A binary search looks for a value in a sorted list of 1,000 items and discards half of the remaining interval after each comparison. At most how many items does it compare with the value?NIST Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures, "binary search". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 311, competency 0002
A bubble sort compares adjacent items and swaps them when they are out of order, pass after pass, until a pass makes no swap. How many swaps does it make in all on [6, 2, 5, 1]?NIST Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures, "bubble sort". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 311, competency 0002
A class writes a program that imitates traffic at a four-way stop so that it can try different timings for a signal before any signal is built. What is such a program called?K–12 Computer Science Framework, Glossary, "simulation". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 311, competency 0003
Show all 50 questions (47 more)
Algorithmic thinking and data analysis, continued
A data-entry rule accepts a record only when the name is not empty AND 0 <= score <= 100. Which record does the rule reject?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 311 Algorithmic Thinking and Data Analysis, competency 0003 (data analysis, modeling and simulation)
A function f(n) returns 1 when n <= 1 and otherwise returns n + f(n − 2). What does f(7) return?NIST Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures, "recursion". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 311, competency 0002
A linear search checks a list of 500 unsorted names one at a time. The name it is looking for is not in the list. How many names does it check?NIST Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures, "linear search". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 311, competency 0002
A list of daily highs holds [68, 74, 82, 59, 78]. A program adds up only the values greater than 70 and divides that sum by how many such values there are. What does it print?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 311 Algorithmic Thinking and Data Analysis, competency 0003 (data analysis, modeling and simulation)
A model updates the fish count of a pond each year with new ← old + 0.1 × old × (1 − old / 500). Starting from 100 fish, what count does it give after one year?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 311 Algorithmic Thinking and Data Analysis, competency 0003 (data analysis, modeling and simulation)
A procedure runs an outer loop n times and, inside it, an inner loop n times. The inner loop holds one statement. When n grows from 20 to 40, what happens to the number of times that statement runs?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 311 Algorithmic Thinking and Data Analysis, competency 0002 (characteristics of algorithms)
A program should print "Pass" when score >= 60 and "Retake" otherwise. Which three test scores check the boundary of that condition most directly?K–12 Computer Science Framework, Glossary, "test case". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 311, competency 0001
A selection sort puts a list in ascending order by swapping the least remaining item into place on each pass. What is the list [7, 3, 9, 1, 5] after two passes?NIST Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures, "selection sort". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 311, competency 0002
A student planning a grade book program splits the job into reading the scores, averaging them and printing a report, then works on each part in turn. Which practice is this?K–12 Computer Science Framework, Glossary, "decomposition". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 311, competency 0001
A student runs a binary search for 42 on the list [17, 42, 8, 90, 23], and the search reports that 42 is not there. What went wrong?NIST Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures, "binary search". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 311, competency 0002
A subway map shows stations and lines but leaves out streets, buildings and true distances. Which idea does the map illustrate?K–12 Computer Science Framework, Glossary, "abstraction". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 311, competency 0001
A table has 2,400 rows. One filter keeps the rows where grade = 8, which is 25% of them. A second filter keeps the rows of that result where score >= 80, which is 40% of it. How many rows remain?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 311 Algorithmic Thinking and Data Analysis, competency 0003 (data analysis, modeling and simulation)
An algorithm reads a whole number n. While n is greater than 1, it replaces n with n / 2 when n is even and with 3 × n + 1 when n is odd, counting one step each time. How many steps does it count for n = 6?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 311 Algorithmic Thinking and Data Analysis, competency 0001 (computational thinking and the development of algorithms)
An algorithm sets best ← 0, then looks at each value in a list and sets best to that value whenever the value is greater than best. For which list does it fail to end with the largest value in the list?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 311 Algorithmic Thinking and Data Analysis, competency 0001 (computational thinking and the development of algorithms)
Which algorithm splits the items into two groups, sorts each group recursively and then merges the two sorted groups?NIST Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures, "merge sort". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 311, competency 0002
Programming concepts 22
A class Counter has an attribute count that starts at 0 and a method add(n) that increases count by n. Objects a and b are created from it; then a.add(5), b.add(2) and a.add(3) run. What are a.count and b.count?The Python Tutorial, section 9.3.5 Class and Instance Variables. Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 312, competency 0004
A class Dog is defined once. Then d ← Dog("Fido") and e ← Dog("Buddy") run. What are d and e?The Python Tutorial, section 9.3.2 Class Objects. Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 312, competency 0004
A procedure average(a, b) uses the names a and b for the two values it receives each time it is called. What are a and b?K–12 Computer Science Framework, Glossary, "parameter". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 312, competency 0001
A procedure triple(n) returns 3 × n, and a procedure addTwo(n) returns n + 2. What does triple(addTwo(5)) return?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 312 Programming Concepts, competency 0001 (programming concepts and program design and development)
A program is divided into several procedures that its main procedure calls, and two of them are reused later in a second program. Which characteristic of the design does this describe?K–12 Computer Science Framework, Glossary, "modularity". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 312, competency 0001
A program runs to the end without stopping, but the average it prints is too low because one line divides by the wrong count. What is the work of finding and correcting that error called?K–12 Computer Science Framework, Glossary, "bug" and "debugging". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 312, competency 0001
A program stores the ZIP code 03045 in an integer variable and then prints the variable. What is printed, and which data type would have kept the code as written?K–12 Computer Science Framework, Glossary, "data type" and "string". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 312, competency 0002
A variable isEnrolled records only whether a student is enrolled or not. Which data type fits it?K–12 Computer Science Framework, Glossary, "Boolean" and "data type". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 312, competency 0002
Class Shape has a method area() that returns 0. Its subclass Circle defines its own area() that returns 3.14 × r^2. A Circle object with r = 2 calls area(). What is returned?The Python Tutorial, section 9.5 Inheritance. Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 312, competency 0004
i ← 3. WHILE i < 20: print i, then set i ← i + 4. How many values are printed?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 312 Programming Concepts, competency 0003 (operators and control structures)
In a class Dog, kind is a class variable set to "canine", and name is an instance variable set when each Dog is created. Which statement is true of two Dog objects?The Python Tutorial, section 9.3.5 Class and Instance Variables. Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 312, competency 0004
n ← 3. WHILE n < 40, the loop sets n ← 2 × n − 1. What is n when the loop ends?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 312 Programming Concepts, competency 0003 (operators and control structures)
On the pseudocode conventions sheet provided for this test, what does the expression a^b mean?GACE Computer Science (P–12) Pseudocode Conventions, the on-screen reference sheet of test 725. Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 312, competency 0001
The pseudocode conventions sheet shows CLASS Graduate and CLASS Undergraduate as subclasses of CLASS Students. What does a subclass receive from its parent class?The Python Tutorial, section 9.5 Inheritance; GACE Computer Science Pseudocode Conventions, Subclasses. Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 312, competency 0004
temp ← 58. IF temp > 80 the program prints "hot"; ELSE IF temp > 60 it prints "mild"; ELSE IF temp > 40 it prints "cool"; ELSE it prints "cold". What is printed?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 312 Programming Concepts, competency 0003 (operators and control structures)
total ← 0. FOR each whole number i from 1 through 10: IF i % 3 = 1 THEN total ← total + i. What is total after the loop?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 312 Programming Concepts, competency 0003 (operators and control structures)
Under the pseudocode conventions of this test, scores ← [88, 92, 75, 60]. What is scores[scores.length() − 1]?GACE Computer Science (P–12) Pseudocode Conventions, the on-screen reference sheet of test 725. Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 312, competency 0002
Under the pseudocode conventions of this test, what is the value of "7" + "3"?GACE Computer Science (P–12) Pseudocode Conventions, the on-screen reference sheet of test 725. Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 312, competency 0002
Under the pseudocode conventions of this test, word ← "SAVANNAH". What does word.substring(2, 5) return?GACE Computer Science (P–12) Pseudocode Conventions, the on-screen reference sheet of test 725. Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 312, competency 0001
Which expression is true for exactly the same values of x and y as NOT (x > 5 AND y <= 2)?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 312 Programming Concepts, competency 0003 (operators and control structures)
With % as the modulus operator and ^ for powers, what is the value of (29 % 6) ^ 2 + 17 % 4?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 312 Programming Concepts, competency 0002 (characteristics and uses of data types)
x ← 4 and y ← 9. Then three statements run in order: x ← x + y, then y ← x − y, then x ← x − y. What are x and y now?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 312 Programming Concepts, competency 0001 (programming concepts and program design and development)
Computing systems, networks and the Internet 10
A byte is a sequence of eight bits. How many different values can one byte hold?NIST Computer Security Resource Center glossary, "byte". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 313, competency 0001
A district network has two separate links between its main buildings, so that traffic keeps moving if one link fails. Which design idea is this?K–12 Computer Science Framework, Glossary, "redundancy". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 313, competency 0002
A firewall sits between a district network and the Internet. In the words of the NIST glossary, what does it do?NIST Computer Security Resource Center glossary, "firewall". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 313, competency 0002
A web address begins with https in place of http. What does that tell the visitor?NIST Computer Security Resource Center glossary, "HTTPS" and "Transport Layer Security". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 313, competency 0002
An unsaved essay is lost when a laptop loses power, but the files already saved to its drive remain. Which term names the temporary holding place the essay was in?K–12 Computer Science Framework, Glossary, "memory" and "storage". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 313, competency 0001
Two computers from different makers can exchange web pages because both follow the same agreed formats and procedures. What is such an agreed set of rules called?NIST Computer Security Resource Center glossary, "protocol"; K–12 Computer Science Framework, Glossary, "packet". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 313, competency 0002
What is the hexadecimal number 2F in decimal?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 313 Computing Systems, Networks, and the Internet, competency 0001 (computing systems)
What is the sum of the binary numbers 1011 and 0110, written in binary?GACE Computer Science (P–12) (725) framework, Testlet 313 Computing Systems, Networks, and the Internet, competency 0001 (computing systems)
Which device is a gateway between two networks and relays and directs data packets from one to the other?NIST Computer Security Resource Center glossary, "router"; K–12 Computer Science Framework, Glossary, "switch". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 313, competency 0002
Which software is the first program loaded when a computer is turned on, and handles most file management and user interface operations for the applications?NIST Computer Security Resource Center glossary, "operating system". Written to GACE Computer Science (725) testlet 313, competency 0001
How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the framework of the GACE Computer Science (P–12) assessment (725) on the GACE website of the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson, https://www.gace.es.pearson.com/studyguide/framework/725 and https://www.gace.es.pearson.com/test/725, read 2026-10-09: three testlets of about 35, 45 and 20 selected-response questions (Algorithmic Thinking and Data Analysis; Programming Concepts; Computing Systems, Networks, and the Internet), 100 in all, with competency shares of 28.6/42.8/28.6%, 33.3/22.2/22.2/22.2% and 50/50%. This bank holds 18, 22 and 10, split 5/8/5, 7/5/5/5 and 5/5. Pseudocode follows the test's public reference sheet, Computer Science (P–12) Pseudocode Conventions, https://www.gace.es.pearson.com/static/docs/CompSciPseudoCodeSheet.pdf. Answers that are a trace or a calculation were each worked out a second time; definitions were read on the page named under each question (K–12 Computer Science Framework glossary, NIST Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures, NIST Computer Security Resource Center glossary, The Python Tutorial), each opened 2026-10-09. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.
How it works
This GACE computer science practice test asks 50 questions of our own on Computer Science (P–12), test 725, with code written to the test's own pseudocode sheet. Unofficial practice, not affiliated with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission or Pearson.
Read the full guide
The three testlets
Programming Concepts (testlet 312) is the largest, about 45 of the 100 questions. Algorithmic Thinking and Data Analysis (311) has about 35, and Computing Systems, Networks, and the Internet (313) about 20. Here that becomes 22, 18 and 10.
Pseudocode, not a language
The test shows a pseudocode conventions sheet on screen: indexes start at zero, a^b is a power, % is the modulus, + joins strings, and substring(a, b) stops before index b. Code questions here follow it.
Clock and exam mode
On test day the testlets get 45, 60 and 30 minutes, 135 in all. Exam mode sets 68 minutes for the 50 questions here, close to the same pace.
Programming Concepts is nearly half the test. Trace loops by hand, writing each variable's value after every pass.
Questions and answers
Is there a GACE computer science study guide?
Yes, on the GACE website, for Computer Science (P–12), test 725. The questions here follow the same framework, and the code ones are traced step by step.
What programming language is on the GACE computer science test?
The framework's competencies name none. They speak of programming concepts, data types, operators, control structures and object-oriented design, and the test supplies a pseudocode conventions sheet on screen for all three testlets.
How many questions are on the GACE computer science test?
One hundred selected-response questions: about 35, 45 and 20 by testlet. The three clocks add up to 2 hours 15 minutes, before the 15 minutes each session spends on a tutorial and nondisclosure agreement.
What is a passing score on the GACE computer science test?
The three testlet results are combined into one assessment-level score, which must reach 220, and each testlet has a floor of its own. A count of right answers cannot be turned into that score, so none is claimed here.