Allison White

Praxis Test: What to Bring

Being prepared for test day is a big part of confidence and peace of mind for your Praxis test! You’ve studied and prepared; now it’s just the final details. Do you know what to bring and what to leave at home?

What to bring to your Praxis test:

1. Address and directions to your testing location

Make sure you know where you are going, where to park if you are driving, and pack anything special (like money for a paid lot or your bus pass). Verify your location (sometimes they change!) online with your MyPraxis account. You can’t bring your cell phone into the Praxis test center, so if you can’t or don’t want to lock your phone in the car, make sure to bring old-fashioned paper directions.

Give yourself enough time to get to the testing location and find parking. If you are directionally-challenged like me, give yourself enough time to maybe get lost once or twice without getting flustered and stressed. Or maybe that’s just me. 😉

2. Admission Ticket

While you are online verifying your testing location, print out your admission ticket. You will need to bring it to the test center.

3. ID

For most U.S. citizens, all you need to bring for identification is a valid driver’s license. If you are taking the test internationally, are a foreign national, or don’t have a driver’s license, review the list of ID documents.

4. Clothing Layers

It’s not uncommon for testing rooms to be too warm or too cold for your personal comfort. Bring along layers, like a sweatshirt to add on top of your t-shirt, so that you can stay comfortable throughout the test.

5. A calculator, if allowed for your test

Calculators are allowed for some subject tests, but in general, unless your testing materials specifically say that calculators are allowed, you should leave them at home. Calculators are NOT allowed for the Math portion of the Praxis Core, but there is a simple 4-function calculator available on-screen during the test for your use.

6. Plenty of time

Give yourself 30 minutes before the appointment time to register and extra time to complete tutorials prior to the beginning of the test. It’s not a good idea to schedule time right after the test. You want to be able to focus and relax as much as you can while you work through the problems, not be distracted by making a later appointment.

What NOT to bring to your Praxis test:

1. Cell phones, cameras, or any other type of recording device

This one is important! If you bring your cell phone, you can be dismissed from the test, forfeit your fees, and have your phone taken from you for inspection to make sure you did not cheat. Test centers CANNOT store devices for you, so lock them in your car or leave them at home.

2. Pencils and Erasers

Test administrators will supply these for you, so you can leave them at home!

3. Watches

You will be asked to remove and store your watch if you bring it to the test center, so be prepared to do that or leave it at home.

4. Personal items

Personal items (e.g., purses, study materials, anything in your pockets) are not allowed in the testing room. You will have a small area to store these things outside of the room, but you cannot access them during the test or during breaks. The exception is if you have pre-approved Accommodations for Disabilities or Medical Needs, and need to access items such as snacks or medication during the test.

Author

  • Allison White

    Allison is an Early Childhood Educator who has been a teacher since 2010. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2010 with a degree in Psychology, focused in Child Development. She began her teaching career as a 2nd grade teacher in Washington, D.C. After moving to Denver, Colorado she discovered a passion for Early Childhood Special Education. She earned a Master’s in the subject from University of Colorado Denver in 2015. She spent Spring 2016 teaching pre-service early childhood educators at the undergraduate level. Now she and her husband are on a big adventure travelling around the western United States in an RV!

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