A float drifts 25.0 m down a stream in 7.3 s. With the correct number of significant figures, what is its speed?Wikipedia, Significant figures, Arithmetic. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 1 (the nature of science)
A parent objects to a planned dissection of preserved specimens in a biology class. What does section 1003.47, Florida Statutes, provide for the student?Section 1003.47, Florida Statutes, Biological experiments on living subjects (Online Sunshine). Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 1 (the nature of science)
A seismograph is fixed firmly to the ground, yet it records the ground shaking. Which part stays nearly in place while the rest of the unit moves?U.S. Geological Survey, FAQ: Seismometers, seismographs, seismograms - what's the difference? How do they work?. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 1 (the nature of science)
A stream gauge was mounted 2 cm too low, so every water-level reading comes out 2 cm too high. What kind of error is this?Wikipedia, Observational error. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 1 (the nature of science)
Show all 50 questions (46 more)
The nature of science, continued
Before a journal prints a study of sinkhole formation, geologists who took no part in it examine its methods and conclusions. What does that review provide?University of California Museum of Paleontology, Understanding Science: Scrutinizing science, Peer review. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 1 (the nature of science)
Five measurements of a quartz sample's density cluster tightly around 3.10 g/cm³. The accepted value is 2.65 g/cm³. How should the set of measurements be described?Wikipedia, Accuracy and precision. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 1 (the nature of science)
Galileo watched Venus pass through a set of phases. Which idea about the solar system did he draw from that observation?NASA Science, Galileo's Observations of the Moon, Jupiter, Venus and the Sun. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 1 (the nature of science)
Students test how slope angle changes erosion in a stream table. In every trial they keep the flow of water, the kind of sediment and the run time the same. What are those three called?Wikipedia, Dependent and independent variables. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 1 (the nature of science)
Composition and structure of Earth 5
A mineral scratches a copper penny but is scratched by a steel nail. Between which two values does its Mohs hardness lie?National Park Service, Mohs Hardness Scale. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 2 (composition, characteristics and structure of Earth)
Earthquake shear (S) waves do not travel through one of Earth's layers. Which layer is it, and what does that tell geologists?U.S. Geological Survey, The Interior of the Earth (General Interest Publication). Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 2 (composition, characteristics and structure of Earth)
Gneiss shows parallel bands of light and dark minerals. What produced that foliation?U.S. Geological Survey, FAQ: What are metamorphic rocks?. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 2 (composition, characteristics and structure of Earth)
The mineral grains of granite are easy to see without a lens. According to the USGS, what let them grow so large?U.S. Geological Survey, FAQ: What are igneous rocks?. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 2 (composition, characteristics and structure of Earth)
Much of Florida is underlain by limestone. In which two ways does the USGS say limestone can form?U.S. Geological Survey, FAQ: What are sedimentary rocks?. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 2 (composition, characteristics and structure of Earth)
Plate tectonics 4
In the 1950s, magnetometers towed across the oceans found stripes of normal and reversed magnetism in the sea floor. The pattern became evidence for which process?U.S. Geological Survey, This Dynamic Earth: Developing the theory. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 3 (plate tectonics and related processes)
Off South America, the oceanic Nazca Plate is subducted under the continental South American Plate. Which pair of features does that convergence produce?U.S. Geological Survey, This Dynamic Earth: Understanding plate motions. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 3 (plate tectonics and related processes)
Two towns report different Modified Mercalli values for the same earthquake, yet the event has a single moment magnitude. Why?U.S. Geological Survey, FAQ: What is the difference between earthquake magnitude and earthquake intensity?. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 3 (plate tectonics and related processes)
Which kind of volcano is built almost entirely of fluid lava flows and has broad, gently sloping sides?U.S. Geological Survey, Volcanoes: Principal Types of Volcanoes. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 3 (plate tectonics and related processes)
Earth's surface processes 4
A well drilled into a confined aquifer sometimes flows at the surface with no pump. What makes that possible?U.S. Geological Survey, Water Science School: Aquifers and Groundwater. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 4 (Earth's surface processes)
The Floridan aquifer system supplies much of Florida's fresh water. Of what kind of rock does the USGS say it is made?U.S. Geological Survey, Floridan aquifer system. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 4 (Earth's surface processes)
In the hydrologic cycle, what happens to energy when water evaporates from the surface of the Gulf?U.S. Geological Survey, Water Science School: Evaporation and the Water Cycle. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 4 (Earth's surface processes)
Why is Florida highly susceptible to sinkholes?U.S. Geological Survey, FAQ: What is a sinkhole?. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 4 (Earth's surface processes)
Mapping and remote sensing 2
The Landsat satellites have recorded Earth's surface since 1972. For what are their ground resolution and spectral bands best suited?U.S. Geological Survey, FAQ: What is the Landsat satellite program and why is it important?. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 5 (mapping and remote sensing)
On a USGS topographic map, route A crosses contour lines spaced far apart and route B crosses lines packed tightly together. What is true of route B?U.S. Geological Survey, Topographic Map Symbols. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 5 (mapping and remote sensing)
Geologic time 3
A dike of basalt cuts straight across three flat-lying sedimentary beds. Which is the youngest feature in the outcrop?Wikipedia, Cross-cutting relationships. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 6 (the scope and measurement of geologic time)
A wooden beam from an old site holds one fourth of the carbon-14 found in living wood. Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,730 years. About how old is the beam?U.S. Geological Survey, Geologic Time: Radiometric Time Scale. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 6 (the scope and measurement of geologic time)
Solution holes pit the limestone of Everglades National Park. What do they record about south Florida's past?National Park Service, Everglades National Park: Geology. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 6 (the scope and measurement of geologic time)
Earth's resources 4
Central Florida's mining region known as the Bone Valley yields phosphate. What is phosphate primarily used to produce?Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Mining and Mitigation Program: Phosphate. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 7 (characteristics and management of Earth's resources)
How does a nuclear reactor in operation compare with a power plant that burns fossil fuel?U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained: Nuclear power and the environment. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 7 (characteristics and management of Earth's resources)
The U.S. Energy Information Administration lists nuclear energy beside coal and petroleum as nonrenewable. What reason does it give for the label?U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained: Sources of energy. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 7 (characteristics and management of Earth's resources)
Wells near a coast are pumped heavily for years, and chloride in the well water rises. Which human impact on groundwater does this show?U.S. Geological Survey, Saltwater Intrusion. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 7 (characteristics and management of Earth's resources)
Oceans and coastal processes 4
At first quarter and third quarter moon, the range between high and low tide is smaller than usual. What produces these neap tides?NOAA National Ocean Service, Ocean Facts: What are spring and neap tides?. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 8 (oceans and coastal processes)
Barrier islands line the Gulf and Atlantic coasts but are missing from the West Coast. Which setting favors them?NOAA National Ocean Service, Ocean Facts: What is a barrier island?. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 8 (oceans and coastal processes)
Where does NOAA say the global ocean conveyor belt gets its "start", and what makes the water sink there?NOAA National Ocean Service, Ocean Facts: What is the global ocean conveyor belt?. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 8 (oceans and coastal processes)
Wind blowing along a coast pushes surface water away from shore. What is typical of the water that rises to replace it?NOAA National Ocean Service, Ocean Facts: What is upwelling?. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 8 (oceans and coastal processes)
Atmosphere and weather 4
How does the height of the troposphere, the layer where almost all weather occurs, change between the equator and the poles?NOAA JetStream, Layers of the Atmosphere. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 9 (atmospheric conditions and weather)
On a calm summer afternoon a sea breeze sets in along Florida's coast. What starts the flow of air from sea to land?NOAA JetStream, The Sea Breeze. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 9 (atmospheric conditions and weather)
On a surface weather map, where should a forecaster expect the fastest winds?NOAA JetStream, Origin of Wind. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 9 (atmospheric conditions and weather)
On what single measurement does the Saffir-Simpson scale place a hurricane in Category 1 to 5?NOAA National Hurricane Center, Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 9 (atmospheric conditions and weather)
Earth's climate patterns 4
How does El Niño usually change winter weather along the U.S. Gulf Coast and in the Southeast, Florida included?NOAA National Ocean Service, Ocean Facts: What are El Niño and La Niña?. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 10 (Earth's climate patterns)
Milankovitch cycles are used to explain the timing of past ice ages. Which three things do the cycles describe?NASA Science, Milankovitch (Orbital) Cycles and Their Role in Earth's Climate. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 10 (Earth's climate patterns)
Warming seas threaten the coral reefs of the Florida Keys with bleaching. What happens to a coral when it bleaches?NOAA National Ocean Service, Ocean Facts: What is coral bleaching?. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 10 (Earth's climate patterns)
Which greenhouse gas does NASA call a "feedback" because it responds to temperature and amplifies warming begun by other causes?NASA Science, Climate Change FAQ: What is the greenhouse effect?. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 10 (Earth's climate patterns)
Astronomical objects and processes 5
Astronomers detect a radio source that flashes at perfectly regular intervals. NASA explains such a pulsar as what kind of object?NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Imagine the Universe: Neutron Stars. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 11 (astronomical objects and processes)
NASA notes that the Northern Hemisphere has winter when Earth is closest to the Sun. What does that show about the seasons?NASA Space Place, What Causes the Seasons?. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 11 (astronomical objects and processes)
On a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, where do white dwarfs plot?Wikipedia, Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 11 (astronomical objects and processes)
The Sun runs through a cycle of high and low activity. According to NASA, what happens to its magnetic field about every 11 years?NASA Science, Our Sun: Facts. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 11 (astronomical objects and processes)
What is the cosmic microwave background, a key line of evidence in the big bang theory?NASA Science, The Big Bang. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 11 (astronomical objects and processes)
Space exploration 3
Apollo 11 carried the first crew to land on the Moon. From where was it launched on July 16, 1969?NASA, Apollo 11 Mission Overview. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 12 (space exploration)
Six months apart, a nearby star appears to shift against the far background stars. Which way of finding its distance uses that shift?Wikipedia, Stellar parallax. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 12 (space exploration)
What does Kepler's first law say about the path of a planet?Wikipedia, Kepler's laws of planetary motion. Written to FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008), competency 12 (space exploration)
How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the Competencies and Skills and Blueprint of FTCE Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008) in the test information guide on the FTCE/FELE website, https://www.fl.nesinc.com/studyguide/FL_SG_obj_008.htm (copyright State of Florida, Department of State; site run by Pearson), read 2026-10-15: approximately 80 multiple-choice questions in twelve competencies, the nature of science about 16 percent, composition and structure of Earth 9, plate tectonics 9, surface processes 8, mapping and remote sensing 4, geologic time 6, Earth's resources 8, oceans and coastal processes 8, atmosphere and weather 8, climate patterns 9, astronomical objects and processes 9 and space exploration 6. Each question names the public page its answer was checked on, opened 2026-10-15. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.
How it works
This free FTCE Earth Space Science practice test follows exam 008, Earth/Space Science 6–12: 50 questions of our own across its twelve competencies. It is unofficial and not affiliated with the Florida Department of Education or Pearson.
Read the full guide
Twelve competencies and their weights
The nature of science carries about 16% of the questions. Earth's composition and structure, plate tectonics, climate patterns and astronomical objects carry 9% each; surface processes, resources, oceans and coasts, and weather 8% each; geologic time and space exploration 6% each; mapping and remote sensing 4%.
Timing
The real test allows 2 hours 30 minutes and provides no reference materials. The timed exam here draws 48 of the 50 questions and allows 90 minutes, the same time per question.
Florida in the questions
Six competencies of the outline name Florida, so the bank asks about sinkholes, the Floridan aquifer, phosphate, sea breezes, Everglades limestone and the state's statute on classroom animals.
Competency 1 is the largest: error and significant figures, variables, peer review, models, and Florida's statute on experiments with living subjects.
Most answers were read on USGS, NOAA and NASA pages, and each question links its page, so a doubtful answer can be checked at once.
Questions and answers
Is there an FTCE Earth/Space Science 6-12 study guide?
Yes, and it costs nothing: the test information guide for Earth/Space Science 6–12 (008) on the FTCE site. Its competencies and skills page lists what each competency measures, and every question here is tagged with one of the twelve.
How many questions are on the FTCE Earth/Space Science 6-12 test?
Approximately 80, all multiple choice, taken on a computer. The FTCE site adds that a test may include questions being evaluated for future use, and those do not affect the score.
What score passes FTCE Earth/Space Science 6-12 (008)?
A scaled score of at least 200. A scaled score is not a percent, so the number right on this page cannot be converted to it, and the timed exam gives no pass verdict.
Is this FTCE Earth Space Science practice test free?
Yes: all 50 questions and the timed exam, with no account. None is taken or reworded from a real test or from the sample questions in the guide.