Ensuring the competence of educators is an essential requirement for maintaining a good learning environment in the dynamic field of education. The Praxis II Subject Assessment Exams for Educators, or Praxis II for short, are an essential part of this procedure that assesses candidates’ knowledge and abilities in order to grant certification as a teacher in the United States.
The Educational Testing Service (ETS) created and administers these standardized tests, which span a wide range of academic fields, methods of instruction, and specialist capabilities, and are an essential indicator of a teacher’s suitability to teach in their chosen field. In addition to serving as a certification tool for instructors, Praxis II examinations can also be used to improve the standard of instruction and, consequently, the education that students get. The purpose of this introduction is to give a general overview of Praxis II and to highlight its importance, reach, and potential effects on the American educational system.
Here is what you need to know about Praxis II (Subject Assessment Exams for Educators):
Contents
Purpose
Exams for Praxis II have various significant purposes:
Subject-matter knowledge assessment
The Praxis II examination gauges a candidate’s breadth of understanding in a particular field, including language arts, science, math, or social studies.
Demonstrating educational skills
Some Praxis II exams, known as Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) tests, assess an educator’s pedagogical knowledge and teaching strategies.
Ensuring the quality of educators
These tests are designed to make sure that those who are going to become teachers are qualified to instruct students.
Exam Categories
The topics covered in Praxis II examinations are extensive and include:
Content knowledge exams
These assess a candidate’s understanding of the subject matter they intend to teach.
PLT exams
They measure the pedagogical knowledge and abilities of teachers by emphasizing classroom management, assessment, and teaching strategies.
Special education exams
These assess an educator’s ability to work with students with disabilities.
Exams for world languages
Designed to help foreign language instructors show that they are proficient in the language that they intend to teach
Test Format
The format of Praxis II exams varies based on the particular exam. Multiple-choice and constructed-response questions, which require brief written responses or essays, are seen in most tests. There may be variations in the number of questions and duration of each exam.
Scoring
ETS establishes a scale for scoring Praxis II exams. Though state-by-state requirements for passing can differ, most states have a minimum passing score of 150. Both raw scores—the total number of right answers—and scaled scores—adjusted results to take into consideration changes in exam difficulty—may be used in the scoring process.
Exam Preparation
Studying pertinent information, taking practice exams, and using study resources from ETS or other test preparation companies are common ways that test takers get ready for the Praxis II exams. Since state license requirements can vary, it is also crucial to review state-specific standards and criteria.
Registration for Exams
Candidates must set up an ETS account, choose the Praxis II test they wish to take, and pay the exam price in order to register for the exam. There are testing facilities both abroad and across the United States.
State Requirements
It’s crucial to remember that every state could have unique Praxis II exam criteria, including which examinations are required for certification and the required minimum scores. For comprehensive information, candidates should contact the licensing authorities or the state’s Department of Education.
Exam Fee
Praxis Subject Assessments have a higher, more complicated cost. These fees might be anything between $50 and $199. Most of them have a price tag of $120 to $160.
The cost of a Praxis Subject Assessment will be $120 if it is entirely computer-scored, particularly if it has multiple choice and straightforward alphanumeric responses.
A foreign language subject area test costs $160, while a structured response exam for the Subject Assessment exam costs $146.
There are many Subject Assessment examinations that do not follow the standard $120/$146/$160 praxis test fee structure. The reason for the variation in prices is that certain Subject Assessment tests are more intricate, consisting of several brief subtests that are merged into a single assessment. Increasing their price over the $146 typical computer-based test.
Additional Fees for Praxis Test
Additional fees for other test-related services for Core and Subject Assessment Praxis exams exist. For instance:
- Changing a test center or test date costs $40
- Registering for the exam by phone costs $35
- Sending additional scores beyond the first four free score reports costs $50.
- To have your exam rescored or reviewed, the fee is $65.
Praxis 2 exam costs differ. The cost of these tests varies and can be anywhere from $50 to $209. Exams containing several subtests, for example, might cost differently if taken individually.
Exam Date
Exam dates for Praxis II are more erratic due to the variety of examinations offered. Certain Praxis II examinations, usually the ones that are most frequently needed, are regularly offered. There are fewer opportunities to take certain Praxis II exams, like specialized exams. Date availability may also change depending on whether the exam is administered remotely or in person. Score report dates are also subject to change; however, score reports for examinations with a picked response are often sent out faster than those for exams with a built response.
| Praxis Exam Title | Dates Available for Test Center | Dates Available for Remote Testing | Score Report Date (From Test Date) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algebra I (5162) | About 3 weeks of every month | Available for remote testing | About 1 to 3 weeks |
| Computer Science (5652) | About 1 to 3 weeks of each month | About 3 to 4 weeks of each month | About 2 to 4 weeks |
| Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5001) | Most days of every month; varies by state | Available for remote testing | About 1 week |
| French: World Language (5174) | About 3 weeks in an 8-month period | About 3 weeks in a month period | About 3 weeks |
Latest News
Legislation to eliminate barriers to teacher certification has recently passed the Assembly and is currently in front of the Senate Education Committee. The bill, A.5419/S.3884, is the latest in a series of astute attempts to eliminate pointless testing that has worsened the state’s teacher shortage. It eliminates the requirement for new teachers to take the Praxis Core Academics Skills for Educators test in order to obtain certification.
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