General Knowledge: English Language Skills
1 free practice test · 30 questions · 40min · No sign-up required
About This Exam
The English Language Skills (ELS) subtest is one of four subtests of the FTCE General Knowledge Test (082). It assesses your command of standard American English, including grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, word choice, and the ability to select language appropriate to different audiences and purposes. This is not a test of your ability to teach English — it is a test of your own writing and language skills.
What's Covered
- Knowledge of language structure — correct placement of modifiers, parallel structure, comma splices and run-on sentences, sentence fragments, and logical sentence ordering within paragraphs
- Knowledge of vocabulary application — choosing the most effective word in context, understanding connotation and denotation, and selecting language appropriate to audience and purpose
- Knowledge of standard English conventions — subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent agreement, verb tense consistency, correct use of comparatives and superlatives, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation
For the official exam description, see the official FTCE General Knowledge Test page.
Study Tips
- Dangling and misplaced modifiers are heavily tested. Make sure every participial phrase is immediately followed by the noun it modifies. If you see a sentence that starts with an "-ing" or "-ed" phrase, check who or what is performing that action.
- Know the difference between a comma splice (two sentences joined by only a comma) and correct ways to fix it: semicolon, period, or comma with a coordinating conjunction.
- Parallel structure questions test whether items in a list or series use the same grammatical form. If a list starts with gerunds, every item should be a gerund.
- For vocabulary questions, read the full sentence carefully. The correct answer will fit both the meaning and the tone of the surrounding context.
- Review commonly confused words (affect/effect, their/there/they're, its/it's) and commonly misspelled words (acquire, description, occurrence, accommodate).
How to Register
Register at fl.nesinc.com. The full General Knowledge Test costs $130. You can take all four subtests together or schedule them separately. A scaled score of 200 is required to pass each subtest. 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) Driving through the mountains, the scenery was breathtaking to the tourists.
- B) Driving through the mountains, the tourists found the scenery breathtaking.
- C) The scenery was breathtaking driving through the mountains to the tourists.
- D) Breathtaking to the tourists, driving through the mountains was the scenery.
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
B) Driving through the mountains, the tourists found the scenery breathtaking.
Explanation:
In the correct sentence, 'the tourists' logically follows the participial phrase 'Driving through the mountains,' making it clear who was driving. The other options contain dangling modifiers because the subject that follows the phrase is not the one performing the action.
- A) After studying all weekend, the exam seemed easy.
- B) After studying all weekend, Maria found the exam easy.
- C) The exam seemed easy after studying all weekend to Maria.
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
B) After studying all weekend, Maria found the exam easy.
Explanation:
The participial phrase 'After studying all weekend' must be followed by the person who was studying. Only choice B correctly places 'Maria' as the subject performing the action. Choice A is a dangling modifier because 'the exam' did not study.
- A) Running along the beach at sunset, the waves crashed against the shore.
- B) Running along the beach at sunset, she watched the waves crash against the shore.
- C) The waves crashed against the shore running along the beach at sunset.
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
B) Running along the beach at sunset, she watched the waves crash against the shore.
Explanation:
'Running along the beach at sunset' is a participial phrase that must modify a person. In choice B, 'she' is the one running. In choices A and C, the waves appear to be running, which is illogical.
- A) Known for its excellent schools, many families choose to live in that neighborhood.
- B) Known for its excellent schools, the neighborhood attracts many families.
- C) Many families choose to live in that neighborhood known for its excellent schools, which is popular.
- D) Known for its excellent schools, choosing to live in the neighborhood is common among families.
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
B) Known for its excellent schools, the neighborhood attracts many families.
Explanation:
'Known for its excellent schools' must modify 'the neighborhood,' not 'many families' or 'choosing.' Only choice B correctly places the noun being modified immediately after the participial phrase.
- A) Covered in frost, the gardener noticed the roses had been damaged overnight.
- B) The gardener noticed the roses, covered in frost, had been damaged overnight.
- C) Covered in frost, the roses had been damaged overnight, the gardener noticed.
View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer:
B) The gardener noticed the roses, covered in frost, had been damaged overnight.
Explanation:
In the correct sentence, 'covered in frost' is placed as a parenthetical modifier directly next to 'the roses,' making it clear that the roses were frosted. In choice A, it sounds like the gardener was covered in frost. Choice C is a comma splice.