Praxis Test Prep for Education Students

A Comprehensive Look at the Praxis to Help You Pass the First Time

Students who are looking to become teachers have probably heard about the Praxis exams but may be unclear about certain aspects of these tests. The Praxis exams are used by most states to determine whether a person is qualified to be a teacher, and a passing score is often essential to gaining licensure. Students can streamline the testing process by preparing well and familiarizing themselves with all aspects of the Praxis, like which exams they need to take, how to register and receive their scores and best study practices.

Understanding the Praxis

Before taking the Praxis, prospective test takers should learn as much as they can about the exams including who they’re for and what they entail.

Registration and Fees for the Praxis

Before taking the Praxis, prospective examinees need to register and pay for their exams. Registration times can vary, so test takers should familiarize themselves with the process in advance to make sure they have the funds and time needed to sign up for the right tests.

Studying for the Praxis: Tips and Practice Exams

Top Tips for Test Prep

Taking the Praxis more than once isn’t the end of the world, but examinees can increase their chances of nailing it the first time by following these Praxis study tips:

• Make a study plan and schedule. Designating time to focus on specific subjects will help test takers get through all of their study materials and prevent cramming before the exam.
• Know where to focus your study efforts. Taking practice exams can help identify weak points and areas that need more attention.
• Get familiar with all aspects of the exam. Having a solid grasp of the content, format and scoring process will help prevent any test day surprises.
• Understand why answers are right or wrong. This extra layer of critical thinking will help examinees work through difficult or tricky questions on the actual test.
• Strategize for both selected-response and constructed-response questions. These questions are presented, answered and scored differently, so test takers should prepare for them differently, too.
• Bonus tip: Prospective examinees can check out an interactive demonstration of the actual testing interface on the ETS website.

Praxis Practice Exams and Study Guides

Prospective teachers can help ensure they pass the Praxis by preparing well. Practice exams and study guides are excellent tools, and they are available in various formats, like video, text and interactive tests, from a wide range of sources. Using practice exams and study guides together can help examinees determine their strong and weak points, which is useful for making effective study plans. These tools can also provide explanations for right and wrong answers. Moreover, examinees who take advantage of study materials will get familiar with test content, structure and commonly-used terms and can walk into the testing center with more confidence.

Prospective test takers can check out these practice exams or do their own search to find practice exams that suit their needs and study styles:

• ETS Free Preparation Materials
• ETS Fee-Based Preparation Materials
• Teachers Test Prep – Free Online Practice Tests
• Magoosh – Praxis Prep Plans
• Mometrix – Free Praxis Core Practice Test and Review

Scoring the Praxis

Testing Accommodations and Resources for Students with Disabilities

ETS works with examinees who have disabilities or health-related needs to ensure they are not at a disadvantage when taking the Praxis exams.

Common reasons for accommodations.

• Hearing loss
• Visual impairment
• Limited or restricted mobility
• Medicine administration
• Insulin testing
• Extra time needed
• Necessary food, drink or bathroom breaks

How to apply for accommodations.

Before registering for their Praxis exams, test takers seeking accommodations need to fill out an application online, through email or through standard mail. Those applying online can find the application and instructions through their My Praxis account. To apply through mail or email, applicants need to download and complete the Testing Accommodation Request form, attach any additional documentation needed, and either scan and send the whole package via email or mail it directly to ETS.

It’s important to do this as early as possible because accommodation applications can take about six weeks to process. ETS also requests that applicants refrain from sending any unnecessary documents, as this slows the approval process.

Modified accommodations for disabilities.

• 50% or 100% time extension
• Specialized technology, like ergonomic keyboards, screen magnifiers, trackballs, touchpad keyboards and screens with background and foreground color options
• Human readers, scribes, oral and/or Sign Language interpreters
• Braille slate and stylus or Perkins brailler
• Braille test
• Large print test
• Audio recording test
• Special lighting
• Adjustable chairs
• Separate room for testing or necessary food, beverages or medicine administration

Guidelines for receiving accommodations.

ETS created their accommodation guidelines with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act in mind. An accommodation request application and supporting disability documentation are required to determine if ETS can grant the accommodation request.

Disability Testing Resources for Praxis Exams

ETS provides a wealth of helpful literature regarding testing accommodations. These pages contain the most pertinent information for test takers seeking accommodations:

• Accommodations For Test Takers With Disabilities Or Health-Related Needs
  Find general and step-by-step information on applying for Praxis test accommodations and registering for the exam once accommodations have been approved.
• Bulletin Supplement For Test Takers With Disabilities Or Health-Related Needs
  This booklet (PDF) provides detailed information about testing and accommodations for people with disabilities or health-related needs. Examinees can find a checklist, important phone numbers and relevant forms here.
• Disability Documentation Info Page
  Some accommodation requests require applicants to supply certain documents. Get information on which accommodations do and do not require additional documentation on this page.

Additional Resources

Preparation is key to passing the Praxis and moving into a successful teaching career. These sites and organizations can help examinees find extra Praxis information and tips, as well as useful resources for teachers after they pass the exam.

Association of American Educators. The Association of American Educators (AAE) is the largest non-union professional organization in the U.S. Current and prospective teachers can find professional development resources, scholarship and grant opportunities and helpful publications about the teaching industry.

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. CAEP is the primary accrediting organization that evaluates teacher education providers. This organization can help students find accredited teacher preparation programs.

Department of Education State Pages. Quickly navigate to a specific state’s Department of Education to find pertinent licensure information.

Educational Testing Services (ETS): Praxis. ETS hosts the Praxis exam and provides essential information for test takers. Examinees can log into their My Praxis accounts, register for tests, find study materials and more.

National Education Association. The National Education Association (NEA), the largest teaching labor union in the U.S., provides a plethora of information, resources and support for educators.

TeachAde. TeachAde is a free social media platform made specifically for educators. Experienced and prospective teachers can use TeachAde to make professional connections, learn about the profession and ask questions. Get firsthand Praxis tips and information from people who have successfully gone through the process.

Expert Interview on the Praxis

Tommie Katz has been an elementary school teacher within the Washoe County school district for over 15 years. She currently teaches 2nd grade. Before becoming an educator, Tommie took the Praxis I and Praxis II for educators.

How did you prepare for the Praxis exams?

I used a practice book to study for the multiple-choice questions and to help me understand the format of the Essay portions.

Do you think those study materials prepared you well? Is there anything you would have done differently to study?

I don’t think there is anything else I could have done differently to help prepare for these exams. I will say that I over prepared a bit for the Praxis II as there was no way of knowing what the topic was going to be or the angle the questions would come from.

What tips do you have for those getting ready to take the Praxis?

First time Praxis test-takers should definitely consult the most current book about the test they are taking so as to become familiar with the format of the exam.

Do you remember any portion of the exam being more challenging than others, or was there a section that you remember approaching differently from the others?

The Praxis II was more challenging for me than the Praxis I. The Praxis II, from what I recall, was a set of three essay questions based on some academic concept and its practical application or incident in a classroom. The thing that made it so difficult was that I had been practicing in an elementary classroom at the primary level, but at least one of the questions was about a much higher-grade level and asked about an academic topic I was less familiar with. The test expects you to be able to offer practical solutions to an academic problem or misconception from an educator standpoint (ie. what would you do if…?) The multiple-choice questions on the Praxis I were simply a regurgitation of knowledge and skills that could be reviewed and practiced ahead of time. I will say, however, there are way more topics than you can possibly memorize. More useful than memorizing facts and concepts would be to understand multiple choice test taking strategies.

I passed both exams on the first try, but Praxis I was definitely easier for me as a test taker. As an educator, I definitely see the need to have future teachers be able to think on their feet to answer what if questions pertaining to teaching concepts to children.