- FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) is a Florida Department of Education subject area exam administered by Pearson (NES).
- The test is about 80 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours 30 minutes, with no calculator or reference sheet allowed.
- Registration costs $150 per attempt, whether it's your first sitting or a retake.
- A scaled score of 200 is required to pass; Florida's equating tables cap the raw ceiling near 72% correct.
What the Certification Actually Is
FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) - the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations Middle Grades General Science 5-9 test - is the subject area exam Florida uses to confirm that a candidate has the science content knowledge required to teach general science to students in grades 5 through 9. It's not a course, a degree, or a training program by itself. It's a single, high-stakes computer-based exam that functions as a gatekeeper for adding the Middle Grades General Science endorsement to a Florida educator certificate.
Because the acronym "MGGS 5-9 (004)" sounds similar to other credentialing exams in unrelated fields, it's worth being precise: this page is exclusively about the Florida middle grades science exam. If you're researching what this certification means for your career path in Florida schools, our overview at What Is FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004)? covers the basics, and FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Meaning breaks down exactly what each part of the name refers to.
Who Governs and Administers the Exam
The Florida Department of Education owns the certification program and sets the standards. Pearson Evaluation Systems (NES) develops and administers the actual test, delivering it as a computer-based exam at testing centers throughout Florida and at select locations nationwide for out-of-state candidates. This structure matters because it explains why the exam feels standardized and psychometrically controlled - Pearson equates every form so that difficulty stays consistent across test dates, even though the specific questions you see will differ from another candidate's form.
Exam Format and Question Types
FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) is approximately 80 multiple-choice questions administered in a 2-hour-30-minute window. Every question offers four answer options, but the questions themselves aren't uniform in style. You'll encounter:
- Direct questions that ask you to identify a fact, definition, or relationship outright.
- Command items that instruct you to select, identify, or determine something from a given scenario.
- Sentence completions where you finish a statement with the most accurate scientific concept.
- Scenario-based items that describe a classroom situation, lab setup, or real-world phenomenon and ask you to apply content knowledge to it.
- Graphic-based items built around diagrams, data tables, graphs, or lab equipment images.
Some forms include unscored field-test questions mixed in with scored items - you won't be able to tell which is which, so every question deserves full attention. No calculators or reference materials are provided, which means formula recall, unit conversions, and basic dimensional analysis all have to happen in your head or on scratch paper. For a deeper breakdown of what makes this format challenging compared to other certification exams, see How Hard Is the FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
The Nine Content Domains
The exam blueprint is organized into nine domains spanning physical science, life science, Earth and space science, environmental science, and two pedagogy-adjacent domains focused on the science classroom itself. Weighting isn't even - some domains carry nearly three times the emphasis of others, which should directly shape how you allocate study time.
Domain 1: Structure and Behavior of Matter (14%)
Covers atomic structure, periodic trends, chemical bonding, states of matter, and stoichiometric reasoning at a conceptual and quantitative level.
- Balancing equations and predicting reaction types
- Physical vs. chemical property distinctions
Domain 2: Forces and Motion (13%)
Newtonian mechanics, motion graphs, simple machines, and force diagrams appear here, often through scenario or graphic-based items.
- Net force and acceleration calculations
- Momentum and mechanical advantage
Domain 3: Energy and Its Effects (12%)
Thermal, electrical, sound, and light energy transformations, along with conservation of energy principles.
- Energy transfer models (conduction, convection, radiation)
- Circuits and wave behavior
Domain 4: Earth and the Processes That Affect It (13%)
Plate tectonics, rock cycle, weathering, and weather systems - with several tested skills specifically anchored to Florida geology, such as karst topography and sinkhole formation.
- Florida-specific landforms and geologic processes
- Weather map interpretation
Domain 5: Space Science (4%)
The smallest domain by far, covering the solar system, celestial motion, and basic astronomy - a handful of items, but still worth reviewing efficiently.
- Seasons and lunar phases
- Scale of the solar system
Domain 6: Processes of Life (14%)
Cell biology, genetics, human body systems, and classification - tied with Domain 1 as the highest-weighted domain on the test.
- Cellular respiration and photosynthesis
- Mendelian genetics and inheritance patterns
Domain 7: Effects of Physical and Biological Factors on the Environment (10%)
Ecosystem dynamics, biogeochemical cycles, and human environmental impact, with items often referencing Florida ecosystems like wetlands and coastal habitats.
- Florida-specific ecosystem interactions
- Population and community ecology concepts
Domain 8: The Science Learning Environment (5%)
A pedagogy-focused domain covering laboratory safety, chemical storage and disposal, and proper care and handling of living organisms in the classroom.
- Safety protocols and hazard identification
- Instructional technology use in science teaching
Domain 9: Process Skills and Application of Scientific Inquiry (13%)
The design of scientific investigations, variable control, data interpretation, and the scientific method as applied to classroom experimentation.
- Identifying independent/dependent variables
- Evaluating experimental design flaws
Together, the three physical-science domains (Matter, Forces and Motion, Energy) make up 39% of the exam - the single biggest content cluster you'll face. For a full domain-by-domain study breakdown, visit FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 9 Content Areas.
Key Takeaway
Since physical science domains combine for 39% of the test, candidates coming from a biology-heavy background should budget extra review time for chemistry and physics concepts rather than assuming life science familiarity will carry them through.
Registration, Fees, and Retakes
Registering for FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) doesn't require passing any prerequisite exam or completing specific coursework beforehand - anyone eligible under Florida's certification pathway can schedule a sitting. That said, actually earning the certification requires holding a bachelor's degree along with appropriate subject-area preparation, so the exam itself is one piece of a larger eligibility picture. Full eligibility details live in FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
The registration fee is $150 per attempt - this applies uniformly whether it's your first try or a retake, replacing Florida's older pricing structure that used to charge differently for first attempts versus retakes. If you fail, you must wait 31 calendar days before retaking, and there's no cap on the number of retake attempts. Conversely, if you pass, you cannot retake the same test for three years. Score verification, if you want your results manually rechecked, costs $75, and score reports are typically released within four weeks of your test date.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Registration fee (any attempt) | $150 |
| Retake waiting period | 31 calendar days |
| Retake attempt limit | None |
| Wait after passing to retake | 3 years |
| Score verification fee | $75 |
| Score report turnaround | Within 4 weeks |
For a complete cost picture including how fees stack up across multiple attempts, see FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and for exact testing windows and scheduling logistics, check FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
How Passing Score Works
Passing requires a scaled score of at least 200. Because Pearson equates each test form for difficulty, the number of raw questions you need correct isn't fixed - it shifts slightly depending on the form's difficulty profile. Florida's published maximum-percentage table puts the practical ceiling at roughly 72% correct, meaning even a strong candidate isn't expected to answer every single question correctly to pass.
For a full explanation of how the scaled score converts and what it means practically for your study targets, read FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass. If you want context on how challenging this benchmark tends to be in practice, FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows looks at what the available data shows.
Who Needs This Certification
FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) is specifically for candidates seeking to teach general science in Florida's middle grades classrooms - typically grades 5 through 9. This includes traditional education majors finishing a teaching degree, career-changers entering education through alternative certification routes, and out-of-state teachers transferring their credentials into Florida's public school system. Florida school districts hiring middle school science teachers will list this certification (or active progress toward it) as a requirement in job postings.
If you're weighing whether pursuing this credential fits your career goals, Is the FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 walks through the considerations, and FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis looks at compensation expectations for certified teachers. For those specifically hunting for open positions, FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Jobs and FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Training cover the employment and preparation-program landscape respectively.
Building a Domain-Aware Study Plan
Generic study techniques like spaced repetition and timed practice sets are useful, but they only pay off when applied against the actual domain weights above. Since the three physical-science domains combine for 39% of the exam and Space Science sits at just 4%, an even split of study time across all nine domains wastes hours you could spend elsewhere.
Physical Science Core
- Structure and Behavior of Matter (Domain 1)
- Forces and Motion (Domain 2)
- Energy and Its Effects (Domain 3)
Life and Earth Science
- Processes of Life (Domain 6)
- Earth and the Processes That Affect It (Domain 4), including Florida geology specifics
Environment, Inquiry, and Classroom Practice
- Effects of Physical and Biological Factors on the Environment (Domain 7)
- Process Skills and Scientific Inquiry (Domain 9)
- The Science Learning Environment (Domain 8)
Space Science and Full Review
- Space Science (Domain 5) - light review given its 4% weight
- Timed full-length practice under exam conditions
Practicing without a calculator or reference sheet from day one is essential - the real exam gives you neither, so build that constraint into every practice session from the start. Working through timed questions on our FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) practice test platform is one of the most direct ways to simulate the actual format, including the mix of scenario-based and graphic-based items you'll see on test day. For a structured six-to-eight week plan with more detail, see the FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and keep a condensed reference like the FTCE MGGS 5-9 (004) Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts on hand during your final review week.
Key Takeaway
Allocate roughly proportional study time to domain weight - heavy focus on the 12-14% domains, moderate focus on 10-13% domains, and light final review for the 4-5% domains like Space Science and the Science Learning Environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It's a subject area exam required as part of earning the Middle Grades General Science endorsement on a Florida educator certificate, not a standalone license itself.
The exam contains approximately 80 multiple-choice questions, administered within a 2-hour-30-minute testing window, with four answer options per question.
No. No reference materials or calculators are provided, so all calculations for domains like Forces and Motion or Structure and Behavior of Matter must be done without tools.
Registration is $150 per attempt, and this same fee applies to retakes - there's no separate discounted retake price under the current fee structure.
You need a scaled score of at least 200. Because forms are equated for difficulty, the exact number of correct answers needed can vary slightly between test dates.