FTCE ENG 013 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt

What the FTCE ENG 013 Actually Tests

The FTCE English 6-12 (013) exam is the credentialing test the Florida Department of Education uses to verify that a candidate is ready to teach secondary English language arts. It is developed and delivered by the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson under Rule 6A-4.0021 F.A.C. and Section 1012.56 Florida Statutes, and it is not a generic "English knowledge" quiz. It is built around eight defined competencies that map directly to what a 6-12 ELA teacher does daily: analyzing language use, teaching communication skills, guiding literacy development, selecting and interpreting texts, coaching listening and speaking, applying pedagogy, using assessment data, and finally, scoring a real piece of student writing.

If you're just getting oriented, our overview of what FTCE ENG 013 is and our breakdown of FTCE ENG 013 requirements are good starting points before you dive into content review. This guide assumes you already know you need the certification and want a concrete plan to pass on your first sitting.

Exam Format, Fees, and Retake Rules

The FTCE ENG 013 is delivered by computer at Pearson VUE test centers, Monday through Saturday. As of 2025 there were 45 Florida sites, 284 out-of-state sites, and 91 military/DoD-only locations, so out-of-state and military candidates have real scheduling options.

The exam has two independently scored sections:

• Multiple-Choice Section: approximately 60 scored questions in 1 hour 30 minutes. Some forms include unscored field-test items mixed in, which you cannot identify, so treat every question as if it counts.
• Written Performance Section: one essay in 1 hour, scored holistically by two independent raters on a 1-to-4 scale each.

Total testing time is 2 hours 30 minutes. Registration costs $150 to sit for both sections in the same appointment, or $75 to register for just one - and that fee is identical whether it's your first attempt or a retake. Fee waivers exist under the Don Hahnfeldt Act for active-duty military, honorably discharged veterans and their spouses or surviving spouses, and for retired first responders, but waivers only apply to initial attempts.

Because the two sections have been reported independently since January 1, 2015, you don't have to re-sit a section you already passed. Fail the multiple-choice section but pass the essay? You only schedule the multiple-choice retake. For full pricing scenarios, see the FTCE ENG 013 certification cost breakdown, and for scheduling windows and blackout considerations, check FTCE ENG 013 exam dates.

Domain-by-Domain Breakdown

The multiple-choice section is built from seven weighted competencies, and the written section stands alone as an eighth. Knowing the weights tells you where to spend your review hours. For the full topic-by-topic walkthrough of each competency, see our complete guide to all 8 content areas.

Passing the Written Performance Section

The Written Performance Section is entirely Domain 8: your ability to produce a written analysis of a literary text under timed conditions. You get one hour to read the prompt, plan, draft, and revise a single essay - no second chances within the appointment.

Two independent raters each score your essay holistically on a 1-to-4 scale, and the combined total must reach at least 5 out of 8 points. This standard took effect January 1, 2025, replacing the previous 8-out-of-12 rubric, so if you've seen older study materials referencing a 12-point scale, disregard them - the current benchmark is 5 of 8.

Because raters score holistically, structure and clarity matter as much as literary insight. A well-organized essay that directly answers the prompt with specific textual evidence will consistently outscore a more "creative" response that wanders off-topic. One important warning: writing a pre-prepared, memorized essay and adapting it to the prompt is classified as cheating and will invalidate your score, no matter how strong the writing looks.

For the exact numeric target and how the two rubric scores combine, see FTCE ENG 013 passing score.

A Domain-Aligned Study Timeline

Rather than a generic weekly template, sequence your review around the competency weights. This timeline assumes a five-week runway before your test date; compress or extend it based on how much time you have before your scheduled Pearson VUE appointment.

For a condensed reference you can review the night before, our one-page cheat sheet of must-know facts is built specifically for last-minute review, not initial learning.

How Scoring and Passing Actually Work

FDOE publishes a maximum of 67 percent correct as the benchmark needed to pass a multiple-choice form, a figure updated February 2, 2026. That number can be misleading if taken at face value: harder equated forms require fewer correct answers to hit the passing scaled score of 200, because Pearson equates difficulty across different test forms. In practice, this means your actual required raw score depends on which form you receive, not a fixed percentage.

Multiple-choice results appear at the test center immediately, with the comprehensive score report following about two weeks later. Essay scores take longer - roughly four weeks - because two raters must independently score every response.

Once you pass, that score is valid for certification applications submitted within 10 years of the test date, and your score report stays accessible in your candidate account for five years. If you want the underlying pass-rate data broken down by section and attempt number, our FTCE ENG 013 pass rate analysis covers the 2025 figures in detail, and how hard the exam really is puts those numbers in context against candidate experience.

Registration and Test-Day Logistics

There are no prerequisites and no eligibility screening to register for the FTCE ENG 013 - anyone can sign up, and there's no cap on how many times you can attempt it (within the wait-period rules above). That openness makes it tempting to register before you're ready, but given the 31-day and three-year retest windows, a rushed first attempt can cost you months of delay if you fail a section.

You can register for both sections together for $150, or split them at $75 each if you'd rather focus your prep on one section at a time - a reasonable strategy if your writing skills are stronger than your content recall, or vice versa. Testing is available Monday through Saturday, giving more scheduling flexibility than exams limited to weekday slots.

Before you book, confirm your testing center location and available dates through your Pearson VUE account, and review FTCE ENG 013 exam dates for how far in advance you should register to secure your preferred seat.

Who Hires FTCE ENG 013-Certified Teachers

Passing the FTCE ENG 013 is the subject-area certification requirement for teaching secondary English language arts in Florida public schools, typically grades 6 through 12. Florida school districts hiring for middle and high school English positions - literature, composition, reading-intensive ELA courses - use this credential as part of the certification pathway required by the Florida Department of Education. If you're weighing whether the investment of time and testing fees pays off relative to job opportunities, see our ROI analysis of the certification and the salary guide for a fuller picture, and browse FTCE ENG 013 job pathways for where this certification opens doors. You can also start building familiarity with the question formats right now using practice questions modeled on the real exam structure.

Frequently Asked Questions