- FTCE ENG 013 is FTCE English 6-12, governed by the Florida DOE under Rule 6A-4.0021 F.A.C.
- It has two independently scored sections: ~60 multiple-choice items (90 minutes) plus one essay (60 minutes).
- Passing requires a scaled score of at least 200 on the multiple-choice section and 5 of 8 points on the essay rubric.
- The full fee is $150, or $75 to retake just one failed section - the same price for first attempts and retakes.
What Is FTCE ENG 013?
FTCE ENG 013 is the code for the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations English 6-12 test, one of the subject-area exams Florida uses to certify middle and high school English teachers. Passing it demonstrates that a candidate has the content knowledge and pedagogical understanding needed to teach English language arts to students in grades 6 through 12. It is not a general teaching credential by itself; it's the subject-area component that, alongside other state requirements, supports a Florida teaching certificate in English.
The exam is built around eight knowledge domains that span language use, literacy instruction, literary analysis, and assessment practices. If you're just starting to research the exam, it helps to read a broader breakdown of the FTCE ENG 013 certification before diving into domain-by-domain preparation.
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, which administers the computer-based test Monday through Saturday at Pearson VUE testing centers.
In 2025, candidates could sit for the exam at 45 sites within Florida, 284 sites outside the state, and 91 military or DoD-only testing locations - meaning candidates living outside Florida, including active-duty service members, generally have a nearby option without traveling to the state.
Key Takeaway
You don't need to be in Florida to test - out-of-state and military candidates have hundreds of Pearson VUE options available nationwide.
Exam Format and Timing
FTCE ENG 013 has two sections that together take 2 hours and 30 minutes:
- Multiple-Choice Section: approximately 60 scored questions, 1 hour 30 minutes. Some forms include unscored field-test items mixed in that don't affect your score, so you won't know which questions are "real" during the test.
- Written Performance Section: one essay task, 1 hour, scored 100% on Domain 8 - the ability to evaluate a student's written analysis of a literary text.
Since January 1, 2015, the two sections have been scored and reported independently. This matters practically: if you pass the multiple-choice section but fail the essay (or vice versa), you only need to retake the section you failed - not the entire exam. For a full breakdown of item types and pacing, the FTCE ENG 013 Study Guide 2026 walks through how to allocate time across both sections.
The 8 Knowledge Domains
Everything on the multiple-choice section maps to seven weighted competencies, and the essay is entirely its own domain. Understanding the exact weighting helps you decide where to spend study hours.
Domain 1: Effective Use of the English Language at the Postsecondary Level (15%)
Covers grammar, usage, mechanics, and language conventions candidates must apply at a level appropriate for teaching secondary students.
- Sentence structure, syntax, and correct usage in formal writing
Domain 2: Communication Skills, Techniques, and Processes (18%)
The single heaviest-weighted competency on the multiple-choice section. It covers the writing process, rhetorical strategies, and how communication skills are taught and applied.
- Highest-weighted competency - prioritize this domain in review
Domain 3: Literacy Processes and Instructional Practices (15%)
Focuses on how reading and writing development works and how instructional practices support literacy growth in secondary classrooms.
- Reading comprehension strategies and literacy instruction models
Domain 4: A Wide Range of Literary and Informational Texts (17%)
The second-heaviest weighted area, covering analysis of literature across genres and periods alongside informational and nonfiction texts.
- Second-highest weight - expect broad genre and era coverage
Domain 5: Listening, Viewing, Speaking, and Presenting (10%)
Covers effective techniques for oral and visual communication instruction, a smaller but still tested slice of the exam.
Domain 6: Pedagogical Content for Teaching English Language Arts (15%)
Tests instructional design and pedagogy specific to English language arts classrooms.
Domain 7: Assessments and Using Data to Drive Instruction (10%)
Covers how various assessment types are used and how data informs instructional decisions in the ELA classroom.
Domain 8: Evaluating a Student's Written Analysis of a Literary Text (100% of Written Performance Section)
This is the essay section's sole focus: demonstrating the ability to assess and respond to a student's written literary analysis, scored holistically.
For a deeper dive into each competency with sample question styles, see the FTCE ENG 013 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 8 Content Areas.
Registration, Fees, and Retake Rules
There are no prerequisites and no eligibility screening to register for FTCE ENG 013 - anyone can sign up, and there's no cap on how many times you can attempt it. Fees are straightforward:
- $150 to sit for both sections together
- $75 to sit for a single section (same price whether it's a first attempt or a retake)
Fee waivers exist for initial attempts only, covering active-duty military members, honorably discharged veterans and their spouses or surviving spouses under the Don Hahnfeldt Act, and retired first responders.
Retake timing has strict rules: a failed section can be retaken after 31 calendar days, while a passed section cannot be retaken for three years. Testing outside those windows invalidates the new score, and no report is issued. Passing scores remain valid for certification applications submitted within 10 years of the test date, and score reports stay accessible in your candidate account for five years. Full pricing scenarios, including waiver eligibility, are covered in the FTCE ENG 013 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
What Passing Actually Requires
Passing FTCE ENG 013 means clearing two separate bars:
| Section | Passing Standard | Scoring Method |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple-Choice | Scaled score of at least 200 | Machine-scored; FDOE publishes 67% as the maximum correct-answer percentage needed on a given form, with harder forms requiring fewer correct answers |
| Written Performance | At least 5 of 8 total points | Two independent raters, each scoring holistically on a 1-to-4 scale |
The 5-of-8 rubric standard took effect January 1, 2025, replacing a previous 8-of-12 scale. Multiple-choice results appear at the test center immediately, with comprehensive scores available roughly two weeks later; essay scores take about four weeks to release. For the exact numbers behind each threshold, see the FTCE ENG 013 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass, and for context on how candidates actually perform, the FTCE ENG 013 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows breaks down first-attempt versus retake outcomes by section.
Who Takes This Exam and Why
Most candidates are aspiring or current secondary English teachers pursuing Florida certification to teach grades 6-12 English language arts. Others are career-changers moving into education, out-of-state teachers relocating to Florida, or current teachers adding an English endorsement to an existing certificate. Because there's no eligibility screening, candidates can register and test before completing every other certification requirement - though the score only supports an actual certification application once other state requirements are also met.
If you're evaluating whether pursuing this credential fits your career goals, the Is the FTCE ENG 013 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 article and the FTCE ENG 013 Jobs page both look at where this credential leads. For the specific eligibility and application steps, review FTCE ENG 013 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Mapping a Study Plan to the Domains
Because Domain 2 (communication skills, techniques, and processes) and Domain 4 (literary and informational texts) carry the most multiple-choice weight at 18% and 17%, a smart study sequence front-loads those two areas before moving into the smaller-weighted domains like listening/speaking (10%) or assessment (10%). A simple week-by-week structure - spending early weeks on the heaviest domains, then rotating through the writing-process rubric criteria for Domain 8 - helps you avoid over-studying low-yield topics.
Domain 2 and Domain 4
- Review rhetorical strategies, the writing process, and genre-based literary analysis since these two domains make up 35% of the multiple-choice section combined
Domains 1, 3, and 6
- Language conventions, literacy instruction, and ELA pedagogy - each weighted 15%
Domains 5 and 7
- Listening/speaking techniques and assessment data use, the two smallest weights at 10% each
Domain 8 essay practice
- Practice evaluating sample student literary analyses under a 1-hour time limit, since this domain is 100% of the Written Performance Section
Once you have a domain-weighted plan, timed practice under real exam conditions matters more than passive review. Running full-length simulations on a practice test platform before test day helps you gauge pacing across the roughly 60 multiple-choice items in 90 minutes, and repeating essay prompts on a strict 60-minute clock builds the stamina Domain 8 demands.
Before you schedule your test date, double-check the current testing calendar and blackout windows in the FTCE ENG 013 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling guide, and keep a condensed reference nearby using the FTCE ENG 013 Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts in your final review week. Pairing that quick-reference material with regular timed drills on our practice tests is the most efficient way to walk into test day prepared for both sections.
FAQ
It refers to the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations English 6-12 subject-area test, code 013, used for certifying middle and high school English teachers in Florida.
There are two sections - multiple-choice and written performance - scored and reported independently since January 1, 2015. If you fail only one, you retake only that section for $75.
You need a scaled score of at least 200 on the multiple-choice section and at least 5 out of 8 points on the written performance rubric, a standard in effect since January 1, 2025.
You must wait 31 calendar days after a failed attempt before retesting that section. Testing before that window invalidates the new score and no report is issued.
No. There are no prerequisites and no eligibility screening - anyone can register for FTCE ENG 013, and there is no limit on the number of attempts allowed.