Praxis Core

What Is the Praxis Core

The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators is a group of three tests from ETS that measure the reading, writing and math skills expected of anyone entering the teaching profession. It is the basic skills part of the Praxis series, separate from the Praxis Subject Assessments that test knowledge of what you will teach.

Teacher preparation programs often use Praxis Core scores for admission, and some states use them as part of licensure. Requirements vary a lot, and several states accept alternatives such as SAT or ACT scores, so check what your program and state actually require before you book.

Praxis Core as a Teacher Certification Exam

Praxis Core is often the first teacher certification exam candidates meet. It does not test teaching methods or subject expertise. Instead, it confirms that you can read critically, write clearly and work with numbers at the level a teacher needs every day.

After Praxis Core, most candidates go on to take Praxis Subject Assessments or other state tests in their teaching area. Passing Praxis Core early keeps the rest of your certification path on schedule.

Candidates come from very different backgrounds: college sophomores applying to an education major, career changers entering an alternative certification route and paraprofessionals working toward a license. The test is the same for all of them, so preparation depends mainly on how recently you studied math and how comfortable you are writing timed essays.

Praxis Core Exam Format

The Praxis Core exam has three tests. You can take them individually, or all three in one sitting as the Combined Test 5752, which adds up to 275 minutes of testing.

Reading 5713

The Reading test has 56 selected-response questions in 85 minutes. You read passages of different lengths and short statements, then answer questions on key ideas and details, craft and structure, and integration of knowledge and ideas. Expect questions on main idea, the author’s attitude, how a passage is organized and whether evidence supports a claim.

Writing 5723

The Writing test has 40 selected-response questions and two essays in 100 minutes. The selected-response part covers usage, sentence correction, revision in context and research skills, such as judging the relevance of a source. The essays are an argumentative essay on a given topic and an informative or explanatory essay that draws on two short sources.

Math 5733

The Math test has 56 questions in 90 minutes, covering number and quantity, algebra and functions, geometry, and statistics and probability. Most questions are multiple choice, and some ask you to enter a numeric answer. Questions emphasize reasoning and applied problems rather than advanced math.

Combined Test 5752

The Combined Test 5752 bundles Reading, Writing and Math into one appointment with 275 minutes of testing. It costs less than buying the three tests separately and needs only one test day. The trade-off is stamina, so choose the combined test only if your practice scores are strong in all three areas.

Praxis Core Scoring and Passing Scores

Each Praxis Core test is reported on a scale of 100 to 200. ETS does not set a passing score: each state or licensing agency, and sometimes each teacher preparation program, decides the score it requires. Your score report shows your scaled score for each test you took.

Because the scale is converted from your raw score and adjusted for each test form, there is no fixed number of correct answers that guarantees a pass. Find the qualifying score for your state on the ETS state requirements page, then aim to score comfortably above it on practice tests.

The Writing score combines your selected-response answers and your two essays, so a strong essay can make up for a few missed grammar questions, and the reverse is also true. If you take the tests separately, you can retake only the one you did not pass. ETS requires you to wait at least 28 days before you retake the same test, even if you canceled your scores.

Passing Scores in North Carolina

North Carolina sets its own Praxis Core requirements and qualifying scores, and its rules for teacher program admission may have changed since you last looked. Check the current North Carolina requirements on the ETS state requirements page and with your educator preparation program before you register.

Passing Scores in New Jersey

New Jersey also sets its own basic skills rules and qualifying scores, and its requirements may have changed since older study guides were written. Before taking a Praxis Core NJ test, confirm with the New Jersey Department of Education or your program whether you need it and which score applies.

Praxis Core Registration and Fees

You register for the Praxis Core through your ETS Praxis account, choosing either individual tests or the Combined Test 5752 and booking a test center or at-home appointment. According to ETS, the combined test costs $150 and each individual test costs $90, and taxes may apply.

When you register, you can choose score recipients, such as your state agency or teacher preparation program, so your scores are sent automatically. ETS also offers official Praxis Core practice tests for purchase, and its interactive practice tests are the closest match to the real format.

How to Prepare With a Praxis Core Practice Exam

The best way to prepare is to start with a Praxis Core practice exam, study your weakest test first and finish with timed practice. A five-week plan suits most candidates:

1. Week 1: take a practice test in all three areas and list weak topics.
2. Week 2: math review, focusing on algebra, geometry and data.
3. Week 3: writing review, covering grammar rules and one practice essay of each type.
4. Week 4: reading strategies with timed passage sets.
5. Week 5: full timed practice and review of every explanation.

Map this plan in the study planner, track your test date with the exam countdown and turn math formulas and grammar rules into a deck to make flashcards online.

Praxis Core Sample Questions

Praxis Core sample questions show you the style before you invest study time. A typical Math item asks you to find a percent change from a table, while a Writing item asks which revision best fixes an error in a sentence. Our free Praxis Core practice test gives you original questions in all three areas with explanations for every answer.

Praxis Core Reading Practice Questions

Praxis Core reading practice questions are most useful when you read the explanation for every answer. Reading questions often have two plausible options, and the explanation shows why one is better supported by the passage. Our guide to test taking strategies covers how to eliminate weak options quickly.

Pace matters too. With 56 questions in 85 minutes you have about a minute and a half per question, so skim the questions before a long passage, answer the ones you are sure of first and flag the rest for a second pass.

Test Day Checklist: Test Center or Praxis Core Online Test

You can take the Praxis Core at a test center or as an online test at home with a remote proctor. Prepare the day before:

• Have a valid, government-issued photo ID that matches your ETS registration exactly.
• Check your appointment time and the time zone for at-home tests.
• For an online test, check your computer, webcam, internet connection and room setup against the ETS at-home requirements.
• Clear your desk and room; phones, notes and other devices are not allowed.
• If taking the Combined 5752, plan for a long session and eat beforehand.
• Arrive early at a test center, as late arrivals may not be admitted.
• Plan your Writing time so you can finish both essays.

Praxis Core FAQ

What Is Praxis Core?

Praxis Core, full name Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, is a set of three tests from ETS that measure reading, writing and math skills for people entering teaching. Many teacher preparation programs use it for admission, and some states require it for a teaching license. Each test is scored on a 100–200 scale.

How Hard Is the Praxis Core?

The Praxis Core tests skills most college students have already met, so it is manageable with review, but it is not a formality. Many candidates find the Math test hardest, especially if they have not studied algebra and geometry for a while. The Writing essays also take practice, since you must plan and write two of them under time pressure.

How Many Questions Are on the Praxis?

It depends on the Praxis test. The Praxis Core Reading test (5713) has 56 questions, Writing (5723) has 40 questions plus two essays, and Math (5733) has 56 questions. Praxis Subject Assessments for specific teaching areas each have their own question counts, listed on the ETS test pages.