Elementary Education K-6: Social Science
3 free practice tests · 45 questions each · 1h 5min · No sign-up required
About This Exam
This is Subtest 2 of the FTCE Elementary Education K-6 exam. It covers social science content and pedagogy that elementary teachers need to teach history, geography, economics, and civics at the K-6 level. The questions focus on both content knowledge and the ability to apply instructional strategies for social studies.
What's Covered
- Knowledge of history — key events and figures in U.S. and world history, timelines, primary and secondary sources, historical thinking skills, and cause-and-effect relationships
- Knowledge of geography — the five themes of geography (location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, regions), map skills, physical and human geography
- Knowledge of government and civics — the U.S. Constitution, branches of government, rights and responsibilities of citizens, the election process, and civic participation
- Knowledge of economics — basic economic concepts (scarcity, supply and demand, opportunity cost), types of economic systems, producers and consumers, trade
- Knowledge of social science methodology and instructional strategies — teaching with primary sources, inquiry-based instruction, integrating social studies across the curriculum
For the official exam description, see the official FTCE K-6 Social Science page.
Study Tips
- The exam blends content knowledge with pedagogy. You need to know the facts and know how to teach them to elementary students.
- Geography questions often involve reading or interpreting maps, charts, and graphs. Practice identifying information from these visual sources.
- Know the basic structure of U.S. government at the federal, state, and local levels. The exam expects you to teach civics to young children, so the questions are foundational but precise.
- Economics questions at this level focus on basic concepts — goods vs. services, needs vs. wants, supply and demand, and the role of money. Don't overthink them.
- Review Florida-specific history content. The exam may include questions about Florida's geography, early history, and role in U.S. events.
How to Register
Register at fl.nesinc.com. The exam costs $150 (for all four K-6 subtests taken together). A scaled score of 200 (scaled) is required to pass. Military personnel, veterans, and their spouses may be eligible for certification exam fee waivers through the Florida Department of Education.
About Our Practice Tests
All questions are original and written to match the difficulty, format, and topic coverage of the real exam based on official exam descriptions. We offer two modes: Practice Mode gives you instant feedback and explanations after each question, and Test Mode simulates the real exam with a timer and no feedback until you submit. Both modes are completely free with no account required.
Sample Practice Questions
Review these sample questions to get a feel for the exam. For the full interactive experience, use the Practice Tests above.
- A) Having students color a map of Florida
- B) Asking students to create a cause-and-effect graphic organizer about the Seminole Wars
- C) Having students memorize the names of Florida's governors
- D) Showing students a video about Florida's beaches
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
B) Asking students to create a cause-and-effect graphic organizer about the Seminole Wars
Explanation:
Cause-and-effect graphic organizers require students to analyze relationships between historical events, building critical thinking skills. The Seminole Wars are a key topic in Florida history that involve multiple causes and effects suitable for this analysis.
- A) Hernando de Soto
- B) Christopher Columbus
- C) Juan Ponce de León
- D) Jacques Cartier
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
C) Juan Ponce de León
Explanation:
Juan Ponce de León is credited with being the first European to reach and name Florida in 1513. He named it 'La Florida' (Land of Flowers) and was seeking the legendary Fountain of Youth. De Soto explored Florida later in 1539.
- A) the Articles gave too much power to the central government
- B) the Articles created too strong of an executive branch
- C) the Articles created a central government too weak to effectively govern the nation
- D) the Articles established a monarchy
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
C) the Articles created a central government too weak to effectively govern the nation
Explanation:
The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government with no power to tax, regulate commerce, or enforce laws. Shays' Rebellion (1786-87) highlighted the government's inability to maintain order, leading to the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
- A) Each branch of government can limit the powers of the other branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful
- B) The president controls all branches of government
- C) Congress has unlimited power over the states
- D) The Supreme Court makes all laws
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
A) Each branch of government can limit the powers of the other branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful
Explanation:
Checks and balances ensure that no single branch (executive, legislative, judicial) becomes too powerful. Examples include presidential veto (executive checks legislative), Senate confirmation of judges (legislative checks judicial), and judicial review (judicial checks both).
- A) is always more accurate
- B) was created during the time period being studied by someone who experienced the events
- C) is always published in a book
- D) is written by a historian analyzing past events
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
B) was created during the time period being studied by someone who experienced the events
Explanation:
Primary sources are firsthand accounts created during the time period being studied — diaries, letters, photographs, official documents, artifacts. Secondary sources analyze or interpret primary sources after the fact, such as textbooks and scholarly articles.