The Praxis exam is used as a part of the licensure process for many states and licensing agencies throughout the U.S. for those seeking teaching credentials. This specific Praxis is used for those teaching grades 7-12. It is meant to measure your abilities and knowledge in the area of general instruction and assessment needed for students in these grades according to professional and national standards.
Who is Eligible?
Each state or licensing agency that uses Praxis exams sets their own standards of eligibility for each exam and what range of scores are acceptable for licensure in that state. Therefore, it is crucial that you know what these standards may require of you before you begin to register for any Praxis exam. A list of most states and their requirements is available on the Praxis website.
There is a $146 fee for this Praxis exam, which must be paid during registration. Late and foreign fees may apply in some situations.
When and Where is it Taken?
This Praxis exam is only available during specific testing windows each year. Be sure to know when these are, as well as any deadlines associated with them.
During registration, you may schedule to test a large number of Prometric testing centers located throughout the U.S. Choose one that is convenient for you during your testing window. However, it is recommended that you schedule this appointment as early as possible due to limited space and seating at some locations.
Accommodations for test takers with disabilities or who may not be able to test under normal conditions are available upon request. This request must be completed during registration and supporting documentation must be provided for approval.
What Should I Bring?
On test day, it is critical that you arrive at least 30 minutes early to complete a check-in process. Those who arrive late will be considered a no-show. You will not be allowed to enter the facility for testing and will need to reschedule and submit a new registration fee.
Along with your admission ticket, you will need to bring at least one current and valid photo identification. This must include your full name as it appears on your admission ticket and your signature. IDs with missing or incorrect information will not be accepted and will not allow you entrance to the exam.
Personal items should not be brought with you to the testing site, as they are not allowed in the testing room. 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
Some testing centers may be able to provide you with assigned storage space for belongings such as outerwear and handbags. A piece of scratch paper and a writing utensil will be provided at the testing site for the purpose of note-taking during the exam.
What is Covered?
This exam consists of 70 selected-response and 4 constructed-response questions delivered via a computer. Your exam may also contain some pretest items. These will be unidentified as such and will not count towards your score.
You will be given two hours to complete the entire exam. About 70 minutes is generally given for the selected-response items and 50 minutes for constructed-response questions. Below is a brief overview of the exam sections and the approximate number of items and the weight of each.
- Students as Learners (21 questions/22.5%)
- Instructional Process (21 questions/22.5%)
- Assessment Strategies and Tools (14 questions/15%)
- Professional Development, Leadership, and Community (14 questions/15%)
- Analysis of Instructional Scenarios (4 constructed-response questions/25%)
What About My Scores?
Your score is based on the number of correctly answered questions with no penalty for incorrect responses. Therefore, it is in your best interest to answer every question to the best of your ability and, if the need arises, guess the correct response.
Your score report will include your score and pass/fail status according to the state(s) you selected, as well as the range of possible scores for each category and the overall exam. Your official scores will be made available to you about two to three weeks after the end of your testing window via your Praxis account.
Retakes may be available for those that fail; however, this is decided by each state/licensing agency.
How Can I Prepare for the Praxis 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!
