Now that you’ve decided to take the Praxis Core, you’re probably wondering just what the test will look like. In this post, we’re going to briefly break down the format of the Praxis Core.
The Praxis Core is made up of three tests:
The Reading Test
In this 85-minute portion, you’ll be asked to read and analyze texts. The ETS divides the reading exam into three question types:
17-22 “Key Ideas and Details” questions. These questions require you to draw inferences based on the passage, decide what the main ideas of the text are, and determine how ideas, people, and events function in the text and in the context of the author’s argument.
14-19 “Craft, Structure, and Language Skills” questions. These questions ask you to analyze how certain words and phrases are used in the passage, how certain parts of the text relate to others, and to use context to determine the meaning of words and phrases.
17-22 “Integration of Knowledge and Ideas” questions. These questions require that you interpret content that may be visual, quantitative, or textual; to analyze the validity of claims and the relevance of evidence; and to compare multiple texts on the same topic.
The Writing Test
The writing section is divided into two parts:
Selected Response (40 min.): On this section, you’ll be answering questions that test your ability to use standard written English. These questions test your ability to recognize correct English usage; to choose the best way to write a sentence; to revise and edit an essay; and to recognize and implement research and citation strategies.
2 Essays (30 min. each): This section requires you to produce two essays. The first is an argumentative essay, in which you need to make a claim and support it with evidence. The second essay is source-based: You’ll be given two passages that address a topic. After reading the passages, you’ll be asked to address the topic yourself using the passages as source material.
The Math Test
The 85-minute math test has four parts:
17 “Number and Quantity” questions
17 “Algebra and Functions” questions
17 “Geometry” questions
17 “Statistics and Probability” questions
Note: You will be provided with an on-screen calculator. You can read more about this here.
-
Currently residing in New York, Adam has also lived in Arizona, Oregon, and France. A jazz saxophonist, tutor, and freelance writer, Adam is a graduate of Willamette University.
View all posts
Leave a Reply