What is the Praxis Test?

Praxis is one of the most popular teacher certification programs in the United States. Most states use this standardized test for licensure and certification. Praxis tests may be required before, during, or after the teacher training courses, depending on the candidates' state of residence.

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) administers this test, besides also developing, administering, and scoring assessments like the GRE, SAT, TOEFL, and many more as well. Either student or teacher candidates can take the tests. Some students may also be eligible for fee waivers if they fall into the category. Also, each state determines its own Praxis passing scores and requirements.

Types of Praxis Tests

There are 3 types of Praxis tests, and each tests specific candidate skills. The test that they take would depend upon the state requirements they are testing in.

• Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educator Tests: This test consists of three types of tests- Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. The tests can be taken separately or together. This test was earlier known as the Praxis Pre-Professional Skills Test or PPST. Universities require the Praxis Core score as an entry requirement to a teacher's program. It can also act as a license for teaching. Its different components test the following skills of the candidates:
  • a. Reading: Examines the reading and comprehension capabilities of the candidates.
  • b. Math: Tests the candidate’s numerical aptitude.
  • c. Writing: Measures the candidate’s ability to clearly express their thoughts through their writing.
  Test Structure

  Section	No. of Questions	Time Limit	Evaluation Task
  Reading	56	85 minutes	Reading passages and statements
  Writing	40 selected-response questions + 2 essay questions	40 minutes + 60 minutes	Usage, correcting sentences, revision in context, and research skills
  Mathematics	56	90 minutes	One or multiple correct answer type questions and numeric-entry questions

• Praxis Subject Tests: This test has over 120 different tests to assess teaching skills and knowledge in a particular subject. These tests act as a license to enter the teaching profession in a particular subject. Different states have their own requirements.
  
  Test Structure

  No. of Questions	Type of Questions	Time Limit
  60-130 (depending on the subject)	Either selected-response or constructed-response questions, or a combination of both (depending on the subject)	1-4 hours, depending on the subject(s) chosen. For most of these tests, the duration ranges from 2-2.5 hours.

• Praxis Content Knowledge for Teaching (CKT) Assessment for Elementary Education: This test is for elementary school teacher aspirants. It comprises 4 subtests- Reading and Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Each of these tests measures the candidate's subject-specific knowledge and the teaching skills required in the profession.
  
  Multiple Subject Tests for Elementary Education evaluates the candidate's entry-level teaching skills for elementary students in reading, mathematics, social studies, and science. This test supports the Praxis CKT Assessment license.
  
  Test Structure

  Section	No. of Questions	Type of Questions	Time Limit
  Reading and Language Arts	63	Selected-response	90 minutes
  Mathematics	52	Selected response and numeric entry (on-screen four-function calculator provided)	85 minutes
  Science	47	Selected-response	60 minutes
  Social Studies	60	Selected-response	50 minutes

Cost of Taking Praxis

Registration for the online Praxis account is free. The tests, however, have a fee levied on them. The acceptable payment methods include a check, eCheck, a credit or debit card, Money order or U.S. Postal Service money order, or PayPal. An overview of the cost of the tests is listed below:

Name of the Test	No. and Name of Sets	Cost Range
Core Academic Skills for Educators	Reading/Writing/Mathematics	$90 per test
Core Academic Skills for Educators	Combined test	$150
Praxis Subject Assessments	The Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) tests	$156
Praxis Subject Assessments	Subject Assessments	$64 each or $150/$180 for bundles
Praxis Content Knowledge Test (CKT)	Subject Tests	$78 per test
Praxis Content Knowledge Test (CKT)	Content Knowledge	$130/$209
Rescheduling Fee		$40
Phone Registration Fee		$35
Additional Score Report		$50 per report
Score Review		$65

In order to know more about the fees, visit PraxisExam.org

How to Register/Apply for Praxis?

The candidates can take the test online at home or a test center, depending upon availability. The registration process for the Praxis test includes the following steps:

• The candidates must create an online account on the Praxis website using a valid email ID and mailing address. Click here for the sign-up page.
• The candidates should check the state requirements and the tests they must take.
• Up to 4 tests can be selected by the candidates before checking out.
• Candidates should select if they want to take the test at home or a test center.
• Payment for the test has to be made online.
• Once the test is scheduled, the candidates will receive a free Interactive Practice Test along with the registration.

Test Dates for Praxis

The Praxis Tests are conducted year-round from September to August. However, the registration for the new testing year starts in mid-July. The states and organizations usually submit any changes in the test requirements by May. These changes are thereafter reflected on the official website by mid-July.

Calculate Praxis Score

The Praxis is scored on a scale of 100-200. Candidates can see the raw score on their score report to understand how they performed in each section if they want to retake the test. The qualifying marks for the Praxis test vary from state to state and agency to agency. They are not pre-decided by the ETS, but a score of 156 or higher is considered a passing score for most tests by most states.

The scores are released online on the score release date. There are 4 free score reports included in the test fee. The candidates must select the institutions and agencies they want to send the score to at the time of registration. Candidates can view and download their scores online. The scores are available for up to 10 years; hence, the candidates are encouraged to keep a copy for their own record.

Note: To access score reports before July 21, 2017, candidates will have to order an additional score report.

Candidates can request a score review if they feel they were not graded correctly. They can pay a fee and request a score review for constructed-response questions. This option is not available for selected-response questions since they are graded by two entities before being reported. The score review request must be submitted within 3 months of the test date.

Cancelling or Rescheduling Praxis

If the candidates are unable to take the exam for any reason, they can even get it rescheduled or canceled, provided it is done 3 days before the test, excluding the test day, to get a 50% refund of the test fees. This can be done online or by phone.

Retaking Praxis

The Praxis test can be retaken as many times as necessary to qualify. There must be a waiting period of 28 days between the two attempts, which allows the candidates to prepare well.

States and Territories that Accept Praxis

Praxis is accepted by 46 states and the District of Columbia for licensing purposes, although Praxis might not be the only requirement in these states. Most states might require a Praxis test along with some other test or requirement specific to them. This is why the candidates must check the requirements in their respective states. Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Michigan do not accept Praxis, but they might take them if the candidate tested in a different state.

How to Prepare for Praxis?

Praxis is a hard test to pass and only about 46% of candidates pass it on their first attempt. The candidates need to adequately prepare for it to get the passing scores. Here are some helpful tips:

1. Free Resources: ETS provides free resources for test prep either on their website or through a third party. After registering for a test, they will get a free practice test. Candidates should make use of those.
2. ETS Study Companion: The ETS Study Companion is an informative resource that can be downloaded from the ETS website. It provides a clear idea about the test pattern and topics to study for, besides a study plan and some important tips. The best part about it is that it's free!
3. Online Courses: For an organized preparation strategy, the candidates can consider enrolling for online preparation courses offered by various institutions.
4. Offline Help: Books like "The Praxis Core for Dummies," "Praxis Core Study Guides," and others can also help the candidates ace these tests. Some of these books also carry an online link for additional tests for enhanced preparation. These sample tests can be attempted multiple times to ensure that the topics are absolutely clear.
5. Practice Courses on ETS: ETS provides several practice courses that candidates can purchase online. They are self-paced courses and contain practice questions and full-length practice tests. The courses cost $99.99 each.

Checklist for the Test Day

Qualifying the test becomes a breeze with good preparation and confidence! Hence, additional planning is always a great way to avoid last-minute panic. Here are some ways in which the candidates can ensure a worry-free experience:

• Admission Ticket and Location: Candidates should print out the admission ticket from their Praxis account and also save a PDF on their device.
• Documents: On arrival, the candidates will be asked for a photo ID containing their name, signature, and photograph. For ease of verification, all the IDs should reflect the correct name of the candidate. In case of a discrepancy in the name reflected in the registration form and the ID, the test center staff may not allow the candidate to take the tests.
  
  In case of any name changes, the candidate should also have supporting documents, such as the ID of the name change document or the previous ID with a different name. The candidates should ensure that photo IDs carried by them should not have faded or expired.
• Arrival and Departure Time: The candidates should arrive at least 30 minutes before the test time. This gives enough time to verify the documents.
• Keeping Belongings: Every test center may not have a locker facility. Hence, checking the center specifications beforehand is always a good idea to plan and carry the items accordingly. Before entering the test center, the candidates must ensure they aren't carrying cell phones, food, or scratch paper.