- Main idea
- The central point a passage makes — what the whole text is mostly about.
- Supporting detail
- A fact, example, statistic, or reason that explains, proves, or develops the main idea.
- Author's purpose
- The reason a text was written — to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain.
- Tone
- The author's attitude toward the subject, revealed through word choice (e.g., formal, critical, hopeful).
- Inference
- A logical conclusion the reader draws from text evidence plus reasoning — not stated outright.
- Explicit vs. implicit
- Explicit information is stated directly in the text; implicit information must be inferred.
- Summarizing
- Restating a passage's main idea and key points concisely in your own words, without opinion.
- Theme
- The underlying message or insight about life a literary text conveys (e.g., 'perseverance pays off').
- Connotation
- The emotional or implied meaning of a word, beyond its literal (denotative) definition.
- Denotation
- The literal, dictionary definition of a word.
- Context clues
- Hints in surrounding words or sentences that help you figure out an unfamiliar word's meaning.
- Text structure
- How a passage is organized: cause/effect, compare/contrast, sequence, or problem/solution.
- Cause and effect
- A text structure that shows why something happens (cause) and what results (effect).
- Compare and contrast
- A structure that examines similarities and differences between two or more things.
- Sequence / chronological
- A structure that presents events or steps in the order they occur.
- Problem and solution
- A structure that states a problem and then describes how it is or could be solved.
- Claim
- A debatable statement an author argues for and tries to support with evidence.
- Evidence
- The facts, examples, data, and reasoning an author uses to support a claim.
- Argument
- A claim plus the reasons and evidence offered to persuade the reader it is true.
- Evaluating an argument
- Judging whether a claim is backed by sufficient, relevant, and credible evidence.
- Counterclaim
- An opposing point of view that an argument acknowledges and tries to refute.
- Bias
- A one-sided slant that favors a particular view, often by omitting or distorting evidence.
- Fact vs. opinion
- A fact can be proven true or false; an opinion expresses a belief, judgment, or feeling.
- Primary vs. secondary source
- A primary source is firsthand (a diary, data); a secondary source interprets or analyzes it.
- Point of view
- The perspective from which a text is told or written (first person, third person, an author's stance).
- Fiction vs. nonfiction
- Fiction is imagined/literary; nonfiction presents real information (the bulk of GACE Reading passages).
- Figurative language
- Words used non-literally for effect — metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole.
- Metaphor
- A direct comparison stating one thing IS another ('time is money') — no 'like' or 'as'.
- Simile
- A comparison using 'like' or 'as' ('busy as a bee').
- Topic sentence
- The sentence (often first) that states the main idea of a paragraph.
- Drawing conclusions
- Combining text evidence with reasoning to reach a logical judgment the text supports.
- Interpreting visuals
- Reading data from a graph, chart, table, or image embedded in or paired with a passage.
- Vocabulary in context
- Determining a word's meaning from how it is used in the sentence and passage.
- Synthesizing
- Combining ideas from two or more texts to form a fuller understanding or comparison.
- Paraphrase
- Restating a specific idea from a text in your own words (more detailed than a summary).
- Audience
- The intended readers a text is written for, which shapes its tone, vocabulary, and content.
- Persuasive techniques
- Strategies like appeals to emotion, logic, or authority used to convince a reader.
- Main idea vs. theme
- Main idea = what a text is about (often nonfiction); theme = the deeper life message (often literary).
- Relevant evidence
- Evidence that directly relates to and actually supports the specific claim being made.
- Generalization
- A broad statement applied to a group; a valid one is supported, a hasty one is not.
- Citing textual evidence
- Pointing to specific words, lines, or details in a passage to support an answer or claim.
- Implied main idea
- A central point a passage suggests but never states directly; you infer it from the details.
- Mood
- The feeling a passage creates in the reader (e.g., suspenseful, peaceful) — distinct from tone.
- Personification
- Giving human qualities to non-human things ('the wind whispered').
- Hyperbole
- Deliberate exaggeration for effect ('I've told you a million times').
- Allusion
- A brief reference to a well-known person, event, or work to add meaning.
- Irony
- A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens or is meant.
- Symbolism
- Using an object or image to represent a larger idea (a dove for peace).
- Connotative vs. denotative
- Connotation is a word's emotional association; denotation is its literal meaning.
- Analyzing relationships
- Tracing how ideas, events, or individuals in a text influence one another.
- Author's argument
- The overall claim an author makes, supported by the text's reasons and evidence.
- Distinguishing strong vs. weak evidence
- Strong evidence is relevant, sufficient, and credible; weak evidence is vague, biased, or off-topic.
- Reading data displays
- Interpreting a graph, table, or chart that appears with a reading passage.
- Making predictions
- Using clues in the text to anticipate what will happen or be argued next.
- Order of operations (PEMDAS)
- Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division (left→right), Addition/Subtraction (left→right). 4 + 3 × 2 = 10.
- Place value
- The value of a digit based on its position (e.g., the 3 in 350 means 3 hundreds).
- Integer
- A whole number and its opposite, including zero: … −2, −1, 0, 1, 2 … (no fractions).
- Absolute value
- A number's distance from zero, always non-negative: |−7| = 7.
- Fraction
- A part of a whole, a/b, where a is the numerator and b the denominator.
- Adding fractions
- Find a common denominator, add the numerators, keep the denominator: 1/4 + 1/4 = 2/4 = 1/2.
- Multiplying fractions
- Multiply numerators and denominators straight across: 2/3 × 3/5 = 6/15 = 2/5.
- Dividing fractions
- Multiply by the reciprocal (flip the second fraction): 1/2 ÷ 1/4 = 1/2 × 4/1 = 2.
- Decimal
- A number with a fractional part shown after a decimal point (0.25 = 25/100 = 1/4).
- Percent
- A part per hundred. Convert to a decimal by dividing by 100: 25% = 0.25.
- Percent of a number
- Convert the percent to a decimal and multiply: 20% of 80 = 0.20 × 80 = 16.
- Percent change
- (new − old) ÷ old × 100. From 40 to 50: (50 − 40)/40 × 100 = 25% increase.
- Ratio
- A comparison of two quantities by division, written 3:4 or 3 to 4 or 3/4.
- Proportion
- An equation stating two ratios are equal; solve by cross-multiplying.
- Cross-multiplication
- To solve a/b = c/d, set a×d = b×c, then solve for the unknown.
- Exponent
- A small raised number telling how many times to multiply the base by itself: 2³ = 2 × 2 × 2 = 8.
- Product rule of exponents
- Multiply same-base powers by adding exponents: xᵃ × xᵇ = xᵃ⁺ᵇ.
- Square root
- A value that, multiplied by itself, gives the number: √36 = 6. It undoes squaring.
- Scientific notation
- Writing a number as a × 10ⁿ, where 1 ≤ a < 10. 4,500 = 4.5 × 10³.
- Prime number
- A whole number greater than 1 with exactly two factors: 1 and itself (2, 3, 5, 7, 11…).
- Greatest common factor (GCF)
- The largest factor two numbers share. GCF of 12 and 18 is 6.
- Least common multiple (LCM)
- The smallest multiple two numbers share. LCM of 4 and 6 is 12.
- Variable
- A letter (like x or n) that stands for an unknown or changing number.
- Expression vs. equation
- An expression has no equals sign (3x + 2); an equation sets two expressions equal (3x + 2 = 11).
- Combining like terms
- Add/subtract terms with the same variable and power: 3x + 5x = 8x.
- Distributive property
- a(b + c) = ab + ac. So 3(x + 4) = 3x + 12.
- Solving a linear equation
- Isolate the variable using inverse operations on both sides: 2x + 3 = 11 → x = 4.
- Inequality
- A statement using <, >, ≤, or ≥. Flip the sign when multiplying or dividing by a negative.
- Slope
- Steepness of a line: rise over run = (y₂ − y₁)/(x₂ − x₁); the m in y = mx + b.
- Y-intercept
- Where a line crosses the y-axis (x = 0); the b in y = mx + b.
- Slope-intercept form
- y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.
- Linear equation
- An equation whose graph is a straight line; variables are to the first power.
- Quadratic equation
- An equation with a squared variable: ax² + bx + c = 0; its graph is a parabola.
- Function
- A relation where each input (x) has exactly one output (y); f(x) is the output for x.
- Coordinate plane
- A grid formed by a horizontal x-axis and vertical y-axis; points are written (x, y).
- Perimeter
- The total distance around a shape; for a rectangle, P = 2(length + width).
- Area of a rectangle
- Area = length × width.
- Area of a triangle
- Area = ½ × base × height.
- Area of a circle
- Area = πr², where r is the radius (π ≈ 3.14).
- Circumference
- The distance around a circle: C = 2πr (or πd, where d is the diameter).
- Volume of a rectangular solid
- Volume = length × width × height.
- Volume of a cylinder
- Volume = πr²h, where r is the radius and h the height.
- Pythagorean theorem
- For a right triangle, a² + b² = c², where c is the hypotenuse.
- Radius vs. diameter
- The radius is the distance from center to edge; the diameter is twice the radius (across the circle).
- Mean (average)
- Add all values and divide by how many there are.
- Median
- The middle value of a data set arranged in order (average the two middle if even count).
- Mode
- The value that appears most often in a data set.
- Range
- The difference between the highest and lowest values: highest − lowest.
- Outlier
- A value far from the rest of a data set; the median resists outliers better than the mean.
- Probability
- Favorable outcomes ÷ total outcomes, a number from 0 (impossible) to 1 (certain).
- Mean vs. median use
- Use the median for the 'typical' value when a data set has extreme outliers.
- Independent events
- Events where one outcome does not affect the other; multiply their probabilities.
- Estimation
- Rounding numbers to quickly approximate an answer and sanity-check a calculation.
- Translating word problems
- Turn words into an equation: 'is' = equals, 'of' = multiply, 'more than' = add.
- Unit rate
- A ratio comparing a quantity to one unit (e.g., 60 miles per 1 hour = 60 mph).
- Negative number rules
- A negative times a negative is positive; a negative times a positive is negative.
- Rounding
- Replacing a number with a nearby simpler one: round 5 or more up, 4 or less down.
- Improper fraction
- A fraction whose numerator is ≥ its denominator (7/4); convert to a mixed number (1¾).
- Mixed number
- A whole number plus a fraction (2½); convert to an improper fraction to compute.
- Reciprocal
- The flip of a fraction; a number times its reciprocal equals 1 (3/4 × 4/3 = 1).
- Factor
- A whole number that divides evenly into another (the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12).
- Multiple
- The product of a number and any whole number (multiples of 5: 5, 10, 15, 20…).
- Coefficient
- The number multiplied by a variable in a term (in 5x, the coefficient is 5).
- Like terms
- Terms with the same variable raised to the same power; only like terms can be combined.
- Two-step equation
- An equation needing two inverse operations to solve: 3x + 4 = 19 → x = 5.
- Substitution
- Replacing a variable with its value to evaluate an expression or check a solution.
- X-intercept
- Where a line crosses the x-axis (y = 0).
- Parallel vs. perpendicular slopes
- Parallel lines share the same slope; perpendicular slopes are negative reciprocals.
- Domain and range
- The domain is the set of inputs (x); the range is the set of outputs (y).
- Surface area
- The total area of all the faces (surfaces) of a 3-D solid.
- Angles in a triangle
- The three interior angles of any triangle sum to 180°.
- Angles on a line
- Angles on a straight line sum to 180°; angles around a point sum to 360°.
- Right / acute / obtuse angle
- Right = 90°; acute < 90°; obtuse is between 90° and 180°.
- Congruent vs. similar
- Congruent figures are identical in size and shape; similar figures have the same shape, different size.
- Coordinate distance
- Count or use the distance formula to find how far apart two points are on the grid.
- Frequency table
- A table showing how often each value or category occurs in a data set.
- Bar graph vs. line graph
- A bar graph compares categories; a line graph shows change over time.
- Pie / circle graph
- A circle divided into slices showing each part's share of the whole (parts of 100%).
- Scatter plot
- A graph of paired data points used to show a relationship or trend between two variables.
- Correlation
- A relationship between two variables; positive rises together, negative moves oppositely.
- Theoretical vs. experimental probability
- Theoretical is what should happen by math; experimental is what actually happened in trials.
- Combinations vs. permutations
- Combinations ignore order; permutations count order as different.
- Average rate
- Total amount divided by total time or units (e.g., total miles ÷ total hours).
- Markup and discount
- Markup adds a percent to a cost; a discount subtracts a percent from a price.
- Simple interest
- Interest = principal × rate × time (I = Prt).
- Subject-verb agreement
- A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb.
- Verb tense
- Keep tense consistent unless the time frame actually changes (past, present, future).
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement
- A pronoun must match its noun (antecedent) in number and gender.
- Pronoun clarity
- Every pronoun must clearly refer to one specific noun, with no ambiguity.
- Parallel structure
- Items in a list or comparison must share the same grammatical form.
- Comma splice
- An error joining two complete sentences with only a comma; fix with a period, semicolon, or conjunction.
- Run-on sentence
- Two or more complete sentences joined without proper punctuation or conjunction.
- Sentence fragment
- An incomplete sentence missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.
- Independent clause
- A group of words with a subject and verb that can stand alone as a sentence.
- Dependent (subordinate) clause
- A clause with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone (e.g., 'because it rained').
- Comma in a series
- Use commas to separate three or more items in a list.
- Comma after introductory phrase
- Use a comma after an introductory word, phrase, or clause that opens a sentence.
- Comma with nonessential info
- Set off nonessential (extra) information with a pair of commas.
- Semicolon
- Joins two closely related independent clauses, or separates list items that contain commas.
- Colon
- Introduces a list, explanation, or quotation after a complete sentence.
- Apostrophe
- Shows possession (the dog's bone) or contraction (it's = it is) — never a plain plural.
- Its vs. it's
- 'Its' shows possession; 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has.'
- Their / there / they're
- 'Their' = possession; 'there' = place; 'they're' = they are.
- Your vs. you're
- 'Your' shows possession; 'you're' is a contraction of 'you are.'
- Modifier
- A word or phrase that describes another word; place it next to what it modifies.
- Dangling modifier
- A descriptive phrase with no clear word to modify; fix by adding the right subject.
- Misplaced modifier
- A modifier positioned so it seems to describe the wrong word; move it beside the right one.
- Active vs. passive voice
- Active: the subject does the action ('She wrote it'). Passive: the subject receives it ('It was written').
- Wordiness
- Using more words than needed; prefer the clearest, most concise standard English.
- Standard English conventions
- The grammar, usage, punctuation, and spelling rules of formal written English.
- Capitalization
- Capitalize the first word of a sentence, proper nouns, and the pronoun 'I.'
- Transition words
- Words that connect ideas and show relationships: however, therefore, in addition, for example.
- Topic sentence (writing)
- The sentence that states a paragraph's main point; the rest of the paragraph supports it.
- Thesis statement
- A single sentence stating the main claim or purpose of an essay, usually in the introduction.
- Argumentative essay
- An essay that takes a clear position on an issue and defends it with reasons and evidence.
- Informative / explanatory essay
- An essay that explains a topic clearly and objectively using facts and examples — not opinion.
- Two GACE Writing essays
- Test III includes two constructed-response essays: one argumentative and one informative/explanatory.
- Essay scoring criteria
- GACE essays are scored on focus, development/support, organization, and language conventions.
- Introduction
- Opens an essay: hooks the reader, gives context, and states the thesis.
- Body paragraph
- Develops one main point with a topic sentence, evidence, and explanation.
- Conclusion
- Restates the thesis, summarizes key points, and leaves a final thought — no new evidence.
- Evidence in writing
- Specific facts, examples, and reasoning that support each point in an essay.
- Counterargument (writing)
- Acknowledging an opposing view, then refuting it, strengthens an argumentative essay.
- Organization
- A logical structure — intro, body paragraphs, conclusion — with clear transitions.
- Revising vs. editing
- Revising improves ideas, organization, and clarity; editing fixes grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- Audience and purpose (writing)
- Who you write for and why; both shape tone, word choice, and content.
- Concise word choice
- Choosing precise, economical words; the GACE rewards clear over wordy or informal phrasing.
- Verb agreement with intervening words
- Match the verb to the true subject, ignoring words between subject and verb.
- Frequently confused words
- Pairs like affect/effect, accept/except, then/than — choose the meaning that fits.
- Sentence variety
- Mixing short and long, simple and complex sentences to keep writing engaging and clear.
- Coherence
- Ideas that flow logically and connect smoothly within and between paragraphs.
- Noun
- A word naming a person, place, thing, or idea.
- Verb
- A word expressing an action or state of being.
- Adjective
- A word that describes a noun or pronoun (a quick answer).
- Adverb
- A word that describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb, often ending in -ly (ran quickly).
- Preposition
- A word showing a relationship of place, time, or direction (in, on, before, between).
- Conjunction
- A word that joins words or clauses (and, but, or, because).
- Coordinating conjunction
- Joins equal parts: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS).
- Subordinating conjunction
- Begins a dependent clause (because, although, while, since, if).
- Compound sentence
- Two independent clauses joined by a comma + coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.
- Complex sentence
- An independent clause plus at least one dependent clause.
- Comma before a coordinating conjunction
- Use a comma before for/and/nor/but/or/yet/so when it joins two independent clauses.
- Quotation marks
- Enclose direct speech or a quotation; periods and commas go inside them.
- Hyphen vs. dash
- A hyphen joins words (well-known); a dash sets off or emphasizes a phrase.
- Possessive of plural nouns
- Add only an apostrophe after the s for a plural noun (the students' books).
- Who vs. whom
- 'Who' is the subject (who called?); 'whom' is the object (to whom did you speak?).
- Affect vs. effect
- 'Affect' is usually a verb (to influence); 'effect' is usually a noun (a result).
- Then vs. than
- 'Then' refers to time/sequence; 'than' is used for comparisons.
- Double negative
- Two negatives in one clause (can't get no) — nonstandard; use one negative.
- Capitalizing titles
- Capitalize the first, last, and all major words in a title (Title Case).
- Subject of a sentence
- The noun or pronoun that performs the action or is described.
- Predicate
- The part of a sentence containing the verb and what it says about the subject.
- Restating vs. summarizing in writing
- Restating repeats an idea in new words; summarizing condenses the main points.
- Clear pronoun reference
- Avoid vague 'this/it/they' with no clear noun to point back to.
- Tone in writing
- Conveying an appropriate attitude (formal, objective) suited to audience and purpose.
- GaPSC
- The Georgia Professional Standards Commission — owns GACE and Georgia educator certification.
- ETS (Evaluation Systems)
- The vendor that develops and delivers the GACE assessments for GaPSC.
- GACE Program Admission
- The basic-skills assessment (Reading 210, Mathematics 211, Writing 212) for entry to a Georgia educator-preparation program.
- Combined Test 710
- The option to take all three Program Admission tests in one session.
- Passing score (Program Admission)
- A scaled score of 250 on each test, OR a combined total of at least 750 across all three.
- Compensatory passing option
- Since July 1, 2021, a score below 250 on one test still passes if the three-test total is ≥ 750.
- Program Admission exemption
- Qualifying SAT, ACT, or GRE scores can exempt a candidate from the Program Admission tests.
- Georgia Educator Ethics – Program Entry (350)
- The ethics assessment taken near program admission; embedded training modules with end-of-module assessments (no scaled score).
- Georgia Educator Ethics – Program Exit (360)
- The ethics assessment taken near program completion, covering the Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators.
- Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators
- The professional-conduct standards Georgia educators must follow; the basis of the Ethics assessments.
- GACE content assessment
- A subject-area test (e.g., Elementary Education) candidates take to certify in the field they will teach.
- Educational Leadership assessment
- The GACE assessment for candidates pursuing a school or district leadership certificate.
- Scaled score
- A converted score on a standard scale (not a raw percent) that allows fair comparison across test forms.
- Selected-response question
- A multiple-choice question with one best answer — the main format on the GACE tests.
- Constructed-response question
- A written-answer item; the GACE Writing test has two such essays.
- Retake policy
- You keep tests you pass and retake only those not yet passed, after a short waiting period.
- Score reporting
- GACE Program Admission scores are typically reported about 28 days after the test date.
- Computer-delivered testing
- GACE tests are taken on computer at test centers (and remote-proctored where available).
