Should You Request a Praxis Score Review?

December 16, 2016

Praxis score review is an option if you think your official score doesn’t match how well you did on the test. Basically, if you really believe you should have scored higher, you might think about getting a Praxis score review. Here’s what you need to know if you are thinking about it.

Praxis Score Review is only for Constructed Response Tests

Many Praxis questions are multiple choice or otherwise scored by a computer. These are called “selected response” questions. They are automatically scored by computer at the test center. They are verified again before you receive your official score. Since all of these scores have already been double-checked, you can’t request a Praxis score review for selected response tests.

Constructed response tests, such as the Praxis Core writing, are scored by a trained (human) grader. You can request that these scores be reviewed since there is a small possibility for human error.

Your Score Could Be Adjusted Lower

You’d probably request a Praxis score review hoping for a higher score, but there is no guarantee. In fact, rescoring the test may result in a lower score if graders find mistakes they missed the first time around. A score review is by no means a sure bet for getting a passing grade if you failed the first time.

It Costs Money

Requesting a rescore will cost you $65. That’s in addition to the test fee you already paid. That’s a lot of money for a relatively small chance of changing your grade. However, if they do find mistakes and adjust your score, this fee will be refunded.

It Takes Time

The Praxis website does not list a specific timeline for receiving adjusted scores, but it will likely take at least a few weeks. If you are waiting to learn whether or not you should retake the test, you probably don’t have a lot of time to spare.

To be honest, there isn’t a big chance that your score will change much, if at all, from requesting a Praxis score review. If you are very close to passing and you honestly believe you were mis-graded (you aren’t just hoping that’s the case), requesting a score review may be worthwhile. You can do that by filling out and sending in the score review request form. Otherwise, it’s probably better to invest your time, money, and energy into retaking 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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Comments

6 responses to “Should You Request a Praxis Score Review?”

Philip Denofrio

October 9, 2018

I’ve taken the Praxis 5086 social studies: content & interpretation five (5) times and my last attempt I scored a 159 and needed a 160. I was considering requesting a “score review request” with a chance to receive that one (1) point needed to pass the darn thing. Do you have any idea of what the chances are that a score could change in any direction? I understand Praxis keeps the $65 if the score remains the same, which is a good incentive for them to never change a score.

Reply
1. Magoosh Test Prep Expert
  
  October 13, 2018
  
  Hi Philip,
  
  That’s difficult! I would say that score reviews, more often than not, do not yield a change in the score at all, unfortunately. The raters are calibrated to a single rubric and set of expectations, so the fresh eyes that look over the exam are still sharing the same resources the original raters used. That said, if you have $65 you can put toward this, it doesn’t hurt to try, especially if this is the fifth time you’ve faced this Praxis beast.
  
  Reply
2. Michelle Frederick
  
  April 8, 2019
  
  I am in the same situation, can you tell me if you had it rescored and did it change?
  
  Reply
Mary

July 29, 2021

I just paid to have mine rescored. My content Spanish, and needed a 151 to pass. I received a 150. I am under the impression that you can only ask for a rescore if your questions are non-multiple choice. Reading, culture, and listening are multiple choice for my exam. Speaking and writing are considered to have more of a grey area when grading. I paid for the rescore, and was given a point for my writing. They only looked over writing and speaking.

Reply
Marjorie Key

August 13, 2021

I’m thinking about getting rescore on my test. I have taking the writing test many times and passed it. Now they are writing questions on my other test and I’m stressed out. I mean test taking is hard when you have been out of school 25 years and we need good teachers. I have been writing government documents 20 years before teaching. I got a better score on this area last time. I have a 4.0 GPA and work super hard with covid and other issues. My scores working with students are some of the highest. I scored 157 and needed a 158 I could just cry this makes me feel awful. Hard work should mean something, I really do not want to go back working for the state right now our students need good hard working teachers. It’s about students first. Who knows I might get lucky.

Reply
1. Magoosh Test Prep Expert
  
  September 10, 2021
  
  Hi Marjorie! We all feel your pain, this is a common story unfortunately. But it sounds like you have the requisite experience and can definitely pass this thing! The students need teachers like you. Hopefully this can help:
  
  https://magoosh.com/praxis/praxis-writing/praxis-writing-practice/
  
  Reply