Praxis Test

Praxis Test Overview

The Praxis test is given to prospective teachers in order to make sure they are qualified and competent to lead classrooms and give kids a quality education. As America faces an ongoing educational crisis, states have recognized the need to make sure that students have great teachers in every classroom, from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Several states use the Praxis exams as a basis for certifying their teachers beyond the basics of an education degree. Failure the test means not being able to work as a teacher, so the stakes are high. There is no set minimum passing score; each state determines for itself what constitutes a good score on the Praxis exam.

The Praxis is actually a series of tests that can be taken all at once or taken separately. Test takers also have the option of taking the test on a computer or with pencil and paper. There are specific content tests for teachers to demonstrate their expertise in their chosen subjects, such as Spanish, Algebra, etc. Each teacher must pass his or her content Praxis, as well as the general skills test. The general skills test covers Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. On the computer-based exam, the Reading and Mathematics sections each have 46 questions that must be completed within 75 minutes for each test. The writing section has 44 questions with a time limit of 38 minutes, and the test taker must also write an essay in 30 minutes.

The number of questions is slightly less for the pencil and paper tests, and the time allotted for each section is shorter as well. That is because the company that develops the Praxis uses the extra questions on the computerized version for research purposes, trying out questions for future editions of the exam. However, as these experimental questions do not count toward the actual score, it really does not matter which version of the Praxis exam a person takes.

Praxis Exam Tips for a High Score

The Praxis exam is used by a number of states as a certification test for aspiring teachers in order to make sure that each teacher in a classroom has met certain standards for knowledge and teaching skills. The test is multiple-choice, given either on a computer or with pencil and paper. There are two forms of the test. Praxis I covers general knowledge and consists of three sections: Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. Praxis II covers the specific subject an aspiring educator plans to teach. Here are some tips to help you achieve a high score on your Praxis exam.

First, do not procrastinate when it comes to preparing. Studies have repeatedly shown that the people who do well on standardized tests, including the Praxis, are those who have a regular study and review system in place for at least a couple of weeks before the test. Cramming at the last minute simply is not effective. Get a good Praxis study guide and use it to review for the test.

Second, do not ever leave a question blank on the Praxis. Because it follows a multiple-choice format, there is a chance that your guess will be correct. Sometimes you can eliminate one or two of the possible answers as obviously wrong, improving your odds even more. So if you are completely stumped, take a guess, because a wrong answer does not hurt you any worse than a blank answer, and you may well guess correctly.

Finally, keep your life as stress free as possible in the days leading up to the test. Your test day anxiety will be bad enough without added factors making it worse. Everyone is naturally nervous when taking a critical test such as the Praxis; that is normal. But there is a huge difference between having butterflies in your stomach and being so frazzled and worn out that you cannot perform at your best. With this in mind, make sure you take it as easy as possible for a few days before test day, and you will be in great shape when you take the Praxis exam.

Praxis Study Guide: The Future Teacher's Best Friend

Getting a Praxis study guide is probably the smartest thing aspiring teachers can do in order to help them achieve their dreams of teaching America's children. The Praxis is a rigorous set of tests that states use in order to make sure that future teachers are well qualified. There are two Praxis tests that every aspiring teacher must pass. One covers general knowledge in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. The other tests their teaching skills and their knowledge of their chosen specialty. Failure on either one of these sections means that a person will not be certified to teach. That is why a Praxis study guide is so important.

Make no mistake-these tests are not easy. If they were, then the failure rate would not be so high. Every year, thousands of potential teachers see their dreams crushed, or at least put on hold for a while, because they fail the Praxis. In most cases, frustrated would-be teachers could have passed these challenging tests if they had taken advantage of a Praxis study guide.

Using a study guide for the Praxis does not mean you have to spend weeks and weeks continuously studying in order to prepare for the test. On the contrary, with a good study guide, you can take your time and get up to speed by spending a little time every day reviewing your weak areas, which the study guide will help you identify. This is the exact opposite approach to cramming, which is a very ineffective way of prepping for any test. There is no need to spend a ton of money prepping for the Praxis; you can find a really good Praxis study guide at an affordable price.

Praxis 1

Praxis I Test: It Is Harder Than Many People Think

The Praxis I test is the first of two tests that aspiring teachers must pass in order to be certified to teach in certain states. It actually consists of three different exams: Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. The other Praxis test covers teaching skills and the specifics of the teacher's specialized subject matter, such as English, chemistry, or geometry. Every year, countless people fail to get their teaching certification because of a low score on the Praxis exams. Part of this is due to the fact that too many of them focus on doing well on their teaching and content exam and, as a result, do not spend enough time prepping for Praxis I.

In a way, this is understandable. At first glance, it seems logical to assume that geometry or algebra, or some other specific test subject would be easier to pass than a general knowledge test. Many teachers do not realize, however, that they have become something of an expert in their specialty field; therefore, they probably will not have too much trouble passing that portion of the Praxis. They have spent much of their college or university careers studying their chosen subject, and they have mastered it.

When it comes to general knowledge, however, that is a different story. Much of the material on Praxis I will consist of questions on topics that test takers have not encountered or thought about for years. Basic math might sound easy because it includes the word "basic," but when is the last time a person who hopes to teach eighth grade English had to divide and multiply fractions? For most of them, it has been quite a while, and a lot of them have completely forgotten how to do these basic math functions. It is easy to underestimate the general knowledge portion of the Praxis, but it is unwise to do so. As many disappointed potential teachers can tell you, the Praxis I is often what trips people up.