Praxis Core Exam information
What it is, what's tested, and how it's scored.
Praxis Core exam details
The Praxis Core (5752) is a set of exams that serve as the foundation for teacher certification, comprising the Praxis Reading (5713), Praxis Writing (5723), and Praxis Mathematics (5733) exams. Also known as the Core Academic Skills for Educators, the combined tests measure the reading, writing, and math competencies required to earn a teaching license in the U.S. Achievable makes it easy and affordable to study for all three exams through our comprehensive Praxis Core package.
Each exam lasts between 85 and 100 minutes and can be taken separately or all at once on the same day. Exams are scored individually, and qualifying scores on each test vary by state.
The Praxis Core exam is hosted by ETS and costs $150 for all three, $90 individually to register.
Time
3 hours 5 minutes
Format
152 selected-response questions
2 essays
Exam fee
$150 for all three, $90 individually
Passing score
varies by state (on a scale from 100 to 200)
Details
The three exams that make up the Praxis Core series vary in length, structure, and question format:
The Praxis Reading exam consists of a series of digital multiple-choice questions that assess the ability to comprehend, analyze, and evaluate written passages:
Key Ideas and Details: 17-22 questions, 35% of exam
Craft, Structure, and Language Skills: 14-19 questions, 30% of exam
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: 17-22 questions, 35% of exam
In each of these sections, writing samples from various sources, including journals, newspapers, magazines, and novels, as well as visual aids such as maps and graphs, are included. The test contains a mixture of short passages, long passages, paired passages, and brief statements on a range of subjects. Each question refers solely to the written statements, and outside knowledge of the topics covered in the reading passages is not required.
The Praxis Writing exam is administered entirely online, although paper tests are available for those who require accommodations. The exam is delivered in the following format and covers two main content areas:
Text Types, Purposes, and Production: 6-12 selected-response and 2 essay questions, 60% of the exam
Language and Research Skills for Writing: 28-34 selected-response questions, 40% of the exam
Select-response questions assess candidates on word usage, sentence correction, revision in context, and research skills. The two essays, one Argumentative and the other Informative/Explanatory, measure a test-taker's ability to write effective, prompted responses under time pressure.
The Praxis Math exam is administered entirely online, though you are allowed scratch paper or a dry-erase board for notes and calculations. The exam is delivered in the following format and covers two main content areas:
Number and Quantity: 20 questions, 36% of the exam
Data Interpretation and Representation, Statistics, and Probability: 18 questions, 32% of the exam
Algebra and Geometry: 18 questions, 32% of the exam
An on-screen calculator is available throughout the test. Candidates are not allowed to bring their own devices.
The test contains four main types of questions:
Selected-response questions with one correct answer choice
Selected-response questions with one or more correct answer choices
Numeric-entry questions that ask you to enter your answer as an integer, decimal, or fraction (Praxis Math)
An Argumentative and Informative/Explanatory essay (Praxis Writing)
While there are no formal educational requirements to sit for the exam, full teacher certification typically requires completion of a bachelor's degree and a teacher preparation program. Many candidates take the Praxis Core exams before starting their program.
ETS's Praxis Core exam summary
Praxis Reading
48-63 questions
3 content areas
- Key Ideas and Details (17-22 questions, 35%):Main idea or purpose, supporting ideas, and inference samples. This section evaluates your ability to identify the central themes and key supporting details in written passages. You'll need to demonstrate comprehension of explicit information and make logical inferences based on the text provided.
- Craft, Structure, and Language Skills (14-19 questions, 30%):Attitude and tone, structure, vocabulary, and fact or opinion samples. This section focuses on understanding how authors construct their arguments and convey meaning through language choices. You'll analyze writing structure, interpret vocabulary in context, and distinguish between factual statements and opinions.
- Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (17-22 questions, 35%):Interpreting visuals, evaluating arguments, and comparing samples. This section tests your ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and evaluate the effectiveness of arguments. You'll work with visual elements like graphs and charts, compare different perspectives, and assess the strength of evidence presented.
Praxis Writing
40-46 questions
2 content areas
- Text Types, Purposes, and Production (6-12 selected-response, 2 essays, 60%):Select-response questions feature revision in context tasks, where candidates must revise and improve a passage based on standard rules of English. Includes two 30-minute essay-style questions, one Argumentative and one Source-based/Explanatory.
- Language and Research Skills for Writing (28-34 selected response, 40%):Covers word usage, sentence correction, and research skills. Examinees must be able to identify vocabulary words in context, compare the meanings of similar phrases, recognize grammatical standards, and demonstrate knowledge of effective research strategies.
Praxis Math
56 questions
3 content areas
- Number and Quantity (20 questions, 36%):Highlights key concepts, including integers, decimals, fractions, ratios, proportions, percentages, and constant rates, as well as place value, number properties, and measurement. Test-takers are expected to be familiar with both U.S. customary and metric measurement systems.
- Data Interpretation and Representation, Statistics, and Probability (18 questions, 32%):Evaluates the ability to read and interpret visual displays of quantitative information, understand the relationship between data and its representation, draw inferences, calculate measures of central tendency (mean, median, and mode), and determine the probability of specific outcomes.
- Algebra and Geometry (18 questions, 32%):Focuses on simplifying expressions, following algebraic steps, solving word problems, and finding solutions to equations. Covers shapes, angles, congruence, similarity, and using formulas to find perimeter, circumference, area, and volume.
Achievable Praxis Core content outline
1
Praxis Reading
Comprehensive preparation for the Reading exam, covering vocabulary, main ideas, text structure, writer's craft, paired passages, and graphics interpretation.
1-1
Vocabulary in context
Word meaning through structure and context. Focuses on using roots, prefixes, suffixes, and transition words to interpret unfamiliar terms, along with strategies like parallel structure and sentence clues.
1-2
Main ideas and supporting details
How to identify the central idea of a passage and distinguish it from examples and elaboration. Includes tips for paraphrasing, recognizing common question phrasing, and understanding structure in both fiction and nonfiction.
1-3
Organization and text structure
The ways authors arrange and connect ideas. Covers common structures such as chronological, cause and effect, descriptive, and persuasive, along with transitions and literary techniques like point of view and dialogue.
1-4
Writer's craft
How authors use language and literary devices to shape meaning and tone. Covers connotation, figurative language, and techniques like simile, metaphor, alliteration, personification, and irony. Includes common literary forms such as allegories, idioms, proverbs, analogies, and allusions, along with guidance on interpreting authorial choices and layered meanings in texts.
1-5
Paired passages
Understanding how two related texts discuss a common topic in different ways. Focuses on identifying relationships, such as contrasts, comparisons, or one passage serving as a specific example of a broader concept. Includes strategies for reading both passages, identifying their main ideas, and analyzing their relationship to answer comparison questions.
1-6
Graphics
Analyzing and interpreting various types of visual data, including line graphs, scatterplots, bar graphs, pie charts, and bubble graphs. Emphasizes strategies for reading titles, axes, trends, and key details, while focusing on how to use context and visual cues to answer questions accurately, even when the topic is unfamiliar.
2
Praxis Writing
Complete coverage of grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and essay writing for both argumentative and source-based essays.
2-1
Grammar
Covers parts of speech, verb forms and tenses, conjunctions, prepositions, and interrupters. Reviews punctuation rules and sentence structure, including common errors and advanced topics like parallelism and diction. Includes revision skills on organization and transitions, plus research skills covering source evaluation and MLA, APA, and Chicago citations.
2-2
Text types, purposes, and production
Focuses on writing basics, timed essays, argumentative essays with practice prompts and rubrics, and source-based essays.
3
Praxis Math
Foundation in number operations, data analysis, statistics, probability, algebra, and geometry required for the Mathematics exam.
3-1
Number and Quantity
Foundational numerical skills, including whole numbers, place value, fractions, decimals, ratios, percentages, and unit conversions. Emphasis is placed on interpreting and manipulating numbers across different contexts.
3-2
Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability
Covers reading, representing, and interpreting data, with a focus on averages, variability, probability, and making sense of statistical relationships such as trends and scatterplots.
3-3
Algebra and Geometry
Introduces core concepts in algebra and geometry, including equations, inequalities, functions, basic geometric properties, measurement, and relationships among shapes and figures.