Kristin Fracchia

What is a Good Praxis Score?

Wondering “What is a good Praxis score?”? A good Praxis score is a passing score. This is not a test like the SAT or GRE where your scores are going to be scrutinized next to those of other test-takers for the chance at your dream school (or in this case, job). All that matters is whether or not you pass. If you meet the minimum passing criteria for your state (and complete all other requirements for licensure) then you get your teaching license, simple as that! It’s extremely rare for any school or organization to ask for your actual Praxis score; the license is what matters.
 

What are the Praxis Score Ranges?

On the Core Academic Skills Tests in Math, Reading and Writing, scaled scores range from 100-200 in increments of 2. Scores are calculated by converting a raw number of correct questions to a scaled score that is based on the performance of all test-takers taking that particular Praxis form. The table below gives the median and average performance range of test-takers for 2015:

Test Possible Score Range Median Score Average Performance Range
Core Academic Skills: Mathematics 100 – 200 154 138 – 168
Core Academic Skills: Reading 100 – 200 172 160 – 184
Core Academic Skills: Writing 100 – 200 164 158 – 172

You can find the above information along with median and average score ranges by clicking here.

What is a Passing Praxis Score?

The specific Praxis tests you need to take for certification vary by state, level, and subject, but generally-speaking, most hopeful teachers need to take and pass the Core Academic Skills Praxis tests in Math, Reading and Writing (sometimes colloquially referred to as Praxis I) along with one or more Praxis II tests for their specific subject or education level (such as “Biology” or “Elementary Education”).

  • The passing score for Core Academic Math is 150 in almost all states. Pennsylvania and Washington are the exception at 142.
  • The passing score for Core Academic Reading Skills is 156 for almost all states.
  • The passing score for Core Academic Writing Skills is 162 for almost all states. North Dakota and Washington are the exceptions at 160 and 158, respectively.*

When it comes to the Praxis II Tests, passing scores differ between tests and states, so check for the specific Passing Scores by Test and State that you need.

What is a good praxis test score? - Praxis Test

How Will I Know if I Passed the Praxis?

Your score report will indicate a PASSED or NOT PASSED status for each test based on the standard passing standards. Unfortunately, ETS makes it a little difficult to determine how many questions you need to get right in order to get a passing Praxis score, and it can vary between tests. As a general rule of thumb, though, you should be aiming to get over 60% of the questions right (and there’s no guessing penalty, so go to town answering every question!).

*Maine, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania have some special clauses, so if you are applying for licensure in one of these states, be sure to read the fine print (the good news is that the fine print indicates some exceptions that actually make passing easier).

Author

  • Kristin Fracchia

    Dr. Kristin Fracchia has over fifteen years of expertise in college and graduate school admissions and with a variety of standardized tests, including the ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, and LSAT, with several 99% scores. She had a PhD from the University of California, Irvine, an MA degree from The Catholic University, and BA degrees in Secondary Education and English Literature from the University of Maryland, College Park. She was the recipient of the 2013 Excellence in Teaching Award and the Chancellor’s Club Fellowship from the University of California, Irvine. She’s worked as a high school teacher and university professor, as an independent college and graduate school admissions counselor, and as an expert tutor for standardized tests, helping hundreds of students gain acceptance into premier national and international institutions. She now develops accessible and effective edtech products for Magoosh. Her free online content and YouTube videos providing test prep and college admissions advice have received over 6 million views in over 125 countries. Kristin is an advocate for improving access to education: you can check out her TEDx talk on the topic. Follow Kristin on LinkedIn!

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