written against the competencies the state rule incorporates, which are public.