FTCE Social Science 6-12
Social Science 6–12 (037)
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
Social Science 6–12 (037) is one of the subject-area certification tests listed in the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) program, which is administered for the state of Florida and delivered through the FTCE/FELE website operated by Pearson. Candidates who are preparing to teach social science at the middle or high school level in Florida public schools typically take this subject test alongside the required professional education and general knowledge components; the official site's "What tests do I need to take?" link is the authoritative place to confirm your own required set, since requirements vary by certification route. The test is designed to assess breadth across the social science disciplines a 6–12 teacher may be assigned to teach, generally spanning geography, economics, political science/civics, world history, and United States history. Preparation should be built from the official Test Information Guide for test 037, which describes the competencies and skills the test measures; the site notes that interactive competencies and skills worksheets are available for all tests, and those worksheets let you rate your confidence per skill so study time goes where you are weakest. Pair that with a full-length practice test under timed conditions, then targeted review of weak domains using a college-level survey text or reputable reference sources. Confirm registration, scheduling, and score details directly on the official FTCE/FELE site rather than relying on secondhand summaries.
What you'll study
About FTCE Social Science 6-12 preparation
What does the Social Science 6–12 (037) exam cover?
It assesses broad social science knowledge expected of a 6–12 teacher, generally organized around geography, economics, political science/civics, world history, and U.S. history. The official Test Information Guide for test 037 is the authoritative statement of the exact competencies and skills tested, so download it and use it as your study blueprint rather than an unofficial topic list.
How many questions are on the test and how long do I get?
The official FTCE/FELE site does not state the question count or time limit for test 037 on the pages available, so treat any specific number you see elsewhere with suspicion. Check the Test Information Guide and your registration/admission ticket for the definitive format and timing before you build a pacing plan.
What score do I need to pass?
Passing standards are set by the Florida Department of Education and reported through the FTCE/FELE score reporting system; the program homepage does not publish the passing score for this test. Look for the passing score statement in the official Test Information Guide or your score report, and do not rely on numbers quoted in forums or prep blogs.
How much does the exam cost, and what is the retake policy?
Fees and retake rules are set by the program and can change; the homepage only notes past fee changes and waivers for specific fields. Confirm the current fee and any waiting period for retaking test 037 on the official registration pages before you pay, and check whether any fee waiver applies to your situation.
How hard is it, and what trips candidates up?
The main difficulty is breadth: you must be solid in five disciplines, not just your history specialty. Common failure modes are neglecting economics and geography, memorizing isolated facts instead of cause-and-effect relationships, and misreading map, chart, or document-based prompts. Weakest-area review driven by the official competency list beats rereading a survey textbook cover to cover.
What order should I study the domains in?
Start with the official competencies and skills worksheet, rating your confidence on each skill. Fix your lowest-confidence skills first, then rotate across all domains weekly so nothing goes stale. Finish with timed practice sets and full-length practice tests, and review every missed item by naming the underlying concept rather than just the correct answer.
Where do I register and schedule the test?
Registration, scheduling, and score reporting all happen through your FTCE/FELE user account on the official program website. The site posts outage notices when accounts are unavailable for maintenance, so if the system will not load, try again later rather than assuming your registration failed; customer service phone support is also listed there.
Does the exam change, and how current is my prep material?
Yes. The program announces test revisions and updated test information guides, including alignment to Florida's B.E.S.T. Standards for some subjects, with new versions administered from stated dates. Before studying, verify that your guide matches the version of test 037 currently being administered, and discard prep materials built for a retired version.