Many states and licensing agencies throughout the U.S. and worldwide use one or many Praxis exams as part of their credentialing process. This particular exam is taken by prospective Mathematics teachers for the Middle School level. It includes topics such as geometry, algebra, arithmetic, and data.
Who is Eligible?
Praxis does not have any requirements to take this exam. However, it is important to note that most successful candidates have at least a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, education, or a combination there of. In addition, each state or licensing agency may have prerequisites of its own.
Praxis does charge an exam fee of $120 for the Middle School: Content Knowledge Exam. This is due during registration. Late and foreign fees may apply.
When and Where is it Taken?
This Praxis exam is available year-round at nearly 300 Prometric testing centers and various other sites located the world over. Choose a date, time, and location that is convenient for you and your needs. However, due to limited space and seating in most locations, we recommended you register for your chosen testing appointment as early as possible.
Special accommodations are available upon request for those with disabilities. If you believe you will not be able to test under normal conditions, let this be known during registration. Supporting documentation will need to be submitted for approval.
An admission ticket will be emailed to you immediately after your registration for an exam session is complete. You will need to bring this with you on test day, so be sure to keep it and print it out
What Should I Bring?
It is important that you are on time for your exam appointment. Prometric recommends that you plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early to ensure you have enough time to complete a check-in process before you are seated. Those who arrive late will not be allowed to test and will have to reschedule.
You will need to bring your admission ticket as well as at least one valid and current photo identification. Your ID must include your signature and full name as it appears on your admission ticket/registration information. If your ID contains missing or incorrect information, you will not be allowed test.
Personal belongings are not permitted in the testing area. these include but are not limited to the following items:
- Study materials and writing utensils
- Calculators
- Cell phones or any electronic devices
- Food or drinks
- Purses or bags of any kind
If you are found in violation of this policy, your scores will be voided and you will be immediately dismissed. However, some testing centers may provide an assigned storage area away from the testing room for some items such as outerwear or handbags.
A writing utensil and some scratch paper will be given to you at the testing site for use during the exam. These will need to be turned back in when you are finished. An on-screen graphing calculator will also be provided.
What is Covered?
All Praxis exams take place on a computer. This exam is made up of 55 selected-response and numeric-entry questions.
There will be a few unidentified pretest questions as well. These will not count towards your score.
You will be given two hours to complete the exam. Below is a brief overview of the two main exam sections and the approximate amount of questions and the weight of each.
- Arithmetic and Algebra (34 questions/62%)
- Numbers and operations, algebra, and functions and their graphs
- Geometry and Data (21 questions/38%)
- Measurement and geometry, probability, statistics, discrete mathematics
For questions that you are unsure of, it is recommended that you eliminate responses you know are incorrect and then make your best guess. Scores are calculated by the amount of correctly answered questions with no penalty for incorrect ones.
What About My Scores?
Upon the completion of your exam, your score will be shown on your computer screen at the testing site. Though, official scores are not available to you or any designated recipients until about two to three weeks after you have taken the exam. This can be accessed on your online Praxis account for up to one year.
Your official score report will include your overall score, pass/fail status according to the state(s) you selected during registration, and the range of possible scores for each category and the exam as a whole.
Retakes may be available, depending on your state or licensing agency.
How Can I Prepare for the Praxis Middle School: Mathematics Test?
That’s a great question. We’ve broken down the answer into three parts.
- Do yourself a favor and study. Do not walk in unprepared. We have recommended prep materials below, but that only helps if you actually try. Plus, studying is actually proven to be the best antidote to test anxiety.
- Take care of yourself. Make sure you’re eating well, exercising, and sleeping. All of these things are scientifically linked to brain performance. If you take care of your body, you’ll be helping your grades.
- Get a study guide or set of flashcards. Some people study better a certain way. Find your study strengths and make the most of them. We’ve tried to make it easy for you by tracking down the best study guide and flashcard set for your exam. Below you’ll see links to both!
