FTCE Middle Grades Math 5-9 Teacher Certification Test Prep Study Guide (XAM FTCE)

Just took and passed the FTCE Middle Grades Math test today. Primarily used this book, Cliff Notes Middle Grades Math Praxis book, Official practice exam from FTCE's website. Also used PurpleMath.com, MathIsFun.com, and KhansAcademy.org.I studied pretty good for about 2 months leading up to the test. Felt decent about my chances / readiness. However, the test itself had me worried and unsure. Was not as easy as I thought and I didnt have any extra time to go back and check answers.About the test specifically, there were lots of random application questions. Outside of that just know your slope, midpoint, distance formula. Also know how to find angles and sides of triangles. Remember area and volume formulas. Also, know mode, range, mean, and median. Like I said, it is kinda hard to give a proper breakdown of this test and remember a lot as it had me on my heels from the start. I am curious as to my actual score ie if I barely passed or did pretty good. You only get an unofficial pass or fail right after the test.Just study all the basics as well as all the application type stuff in the study guides and you should pass. Also, I spent way too much time thinking about problems I was unsure of. If you are not sure about a problem within 1-2 minutes skip it and come back to it later.Gook luck.

I took the FTCE SAE Middle Grade 5-9 Mathematics on the date of Saturday, August 18, 2012. I passed the test.If you have a mathematical background, a recent college student/grad that majored in a math based field of study or work in a profession that is heavily math oriented (choosing from the words: excellent, good, fair, poor) this is a FAIR guide for studying for this exam.If you do not have a mathematical background or have not seen math for a good number of years, this is a POOR guide for studying for this exam.I graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. I work with Computers/Networking and currently teach math.This book does follow and provide mathematical problems similar to the ones for competencies and skills needed for the FTCE SAE Middle Grade 5-9 Mathematics.This book has a few errors with some of the example problems, does not offer a good explanation for steps used to arrive at the final answer and the final answers for some problems were just plain wrong. At times I felt like I was re-writing the book to correct the errors I found.The book does provide a practice test (which is harder than the actual exam), yet it does not provide enough drilling problems for the different competencies and skills needed for this exam.As you have seen earlier in this review I have a mathematical background and currently work in a mathematical profession so this test was a small challenge, but overall not a problem for me.Later on I will take the FTCE Professional Education test and the FTCE SAE Mathematics 6-12. I will let you know my test results and what study guide I used.[TEST TIPS]Unfortunately this book is really the only game in town so here are a few tips that will help you pass this exam.*Read the book carefully and do the problems carefully. WATCH OUT FOR ERRORS!!!*Follow FTCE Test Information Guide for the FTCE SAE Middle Grade Mathematics for 5-9 Mathematics and do the practice problems provided. You can download this guide for free at:"fl" "nesinc" "com" / "FL" _ "Test Prep" "asp" [THIS IS ONLY CURRENT AS THE DATE OF THIS REVIEW on AUGUST 2012]*KNOW and memorize conversions for system of measurements and basic geometry formulas. You WILL NOT get a mathematics reference sheet.*KNOW the definitions; you will see a few of those.*I had mostly Algebra I, Geometry, Basic Trigonometry and Basic Matrices.*The book does not really cover this only a quick mention, so go over domain, range and know what would be a function and what would not be a function dealing data sets and graphs.*You see a few 3D shapes and you will be asked to identify the shapes if they are unfolded for example a cube.*USE other mathematical resources. I used the FTCE General Knowledge Test (REA) to do practice drilling mathematical problems. This book over prepares for the FTCE GK, but is moderately good for this exam.[SIDENOTE: IF YOU ARE TAKING THE FTCE GK DO NOT use the FTCE General Knowledge Test (REA) use the Cliffs Test Prep FTCE: General Knowledge Test book.]*USE www: khan academy . org, purple math . com, web math . com, wolframalpha . com and kuta software . com*You can use http : / / subjectareatestprep . pds-hrd . wikispaces . net / This website is a wiki from Broward County Public School for FTCE SAE preparation and provides multiple practice problems for drilling.I HOPE YOU ALL DO WELL ON YOUR EXAMS!!!

This is a good outline of what is on the test. Supplemental materials are still needed, as there are only 1-2 example questions for each concept. The practice test is spot on. I used this book as a guide and supplemented with Khan Academy videos. Passed the test the first time. :)

The first XAM test prep book that I used was from the library. I checked out all of the test prep books that they had and found the XAM book to be the most user-friendly. I continued using their test prep books and when it came time for me to take the math exam, naturally I bought this one. I followed the advice in the book as far as test-taking skills. I also took the sample tests and worked on concepts that were the most difficult for me. I like the logical order in which the material is presented. I knew from past experience with XAM test prep books that the actual test would reflect much of what was in the study guide. The math study guide was no exception. I know that my ability to pass the exam on the first attempt was mostly due to using the XAM book as my study guide. It is expensive to take the certification tests multiple times and I think it is much cheaper and less stressful to just get the XAM study guide from the get-go, work through it and know that I will be sufficiently prepared to take and pass the test. XAM is the only study guide I even bother to pick up now. Get yours and pass those exams with flying colors on the first round!!