Individuals who want to teach children birth to 8 years old, must take and pass the Praxis Education of Young Children Exam. This exam is designed to evaluate the prospective teachers’ ability to instruct this age group, with an emphasis on interactive instruction and learning.
This computer-delivered exam consists of 120 selected-response questions and 3 constructed-response questions. Each section is not individually timed. You will be allotted 2.5 hours to complete the entire exam.
Keep in mind that although some of the questions on the exam do not count toward your score, you will not which ones these are, so you should answer all questions.
Examinees with conditions covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, who require special testing accommodations, are invited to make this request in writing.
Some of the accommodations that can be provided include extended testing time, breaks, separate testing room, pen/pencil test, Perkins Brailler, and large print test book and answer sheet.
This exam will cover what topics?
The first five topics will consist of selected-response questions, while the last one, constructed-response questions.
- Childhood Development and Learning – 17%
- Observation, Documentation, and Assessment– 13%
- Developmentally Appropriate Practices – 13%
- Professionalism, Family, and Community – 13%
- Content Pedagogy and Knowledge – 24%
- Knowledge of Teaching –20%
Under the topic of Childhood Development and Learning, the subtopics that will beassessed include comprehending the needs and characteristics of children, aspects that influence how the children learn, factors that impact children’s development over time, typical and atypical development, the application of developmental knowledge.
Under the topic of Observation, Documentation, and Assessment, the subtopics that will be assessed include comprehending how assessments affect curriculum and instruction, various assessment methods when teaching a diverse population, how to screen, refer, and evaluate children for extra help, how families help with the assessment process, and best practices for family and colleague collaboration to help with the children’s success.
Under the topic of Developmentally Appropriate Practices, the subtopics that will be assessed include setting up the classroom so it positively affects learning, and the application of teaching and learning methods that appeal to diverse growth needs.
Under the topic of Professionalism, Family, and Community, the subtopics that will be assessed include ethics and professional guidelines, collaborative learning, how other professionals impact children’s learning, how to communicate with children using technology, and how to engage families and the community.
Under the topic of Content Pedagogy and Knowledge, the subtopics that will be assessed include language and literacy and mathematics.
Under the topic Knowledge of Teaching, the constructed-response questions will focus on developmentally appropriate practices; professionalism, family, and community; observation, documentation, and assessment; and/or content pedagogy and knowledge.
What is the most convenient way to register for the exam?
Register online. Make your payment via a credit card, debit card, or PayPal. Once you have registered, you will receive an admission ticket. Print this ticket, as you will need it on test day. If unable to register online, you may do so via mail or over the phone.
What is the cost of this exam?
The fee for the Praxis Education of Young Children Exam is $146.
What are the testing dates and locations?
You have the option of choosing the testing center that is located the closest to you.
What should I do the day of the exam?
Worst case scenario, get to the testing center at the time your exam is scheduled to start. It is better to arrive early enough to ensure you have time to park, check-in, and get settled.
Bring with you the admission ticket and a form of identification that has your name, signature, and photo. This form of ID must be unexpired, and cannot be a photocopy or temporary. Without this identification, you will not be allowed to take the exam.
Many items are prohibited from the testing area. Some of these include a calculator, cell phone, study materials, purse, briefcase, and food/drink.
What happens after I take the exam?
Unlike Praxis Exams that only consist of selected-response questions, you will not receive your score report before leaving the test center. About 10-16 business days after the close of your testing window, you will receive access to your online score report.
What is the passing score of this exam?
The passing score depends on the state. Your score report will indicate whether you have passed or failed.
What happens if I don’t pass the exam?
You will have the opportunity to re-take it once every 21 days.
How Can I Prepare for the Praxis Education of Young Children Test?
That’s a great question. We’ve broken down the answer into three parts.
- Do yourself a favor and study. Do not walk in unprepared. We have recommended prep materials below, but that only helps if you actually try. Plus, studying is actually proven to be the best antidote to test anxiety.
- Take care of yourself. Make sure you’re eating well, exercising, and sleeping. All of these things are scientifically linked to brain performance. If you take care of your body, you’ll be helping your grades.
- Get a study guide or set of flashcards. Some people study better a certain way. Find your study strengths and make the most of them. We’ve tried to make it easy for you by tracking down the best study guide and flashcard set for your exam. Below you’ll see links to both!