5 Important Tips for the PRAXIS Exam

5 Ways to Prepare for the PRAXIS Exam

Use Official Practice Exams
Make an Educated Guess
Practice Timed Writing
Read Question Before Starting the Passage
Answer Every Question

While not as widely known as the LSAT or MCAT, aspiring teachers need to take a standardized test called the PRAXIS, and there is some specific advice for passing the PRAXIS exam. The test is made up of three parts, reading, mathematics, and writing, each with a series of multiple choice questions. The writing section also involves writing an essay along with 38 multiple-choice questions, all to be completed in an hour. The reading portion allots 75 minutes for 46 questions, whereas the math section is 60 minutes long and 40 questions total. The following are some tips for taking this exam.

1. Use Official Practice Exams

The PRAXIS was written by the Educational Testing Service. and according to the ETS, they go to great lengths to write fair questions. As such, the best practice materials are developed by ETS, the test-makers. Complete the practice exams to get a feel for questions, review concepts for wrong answers, and then take another practice test.

2. Make an Educated Guess

Part of test-taking involves how a person responds to not knowing an answer. Some students get frustrated, but others use logic to determine the best answer by eliminating any wrong answers. Then examine the remainder of the options for hints. For example, if two of the answers mean the same thing, most likely they can be eliminated. In this way, a test-taker can choose the answer most likely to be correct.

3. Practice Timed Writing

Another useful tip for taking the PRAXIS test is to practice in an environment that mimics the testing center including time limits. This is especially important for the essay portion. Since there is an hour for the writing portion and the 38 multiple-choice questions will likely take about 20 minutes, this leaves about a half an hour for the essay with a 10-minute buffer. Writing an essay in a half-hour can be challenging without practice.

4. Read Questions Before Starting the Passage

On the reading portion of the exam, the format consists of a passage followed by a series of questions. The most effective way of answering these is to first skim the questions. Then, while reading, it is easier to pinpoint answers to each question. The same goes for word problems in the math section. Read the last line of the problem first before reading the details.

5. Answer Every Question

Specifically relating to this test, one of the most important pieces of advice is to not leave any questions blank. The test is scored based on the number of right answers, and the test-taker does not lose points for wrong answers or blanks. Even if none of the choices can be eliminated, it is still better to guess.

These tips will help a test-taker achieve a high score, and since, according to the U.S. News and World Report, many students suffer from test anxiety, deep breathing can also help increase focus. Following this advice for the PRAXIS exam will lead to higher scores.