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100+ Free FTCE Earth/Space Science 008 Practice Questions

Pass your FTCE Earth/Space Science 6-12 (008) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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ArticleFTCE Exam Guide 2026: Florida Teacher Tests, Scores, Fees, and Prep Order15 min read
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: FTCE Earth/Space Science 008 Exam

008

Test Code

Florida DOE / Pearson

~100

Multiple-Choice Questions

FTCE Test Information Guide

200

Passing Scaled Score

Florida DOE

2h 30m

Time Limit

FTCE Test Information Guide

12

Competencies

Florida DOE

16%

Nature of Science Weight

FTCE Test Information Guide

$150

Exam Fee

Pearson (2026)

~70%

Approx. Correct to Pass

Florida DOE

Sample FTCE Earth/Space Science 008 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your FTCE Earth/Space Science 008 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A teacher asks students to design an experiment testing whether soil type affects water drainage. Which step best represents formulating a testable hypothesis?
A.Predicting that sandy soil will drain water faster than clay soil
B.Listing all the materials needed for the experiment
C.Concluding that soil type matters after one trial
D.Asking why some plants grow better in certain soils
Explanation: A testable hypothesis is a specific, falsifiable prediction about the relationship between an independent variable (soil type) and a dependent variable (drainage rate). Predicting that sandy soil drains faster than clay soil can be confirmed or refuted by data.
2Which statement best distinguishes a scientific theory from a scientific law?
A.A theory explains why phenomena occur, while a law describes what occurs under given conditions
B.A law is a hypothesis that has not yet been tested, while a theory has been proven true
C.A theory becomes a law once enough evidence accumulates
D.A law explains mechanisms, while a theory only summarizes observations
Explanation: A scientific law describes a consistent, observed relationship (often mathematically), while a theory provides a well-substantiated explanation of why that relationship occurs. Theories do not 'graduate' into laws; they serve different explanatory roles.
3A student measures the mass of a rock sample as 24.7 g, 24.9 g, and 24.8 g. The accepted value is 30.0 g. These measurements are best described as:
A.Precise but not accurate
B.Accurate but not precise
C.Both accurate and precise
D.Neither accurate nor precise
Explanation: Precision refers to how close repeated measurements are to one another; the three readings cluster tightly, so they are precise. Accuracy refers to closeness to the true value (30.0 g); since all readings are far from it, they are not accurate.
4In a controlled experiment investigating how temperature affects mineral crystal size, which factor should be the independent variable?
A.The cooling temperature applied to the solution
B.The average size of the crystals formed
C.The type of mineral solution used
D.The volume of the container
Explanation: The independent variable is the factor the experimenter deliberately manipulates. Because the investigation tests how temperature affects crystal size, cooling temperature is the manipulated independent variable.
5A graph shows global atmospheric CO2 concentration rising steadily from 1960 to 2020. The best inference a scientist can draw directly from this data alone is that:
A.Atmospheric CO2 concentration increased over the measured period
B.Burning fossil fuels caused the entire increase
C.Global temperatures will rise by a specific amount by 2100
D.Ocean acidification has reached dangerous levels worldwide
Explanation: An inference drawn directly from a dataset must be supported by what the data actually show. The graph documents rising CO2, so stating that concentration increased is fully supported. Causal and predictive claims require additional evidence.
6Which laboratory safety practice is most important when students heat a sealed mineral sample to observe phase changes?
A.Never heat a sealed container, because trapped gases can build pressure and explode
B.Wear gloves only after the sample has cooled
C.Keep the heat source running continuously for accuracy
D.Smell the sample to identify any gases released
Explanation: Heating a sealed container causes trapped gases or vapors to expand, raising internal pressure until the container can rupture violently. Containers must be vented or open during heating to prevent explosion.
7Earth's layers in order from the surface to the center are:
A.Crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
B.Crust, outer core, mantle, inner core
C.Mantle, crust, inner core, outer core
D.Crust, inner core, mantle, outer core
Explanation: Earth is layered by composition and physical state into the thin rocky crust, the solid-but-flowing silicate mantle, the liquid iron-nickel outer core, and the solid iron-nickel inner core. The order from surface to center is crust, mantle, outer core, inner core.
8Which property is used in Mohs scale to compare minerals?
A.Scratch hardness relative to other minerals
B.Mass per unit volume
C.The color of the mineral's powder
D.The angles between crystal faces
Explanation: The Mohs scale ranks minerals from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond) by their resistance to scratching: a harder mineral scratches a softer one. It is a relative, ordinal scale of scratch hardness.
9A rock forms from the cooling and solidification of molten magma deep underground, producing large interlocking crystals. This rock is best classified as:
A.Intrusive igneous
B.Extrusive igneous
C.Clastic sedimentary
D.Foliated metamorphic
Explanation: Magma that cools slowly deep below the surface gives crystals time to grow large, producing coarse-grained intrusive (plutonic) igneous rock such as granite. Slow cooling is the key to the large crystal size described.
10In the rock cycle, which process directly converts sediment into sedimentary rock?
A.Compaction and cementation (lithification)
B.Melting and crystallization
C.Heat and pressure causing recrystallization
D.Weathering and erosion
Explanation: Loose sediment becomes sedimentary rock through lithification, in which the weight of overlying material compacts the grains and dissolved minerals cement them together. This is the defining process for clastic sedimentary rock formation.

About the FTCE Earth/Space Science 008 Exam

The FTCE Earth/Space Science 6-12 (008) is a Florida subject-area certification exam of about 100 multiple-choice questions. It assesses content knowledge across geology, oceanography, meteorology, astronomy, Earth systems, and scientific inquiry for prospective 6-12 Earth/space science teachers.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

2 hours 30 minutes

Passing Score

200 scaled (~70% correct)

Exam Fee

$150 (Florida DOE / Pearson)

FTCE Earth/Space Science 008 Exam Content Outline

16%

Nature of Science

Scientific inquiry, experimental design, models, measurement and precision, data analysis, and lab safety

35%

Geology & Earth's Surface

Earth's structure, minerals, rock cycle, plate tectonics, weathering, groundwater, geologic time, mapping, and resources

25%

Oceanography & Meteorology

Ocean basins, tides, waves, currents, seawater, atmosphere, weather systems, and climate patterns

15%

Astronomy & Space Science

Solar system, Earth-Moon-Sun cycles, stellar evolution, the universe, and space exploration

How to Pass the FTCE Earth/Space Science 008 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 200 scaled (~70% correct)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Exam fee: $150

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

FTCE Earth/Space Science 008 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Prioritize the Nature of Science competency (16%) — practice identifying variables, distinguishing qualitative vs quantitative data, and interpreting graphs and tables
2Master the rock cycle and plate tectonics, including the three boundary types, seismic waves, and the evidence for tectonic theory
3Learn Florida-specific Earth science: karst sinkholes, the Floridan aquifer, barrier islands, hurricanes, and sea-level rise
4Review ocean and atmosphere dynamics together — tides, currents, the Coriolis effect, pressure systems, and weather fronts
5Drill astronomy fundamentals: moon phases, eclipses, the seasons, stellar evolution, the H-R diagram, and the electromagnetic spectrum
6Take full-length timed practice tests and review every missed item by competency to target your weakest domains

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the FTCE Earth/Space Science 6-12 (008) exam?

The exam contains approximately 100 multiple-choice questions covering 12 competencies, with a time limit of 2 hours and 30 minutes.

What is the passing score for the FTCE 008 exam?

You need a scaled score of at least 200, which corresponds to answering roughly 70% of the questions correctly.

How much does the FTCE Earth/Space Science 6-12 exam cost?

The subject-area exam fee is $150. Retakes require paying the same fee each time you test.

What topics does the FTCE 008 exam cover?

It covers the nature of science, Earth's composition and plate tectonics, surface processes, geologic time, resources, mapping, oceans, atmosphere, climate, astronomy, and space exploration.

Which competency carries the most weight on the FTCE 008?

Nature of Science is the single largest competency at about 16%, emphasizing scientific inquiry, models, data analysis, and experimental design.

Who administers the FTCE Earth/Space Science 6-12 exam?

The exam is offered by the Florida Department of Education and administered through Pearson at testing centers across Florida.