There are many factors to consider to determine how hard the Praxis test is. One major factor is which Praxis exam the student is taking, as the Praxis includes the Praxis Core, the subject tests, and general tests, such as the Praxis Content Knowledge for Teaching (CKT) tests. These exams can be administered to aspiring teachers at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Each state has different Praxis state requirements for which test to take and specific scores that need to be met for each type of exam. For example, Kentucky requires a passing score of 164 on the Middle School English Language Arts exam, while Indiana requires a qualifying score of 161. Students' Praxis score report will show them their highest score, the state test score requirement, and whether they passed the exam or not.
Offering a definitive answer to the difficulty of the Praxis exam is hard; its difficulty is subjective and will likely be based on the experiences and educational background of the student, as well as the subject area. Data are also rare when it comes to passing rates, though the National Council on Teacher Quality found that only 46% of aspiring elementary school teachers pass the Praxis the first time. Below, we explore different areas of the Praxis exam and offer some factors that might impact its difficulty for you.
Students wondering how hard the Praxis Core exam is need to know what the exam encompasses. The Praxis Core is designed to test the essential skills of all teachers in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. The Praxis Core consists of a reading, mathematics, and writing exam, with the writing exam having 2 sections. For the reading portion, students have 85 minutes to complete 56 questions. The mathematics section (Praxis Core Math) also has 56 questions that must be answered in 90 minutes. As for the Praxis Core Writing test, students have 40 minutes to complete the first writing section, which is composed of 40 questions; they also have 60 minutes to write 2 essays.
The general consensus is that the Praxis 2 is harder than the Praxis Core. Where the Praxis Core exam helps prepare students for a teacher preparation program, the Praxis 2 is designed to help qualify students for state teaching certification or licensure. The Praxis 2 consists of Subject Assessments and Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) tests. The Subject Assessments include exams on subject-specific teaching skills, including language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, world languages, and more. The level of difficulty will vary based on a student's educational background. Students should be sure to meet their Praxis state requirements but will likely test only in the specific subject areas and levels in which they were trained.
A student's educational background may determine how hard the Praxis 5001 is. This exam falls under the umbrella of the Praxis 2 and is specifically designed for elementary education. The exam consists of subtests in reading and language arts, science, mathematics, and social studies. These exams can be challenging; they cover a wide range of information for children from kindergarten to upper elementary school grades, such as 5th or 6th grade. States that require these exams typically have specific Praxis passing scores that must be reached in each subject area. Typically, students will need to pass all of these subtests, as well as a Praxis PLT exam for grades K through 6th.
The PLT tests are divided into 4 different age categories: early education, kindergarten through 6th grade (Praxis PLT K-6), 5th grade through 9th grade, and 7th through 12th grade. These exams measure pedagogical knowledge for these age categories using case studies and short answer questions. Some students may find these exams easier than a Praxis Subject Assessment that measures content skills. However, the level of difficulty will also be determined by the student's training for specific grades. For example, how hard the Praxis 2 for elementary education, including the PLT portion, will be determined by if the student trained and did well in elementary school teaching courses vs. a different level of education, such as secondary education.
Access thousands of practice questions so that there are no surprises on the exam
The correct answers are highlighted with green below. Create an account to keep studying for the .
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create Account
The Praxis Subject Assessments may stress some students out, depending on their academic strengths. Students may be more anxious about testing in subject areas that they are not particularly strong in, especially at the elementary level. According to the National Council on Teacher Quality, the science and social studies tests had the lowest pass rates for elementary school teachers as of 2019. However, some students may not be required to test in all areas, such as aspiring middle and high school teachers. For instance, a middle school English teacher probably won't need to think about whether the Praxis Math is hard or if the middle school science Praxis is hard because they may not be required to take it. Below, we discuss just a few of the Subject Assessments in more detail.
The level of difficulty for the Praxis Core Math exam varies by level (elementary to high school). As students test for higher grade levels, the mathematical topics increase in difficulty from easy methods, strategies, and concepts to more advanced and complicated ones. For example, the Praxis Core Math for elementary school may test basic concepts like the place value system and pre-algebra concepts, while the high school level exam covers topics in algebra and calculus.
Like the Praxis Core Math exam, the Praxis Core Reading exam will increase in difficulty based on the grade level. Students who are successful on these exams need to have a strong understanding of word analysis, the relationship of ideas, literature, and other main concepts. Those testing at the elementary level may be asked questions pertaining to topics in phonics, literacy development, and effective writing. Those at the high school level may be expected to identify themes in various pieces of literature, understand character development, and utilize research strategies.
The tests under the Praxis 2 Science 5005 also vary in difficulty based on the elementary to high school levels. The elementary-level exam covers scientific concepts at a basic level, such as an introduction to what the scientific method is, what defines a living thing, and an introduction to energy and matter. The middle school science exam expands upon these concepts and begins incorporating concepts in engineering, laboratory procedures, and physics. At the high school level, students can actually take even more specific subject tests, such as exams in chemistry, biology, and physics.
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create AccountThe question, is the Praxis hard?, depends a lot on the individual student preparing for the exam(s). The Praxis content or subject matter of the exam can be difficult, but a student's personal strengths, weaknesses, and experiences can play a huge role in how easily they can pass a particular exam. For example, students who are interested in technical fields and have strong math skills may not have as much trouble passing the Praxis Math or Science exams at a given level as a student who is stronger in English and Language Arts. Some students may also feel more comfortable with content at a specific grade level vs. another. Other personal factors, such as test anxiety and work ethic for studying and preparing can also play into how challenging it is to take an exam.
Many states offer alternative routes to teacher certification or licensure, which means that it is possible for students without an educational background in teaching to take different Praxis tests. This method can have advantages and disadvantages. For example, students who take the Praxis without a background in teaching likely have a background in another subject area, which means that taking a specific Praxis Subject Assessment may be a breeze. However, students may find it harder to pass PLT exams and others that have more to do with the art and science of teaching.
There are a number of factors that can make taking the Praxis test more difficult, including:
To help prevent some of these difficulties, students should be sure to take care of themselves leading up to the exam, as well as study. Students should try to establish a healthy routine with proper amounts of sleep and activity, as well as maintain a healthy diet. This can help prevent illnesses and tiredness. Eating before the exam can also help students feel alert and ready to take the test.
To combat test anxiety and lack of preparation, students should take advantage of the various resources available to them. For instance, on the Praxis website, students can access various study tools for each type of exam, such as study plans, test preparation videos, and practice exams with Praxis test sample questions. These resources will help students study the right material and feel more comfortable with the format of the exam.
Mary Bechtel, M.A. is a middle school math teacher with over 5 years of teaching experience. She has 2 publications on middle school math teaching strategies and has presented at numerous local, state, and national conferences. She passed the PAPA, VCLA, and Praxis exams as part of her teacher preparation. Mary graduated with an M.A. in Curriculum & Instruction from Grand Canyon University and a B.S. in Mathematics from Lebanon Valley College.
 |
There is no set amount of time that students should study for the Praxis Core. Students need to be sure that they are well prepared for the exam(s) that they plan to take and should use appropriate study tools in that preparation. Students may spend longer studying specific subject areas that they feel less comfortable in.
Students pass the Praxis Core by meeting or exceeding the designated score that their state requires on that particular exam. Check with your state's department of education to see what score is required.
Students who do not pass the Praxis II must wait 28 days before they can register for the exam again, whether they cancel their scores or not. If students retake the exam prior to the 28 days, the scores from the retest will be cancelled.
Complete the practice test below to test your knowledge.
Choose your answers below. Complete the 15 questions then click "See Results."
The correct answers are highlighted with green below. Create an account to keep studying for the .
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create Account
