- FTCE ENG 013 is the Florida English 6-12 subject-area exam governed by the FDOE under Rule 6A-4.0021 F.A.C.
- It has two independently scored sections: ~60 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes and one essay in 60 minutes.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 200+ on the multiple-choice section and 5 of 8 points on the essay rubric.
- Competency 2 (communication skills) and Competency 4 (literary/informational texts) carry the heaviest multiple-choice weight.
What Is FTCE ENG 013, Exactly?
FTCE English 6-12 (013) is the Florida Teacher Certification Examination that verifies whether a candidate has the subject-area knowledge and pedagogical skill to teach English Language Arts to students in grades 6 through 12. It is one of dozens of subject-area FTCE exams, and it is often referred to simply by its exam code, "013." If you have searched "what is a FTCE ENG 013," the short answer is this: it's a two-section, computer-based certification test covering language, literature, composition, and instructional practice specific to secondary English teaching in Florida.
This is distinct from generic writing assessments or from other credentials that happen to share similar-sounding acronyms. Everything in this article refers only to FTCE English 6-12 (013) as defined by the Florida Department of Education. For a full breakdown of what the credential means and where it fits into the broader certification path, see FTCE ENG 013 Certification and FTCE ENG 013 Meaning.
Who Governs and Administers the Exam
The exam is governed by the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Postsecondary Assessment, under Rule 6A-4.0021 F.A.C. and Section 1012.56 of the Florida Statutes. Test development and delivery are handled by the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson. Computer-based testing is offered Monday through Saturday at Pearson VUE testing centers, and as of 2025 candidates could test at 45 sites within Florida, 284 sites outside the state, and 91 military or DoD-only locations. This distributed network means most candidates - including those completing coursework out of state or serving in the military - have a reasonably accessible testing option.
Because Pearson handles delivery under FDOE's rules, the exam content, scoring standards, and retake windows are governed centrally, not by individual school districts or teacher-preparation programs. If you want a deeper look at eligibility mechanics, review FTCE ENG 013 Requirements.
How the Exam Is Structured
FTCE ENG 013 consists of two sections that together run 2 hours and 30 minutes:
- Multiple-Choice Section: approximately 60 scored multiple-choice questions in 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Written Performance Section: one essay task in 1 hour, scored entirely against Domain 8.
Some test forms include additional unscored field-test questions mixed in with the scored items; these are used by FDOE to evaluate future items and do not affect your result, though you cannot identify which questions are field-test items during the exam. Since January 1, 2015, the two sections have been administered, scored, and reported independently. That means a candidate who passes the multiple-choice section but falls short on the essay only needs to retake the Written Performance Section - not the entire exam.
Key Takeaway
Because the sections are scored independently, plan your prep time separately for multiple-choice content mastery and essay-writing technique. A weak essay score does not require you to redo multiple-choice questions you already passed.
The Eight Knowledge Domains
FTCE ENG 013 content is organized into eight competency domains. Seven are assessed through multiple-choice questions; the eighth governs the entire Written Performance Section. Understanding the weight of each domain helps you allocate study time proportionally rather than spreading effort evenly across topics that matter unevenly on test day.
Domain 2: Communication Skills, Techniques, and Processes (18%)
This is the single heaviest-weighted multiple-choice domain. It covers the mechanics and strategy of written and oral communication that a secondary English teacher must model and teach.
- Grammar, usage, and style conventions at a postsecondary level of precision
- Revision and editing strategies appropriate for varied audiences and purposes
- Rhetorical strategies across argumentative, expository, and narrative modes
Domain 4: Literary and Informational Texts (17%)
The second-heaviest domain requires broad familiarity with texts across genres, periods, and cultures, plus the analytical vocabulary to discuss them.
- Literary elements, devices, and structures across poetry, drama, and prose
- Comparative analysis of informational and literary texts
- Historical and cultural context as it shapes interpretation
The remaining domains carry lighter but still meaningful weight:
- Domain 1 (15%): Knowledge of effective use of the English language at the postsecondary level.
- Domain 3 (15%): Knowledge of literacy processes and instructional practices.
- Domain 5 (10%): Effective techniques for listening, viewing, speaking, and presenting.
- Domain 6 (15%): Pedagogical content knowledge for teaching English language arts.
- Domain 7 (10%): Assessments and use of assessment data to drive instructional decisions.
- Domain 8 (100% of Written Performance): Ability to evaluate a student's written analysis of a literary text.
Domain 8 deserves special attention because it functions differently than the others. Instead of testing your own literary analysis skill in isolation, it tests your ability to evaluate a sample of student writing - a task that mirrors what you will actually do as a classroom teacher grading essays. For a full walkthrough of each competency with sample question angles, see FTCE ENG 013 Exam Domains Guide.
How Scoring and Passing Actually Work
To pass FTCE ENG 013, you need both of the following:
- A scaled score of at least 200 on the Multiple-Choice Section.
- At least 5 out of 8 total points on the Written Performance rubric.
The 5-out-of-8 essay standard took effect January 1, 2025, replacing a prior 8-out-of-12 rubric. Under the current system, two independent raters each score the essay holistically on a 1-to-4 scale, and their scores are combined. FDOE also publishes a maximum percentage of correct answers needed to pass a given multiple-choice form - 67 percent as of the February 2, 2026 update - with the caveat that harder equated forms require fewer correct answers to reach the same scaled-score threshold of 200. This equating process is standard practice for exams that use multiple test forms and helps ensure fairness across administration dates.
Score reporting is staggered: multiple-choice results appear at the test center, with a comprehensive score report following about two weeks later, while essay scores typically release roughly four weeks after the test date. Passing scores remain valid for certification applications submitted within 10 years of the test date, and your score reports stay accessible in your candidate account for five years. For the exact numeric thresholds and how they translate to rubric performance, see FTCE ENG 013 Passing Score.
Registration, Fees, and Retake Rules
Registration for FTCE ENG 013 has no prerequisites and no eligibility screening - anyone may register, and there is no cap on the number of attempts. The fee structure is straightforward:
| Option | Fee |
|---|---|
| Both sections (Multiple-Choice + Written Performance) | $150 |
| Single section only | $75 |
| First attempt vs. retake | Identical fee either way |
Retake timing follows fixed windows: a failed test, subtest, or section can be retaken after 31 calendar days, while a passed section cannot be retaken for three years. Testing outside either window invalidates the new attempt and no score report is issued - so mark your calendar carefully if you're retaking only one section. Fee waivers exist for initial attempts only, available to active-duty military members, honorably discharged veterans and their spouses or surviving spouses under the Don Hahnfeldt Act, and to retired first responders. For a complete cost breakdown including waiver eligibility, see FTCE ENG 013 Certification Cost, and for how test dates and scheduling windows work in practice, check FTCE ENG 013 Exam Dates.
Who Takes This Certification and Why
FTCE ENG 013 is taken by candidates seeking Florida certification to teach English Language Arts at the middle and high school levels - grades 6 through 12. This includes traditional teacher-preparation program graduates, career-changers entering education through alternative certification routes, and out-of-state teachers transferring credentials into Florida. School districts hiring for English, language arts, reading, and composition positions at the secondary level use passage of this exam as a certification gateway required by state statute.
Because the exam blends content knowledge (literature, grammar, rhetoric) with pedagogy (Domains 3, 6, and 7) and a direct writing-evaluation task (Domain 8), it is designed to filter for candidates who can both analyze texts and teach the analytical process to teenagers - not simply demonstrate personal literary knowledge. If you're weighing whether pursuing this credential makes sense for your career plans, Is FTCE ENG 013 Certification Worth It? and FTCE ENG 013 Jobs cover the employment angle, while FTCE ENG 013 Salary Guide looks at compensation considerations.
Building a Domain-Aware Study Plan
Rather than studying every domain equally, sequence your preparation around exam weight and section format. Because Domain 2 and Domain 4 together account for roughly a third of the multiple-choice weight, they deserve early and repeated attention. Domain 8, meanwhile, is worth practicing as its own skill: evaluating sample student essays against a rubric is different from writing your own analysis, so timed practice grading exercises matter as much as grammar review.
Domain 2 and Domain 1 Foundations
- Review grammar, usage, and rhetorical strategy questions
- Practice postsecondary-level language-use items
Domain 4 Text Breadth
- Cover literary devices across genres and periods
- Practice comparing literary vs. informational passages
Pedagogy Domains 3, 6, 7
- Study literacy instructional practices and assessment data use
- Connect classroom scenarios to multiple-choice answer choices
Domain 8 Essay Evaluation Practice
- Score sample student essays against the 1-to-4 rubric
- Time yourself within the 1-hour Written Performance limit
A full-length practice run on a timed platform like our FTCE ENG 013 practice tests helps surface which of the eight domains still need attention before you commit to a registration date. For a structured week-by-week plan with more detail, see the FTCE ENG 013 Study Guide, and if you want a condensed reference of every must-know fact, bookmark the FTCE ENG 013 Cheat Sheet.
Whichever study path you choose, running timed practice sets on the main practice test platform before test day is one of the few ways to simulate the actual 90-minute multiple-choice pacing and the 60-minute essay window under realistic conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. There are no prerequisites and no eligibility screening for registration - anyone may register for the exam, though certification applications have their own separate requirements through the Florida Department of Education.
Yes. Since January 1, 2015, the Multiple-Choice Section and Written Performance Section have been scored and reported independently, so you only need to retake the section you failed.
You must wait 31 calendar days before retaking a failed test, subtest, or section. Testing sooner invalidates the new score and no report is issued.
You need at least 5 out of 8 total points on the Written Performance rubric, based on two independent raters each scoring holistically on a 1-to-4 scale. This standard took effect January 1, 2025.
No. The fee is identical for first attempts and retakes: $150 for both sections or $75 for a single section.