- FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) is a Florida Department of Education subject area exam covering grades 5-9 general science.
- It's roughly 80 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours 30 minutes, developed and delivered by Pearson (NES).
- Passing means hitting a scaled score of 200, with a published ceiling near 72% correct.
- Matter and Processes of Life tie as the biggest domains at 14% each; Space Science is smallest at 4%.
What FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Actually Means
FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) stands for the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations: Middle Grades General Science 5-9 (test code 004). Each piece of that name carries specific meaning. "FTCE" identifies the exam as part of Florida's statewide teacher certification testing system. "Middle Grades General Science" names the subject area - a broad science license covering chemistry, physics, Earth and space science, biology, and environmental science, rather than a single-discipline exam. "5-9" defines the grade band the certificate authorizes a teacher to instruct. And "(004)" is simply the numeric code Florida assigns to this specific subject area exam, distinguishing it from other middle grades or science-specific tests in the FTCE family.
If you've landed on this page wondering whether FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) is the same thing as some other exam you've heard about under a similar-sounding name, it isn't. This is Florida's own credentialing exam, tied exclusively to Florida teacher certification. For a broader definitional overview, see What Is FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004)? and FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Meaning, which unpack the same acronym from slightly different angles.
Who Governs and Administers the Exam
The Florida Department of Education governs the FTCE program and sets the policies around eligibility, retake windows, and score validity. The actual test - its questions, delivery, and scoring - is developed and administered by Pearson Evaluation Systems, often referenced by its NES designation. Candidates sit for the exam at computer-based testing centers located throughout Florida and at additional sites nationwide, which means out-of-state candidates pursuing Florida certification aren't required to travel into the state to test.
Because the Department of Education and Pearson split the policy and delivery roles, most procedural questions - rescheduling, score verification, accommodations - go through Pearson's testing infrastructure, while certification eligibility questions go through Florida's DOE. Understanding this division matters if you're trying to figure out where to direct a question, and it's covered in more depth in FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Requirements 2026.
What "Passing" Actually Requires
FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) consists of approximately 80 multiple-choice questions, each with four answer options, administered in a 2-hour-30-minute window. The question styles vary deliberately: you'll see direct questions, command items that ask you to identify or select something specific, sentence completions, scenario-based items that describe a classroom or lab situation, and graphic-based items built around diagrams, data tables, or charts. Some forms include unscored field-test questions mixed in, which candidates cannot identify during the test - so every item should be treated as if it counts.
No reference materials and no calculators are provided. That single fact reshapes how you should prepare: formulas, unit conversions, and periodic trends need to live in memory, not on a scratch sheet.
Passing requires a scaled score of at least 200. Because forms are equated for difficulty, the number of raw questions you need to answer correctly shifts slightly from form to form - but Florida's published maximum-percentage table puts the practical ceiling at roughly 72% correct. That means even strong candidates are expected to miss a meaningful chunk of questions and still pass, which is worth remembering when a practice session doesn't go perfectly. The mechanics of this scoring system are broken down further in FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Passing Score 2026 and in FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Pass Rate 2026.
Key Takeaway
You don't need a near-perfect score to pass FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004). Focus your energy on consistently strong performance across all nine domains rather than chasing 100% mastery of any single one.
The Nine Domains Behind the Acronym
Part of understanding what FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) means is understanding what it actually tests. The exam is organized into nine domains spanning physical science, life science, Earth and space science, environmental science, and two teaching-practice domains. Weighting is not even - some domains carry roughly three times the weight of others.
Domain 1: Structure and Behavior of Matter (14%)
Covers atomic structure, the periodic table, chemical bonding, states of matter, and stoichiometric reasoning - all without a calculator.
- Ties with Processes of Life as the highest-weighted domain
Domain 6: Processes of Life (14%)
Cellular processes, genetics, human body systems, and classification - the life-science core of the exam.
- Requires equal weight of attention as matter and chemistry content
Domains 2 and 3: Forces, Motion, and Energy (13% + 12%)
Together with Domain 1, the three physical-science domains make up 39% of the entire test - the single largest content cluster on the exam.
- Motion, forces, work, and energy transformations dominate this cluster
Domain 4: Earth and the Processes That Affect It (13%)
Plate tectonics, rock cycles, weather systems, and - notably - several skills anchored specifically to Florida geology, such as karst topography and sinkhole formation.
Domain 5: Space Science (4%)
By far the smallest domain on the exam, covering celestial motion, the solar system, and basic astronomy concepts.
- Don't over-invest study time here relative to its weight
Domain 7: Physical and Biological Factors on the Environment (10%)
Ecosystem interactions, energy flow, and human impact - with some content tied specifically to Florida ecosystems like the Everglades or coastal habitats.
Domains 8 and 9: Science Learning Environment and Process Skills (5% + 13%)
These two domains shift away from pure content knowledge toward classroom application: lab safety, chemical storage and disposal, care and handling of organisms, instructional technology, and the design of scientific investigations.
For a full item-by-item walkthrough of every domain and subskill, see FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 9 Content Areas.
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1. Structure and Behavior of Matter | 14% |
| 6. Processes of Life | 14% |
| 2. Forces and Motion | 13% |
| 4. Earth and the Processes That Affect It | 13% |
| 9. Process Skills and Scientific Inquiry | 13% |
| 3. Energy and Its Effects | 12% |
| 7. Effects on the Environment | 10% |
| 8. Science Learning Environment | 5% |
| 5. Space Science | 4% |
Registration, Fees, and Retake Rules
There is no prerequisite exam or coursework required just to register for FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) - anyone can schedule a sitting. However, actual certification as a teacher requires holding a bachelor's degree and completing appropriate subject-area preparation, so the exam itself and the full certification pathway are two separate hurdles.
Registration costs $150 for a first attempt, and every retake also costs $150 - Florida moved away from an older pricing structure that charged first attempts and retakes differently, so don't rely on outdated fee breakdowns you might find elsewhere. If a retake is needed, candidates must wait a minimum of 31 calendar days before sitting again, and there's no cap on how many times you can retake the exam. Once you've passed, though, you cannot retake that same test for three years. Score verification, if you want your results double-checked, costs $75, and score reports are typically released within four weeks of your test date.
If you're mapping out when to sit for the exam relative to a hiring timeline or graduation date, testing windows and scheduling logistics are covered in FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Exam Dates 2026, and full eligibility rules live in FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Requirements 2026.
Who Actually Needs This Credential
FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) exists for one primary purpose: to verify that a candidate seeking a Florida middle grades science teaching certificate has the content knowledge and pedagogical grounding to teach science to students roughly in grades 5 through 9. It's a required piece of the certification puzzle for aspiring and current teachers in Florida's public and many private school systems who want to be endorsed specifically in general science for this grade band, rather than a single discipline like biology or chemistry alone.
That broad scope is exactly why the physical-science cluster (Domains 1-3) carries so much combined weight - a middle grades general science teacher is expected to competently cover chemistry, physics, and energy concepts in the same classroom, sometimes within the same semester. Candidates coming from a biology-heavy undergraduate background often underestimate how much of the exam leans physical science, and candidates from a physics or chemistry background sometimes underestimate the life-science and environmental-science weight.
Whether the credential is a worthwhile investment for your specific career path, and what the certificate actually opens up in terms of teaching placements, is discussed in Is the FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026.
Turning the Definition Into a Study Plan
Once you understand what FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) means and how it's weighted, the practical next step is sequencing your preparation so time matches domain weight rather than personal comfort. A simple, exam-specific approach: front-load the three physical-science domains early since together they represent 39% of the test, treat Processes of Life and Structure and Behavior of Matter as co-equal priorities since they tie at 14% each, and deliberately cap your time on Space Science given its 4% weight - it's easy to over-study a topic that feels fun but barely moves your score.
Physical Science Cluster
- Cover Domains 1, 2, and 3 together since they combine for 39% of the exam
- Practice calculator-free problem solving, since no calculator is provided on test day
Life and Environmental Science
- Work through Domain 6 (Processes of Life) and Domain 7, including Florida-specific ecosystem content
Earth, Space, and Teaching Domains
- Study Domain 4 with attention to Florida geology topics like karst and sinkholes
- Cover Domain 5 briefly given its 4% weight, then move into Domains 8 and 9 on lab safety and inquiry design
This kind of weighted scheduling - rather than a generic study calendar - is the difference between reviewing everything equally and reviewing what actually shows up most often. A more detailed week-by-week plan, including how to layer in timed practice sets, is laid out in FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you want a single condensed reference to review in the final days before your test, FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Cheat Sheet 2026 compiles the must-know facts across all nine domains.
Running full-length, timed practice sessions under realistic conditions - no notes, no calculator, a strict 2.5-hour clock - is one of the most reliable ways to translate domain knowledge into exam-day performance. You can build that kind of repetition using the timed practice questions at the main practice test site, which mirrors the four-option, multiple-format structure you'll see on the actual FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004).
Frequently Asked Questions
No. There's no prerequisite exam or coursework needed to register for the test itself. Certification, however, still requires a bachelor's degree and appropriate subject-area preparation.
The exam contains approximately 80 multiple-choice questions, and candidates are given 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete it.
You need a scaled score of at least 200. Because forms are equated, the exact raw percentage needed varies slightly, but Florida's published table caps the maximum possible score at roughly 72% correct.
Yes, there's no limit on retake attempts, but you must wait at least 31 calendar days between sittings. Once you pass, you cannot retake that same test for three years.
Matter and Processes of Life tie as the highest-weighted domains at 14% each, and the three physical-science domains combined make up 39% of the test - prioritize those before spending significant time on Space Science, which is weighted at just 4%.