Strategies and Tips for Taking a Praxis Test

Below are some helpful tips and strategies to help you prepare more effectively for test day and do your best on your Praxis test.
 

Learn what the test covers

You can find test specifications for your test(s) in the free Study Companion. To help you prepare, each Study Companion includes:

• a comprehensive overview for the test
• detailed test descriptions
• sample questions with answers and explanations

Assess how well you know the content

Research has shown that test takers tend to overestimate their preparedness — this is why some test takers assume they did well and then find out they didn’t pass.

The Praxis tests are demanding enough to require serious review of likely content, and the longer you’ve been away from the content, the more preparation you’ll most likely need. If it’s been longer than a few months since you've studied your content area, you should make a concerted effort to prepare for the Praxis tests.
 

Collect study materials

Obtaining and organizing your materials for review are critical steps in preparing. Consider the following reference sources as you plan your study:

• Did you take a course in which the content area was covered? Do you still have your book(s) or your notes?
• Does your college library have a good introductory college-level textbook in this area?
• Does your local library have a high school-level textbook?

Be sure to view the available test preparation materials.
 

Plan and organize your time

You can begin to plan and organize your time while you’re still collecting materials. Allow yourself plenty of time to review so you can avoid “cramming” new material at the end.

• Choose a test date far enough in the future to leave you plenty of preparation time.
• Work backward from that date to figure out how much time you’ll need for review.
• Set a realistic schedule and stick to it.

Develop a study plan

A study plan provides a roadmap to prepare for the Praxis tests, helping you understand what skills and knowledge are covered on the test and where to focus your attention. A written study plan (PDF)  can help you organize your efforts.
 

Practice explaining the key concepts

Some Praxis Subject Tests are constructed-response tests that assess your ability to explain material effectively. As a teacher, you'll need to be able to explain concepts and processes to students in a clear, understandable way. What are the major concepts you’ll be required to teach? Can you explain them in your own words accurately, completely and clearly? Practice explaining these concepts to test your ability to effectively explain what you know.
 

Understand how questions will be scored

You can find scoring information for each test in its Study Companion.