This overview includes information to help you prepare for the Praxis® Core Academic Skills for Educators tests. You’ll find details about the Reading, Writing, and Mathematics tests, registration, costs, scoring, retakes, study resources, and sample practice questions.
Test TypeTeacher preparation basic skills assessment | Core AreasReading, Writing, and Mathematics |
Testing OptionsTest center or at-home testing | Fees$90 per individual Core test or $150 for the combined Core test |
Test Background and Purpose
The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators tests measure reading, writing, and mathematics skills that are important for teacher preparation programs. Some states, programs, or educator preparation providers require one or more Praxis Core tests before admission, certification, or program completion.
You may be able to take the Reading, Writing, and Mathematics tests separately, or you may take the Core Combined test, which includes all three subtests in one testing session.
Key point: Praxis requirements and passing scores are set by states, agencies, and programs. Always check your state or program requirements before registering.
Test Overview
The Praxis Core tests are computer-delivered. Reading and Mathematics are made up of objective-response questions, while Writing includes objective-response questions and two essay tasks.
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Praxis Core Sample Practice Questions
Try these original Praxis Core-style sample questions. These examples reflect common Praxis Core formats, but they are not actual ETS test questions.
1. Reading: Main Idea
Many schools have expanded tutoring programs in recent years. Although these programs are sometimes described as remedial services, effective tutoring does more than help students recover missed content. It can also give students a place to ask questions, practice academic habits, and receive feedback before small misunderstandings become larger obstacles.
Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?
- Tutoring programs are useful only for students who have failed a class.
- Tutoring programs can support both academic recovery and ongoing learning habits.
- Schools should replace classroom instruction with tutoring programs.
- Students usually prefer tutoring to feedback from classroom teachers.
Show Answer and Explanation
Answer: B. Tutoring programs can support both academic recovery and ongoing learning habits.
The passage says tutoring can help with missed content, but it also supports questions, habits, feedback, and prevention of larger problems. Choice B captures the full point.
2. Reading: Inference from a Statement
A school district found that students who used the public library’s after-school study room at least twice a week were more likely to complete homework on time than students who did not use the study room. District leaders noted, however, that students who chose to use the study room may already have been more motivated to finish homework.
Which conclusion is best supported by the statement?
- Using the study room definitely caused students to complete more homework.
- The study room had no effect on students’ homework completion.
- The relationship between study room use and homework completion may be influenced by student motivation.
- Students who do not use the study room never complete homework on time.
Show Answer and Explanation
Answer: C. The relationship between study room use and homework completion may be influenced by student motivation.
The statement warns that the students who chose to use the study room may already have been more motivated. That means motivation could partly explain the relationship.
3. Writing: Usage
Choose the sentence that is written correctly.
- Neither the teacher nor the students was ready for the presentation.
- Neither the teacher nor the students were ready for the presentation.
- Neither the teacher or the students were ready for the presentation.
- Neither the teacher or the students was ready for the presentation.
Show Answer and Explanation
Answer: B. Neither the teacher nor the students were ready for the presentation.
With neither…nor, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it. Since students is plural, were is correct.
4. Writing: Revision in Context
Read the paragraph below.
(1) The school garden was started by a group of science teachers. (2) Students now use the garden to study plant growth, soil quality, and weather patterns. (3) The garden also supplies herbs to the cafeteria. (4) Several students said that working in the garden helped them understand science concepts more clearly.
Which sentence would best be added after sentence 1 to improve the paragraph’s development?
- The garden is located behind the gym near the parking lot.
- The teachers wanted students to connect classroom science lessons with hands-on observation.
- Many students at the school eat lunch in the cafeteria every day.
- Weather patterns can be difficult to predict during the spring.
Show Answer and Explanation
Answer: B. The teachers wanted students to connect classroom science lessons with hands-on observation.
The paragraph focuses on the educational purpose of the garden. Choice B develops that purpose and connects sentence 1 to the examples that follow.
5. Mathematics: Selected Response
A class has 18 students. If 12 of the students passed a quiz, what percent of the class passed?
- 33⅓%
- 50%
- 60%
- 66⅔%
Show Answer and Explanation
Answer: D. 66⅔%
Divide the number who passed by the total number of students: 12 ÷ 18 = 2/3. As a percent, 2/3 is 66⅔%.
6. Mathematics: Numeric Entry
The numbers of books read by five students are 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10. What is the mean number of books read?
Enter your answer: ______
Show Answer and Explanation
Answer: 7
Add the values: 4 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 10 = 35. Divide by 5 values: 35 ÷ 5 = 7.
7. Mathematics: Algebra and Geometry
A rectangular bulletin board has a length of 6 feet and a width of 4 feet. A border is placed around the outside edge of the board. How many feet of border are needed?
- 10
- 20
- 24
- 48
Show Answer and Explanation
Answer: B. 20
The border goes around the perimeter of the rectangle. Perimeter = 2(length + width) = 2(6 + 4) = 20 feet.
8. Writing: Essay Practice
Argumentative Essay Prompt: Some people believe students learn best when teachers provide frequent grades and scores. Others believe students learn best when teachers provide feedback without frequent grades.
Write an essay in which you take a position on this issue. Support your position with reasons and examples from your reading, experience, or observations.
Show Response Guidance
There is no single correct answer.
A strong response should state a clear position, support that position with specific reasons and examples, organize ideas logically, and use standard written English.
How Is Praxis Core Scored?
Praxis Core scores are reported separately for Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, even if you take the combined test. Passing requirements vary by state, agency, and educator preparation program.
Praxis Core Score Basics
- Reading: reported as its own score
- Writing: reported as its own score
- Mathematics: reported as its own score
- Passing scores: set by each state, agency, or program
- Combined test: produces individual scores for Reading, Writing, and Mathematics
Registration, Costs, and Testing Options
You can register for Praxis Core through your Praxis account. Before registering, confirm which test or tests your state or program requires and whether you should take the individual tests or the combined Core test.
Current ETS pricing lists the individual Core Reading, Writing, and Mathematics tests at $90 each. The Core Combined test is listed at $150. Additional fees may apply for rescheduling, cancellation rules, score services, or other testing changes.
Before You Register
- Check your state or program requirements.
- Confirm whether you need Reading, Writing, Mathematics, or all three.
- Decide whether to take the individual tests or the combined Core test.
- Review current fees and testing policies through ETS.
- Confirm whether at-home testing is available and appropriate for your situation.
- Review identification requirements before test day.
Retaking Praxis Core
If you need to retake a Praxis test, ETS requires a waiting period before you can take the same test again. Current ETS retake guidance says you must wait at least 28 days before scheduling a new appointment for the same test.
The 28-day rule applies to retakes of the same test. If you need a different Praxis test, the same-test retake waiting period does not apply in the same way.
How Can I Prepare for Praxis Core?
Preparing for Praxis Core is easier when you study by subtest. Reading preparation should focus on passage comprehension and inference. Writing preparation should include grammar, sentence correction, revision, research skills, and timed essay writing. Mathematics preparation should include number sense, algebra, geometry, statistics, probability, and numeric-entry practice.
Praxis Core Study Checklist
- Confirm which Praxis Core subtests you need.
- Practice reading passages and answering questions using only the information provided.
- Review grammar, mechanics, sentence correction, revision in context, and research skills.
- Practice both argumentative and informative/explanatory essay writing.
- Review fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, proportions, rates, and measurement.
- Study data displays, mean, median, mode, probability, equations, geometry, perimeter, area, and volume.
- Practice numeric-entry math questions without relying on answer choices.
- Review missed questions and identify whether the mistake was reading, grammar, setup, computation, or pacing.
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