Overview of the Praxis Tests

Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) Tests

The Praxis Core tests are comprehensive assessments that measure the reading, writing and mathematics skills and content knowledge of candidates entering teacher preparation programs. These skills were deemed by teacher educators to be essential for all candidates preparing to be teachers, no matter what content area or grade-level they aspire to teach

The Praxis Core tests include objective response questions, such as single-selection selected-response questions, multiple-selection selected-response questions, and numeric-entry questions. The Writing test also includes two essay sections. The Praxis Core tests are delivered on computer either in a test center or at home, and they may be taken either as three separate tests on separate days or as one combined test.

For more information about the Praxis Core tests, download the appropriate Study Companion.

Praxis Subject Tests

The Praxis Subject Tests measure knowledge of specific subjects that K–12 educators will teach, as well as general and subject-specific teaching skills and knowledge. They include over 90 different tests, ranging from Agriculture to World Languages. Individuals entering the teaching profession take the Praxis Subject Tests as part of the teacher licensing and certification process required by states as well as by some professional associations and organizations.

The Praxis Subject tests range from 1 to 4 hours long and include selected-response questions, essay or constructed-response questions, or a combination of both. All tests (other than the Braille Proficiency test) are computer delivered. They’re administered in a test center or, for many of them, at home.

For more information about the Praxis Subject tests, download the appropriate Study Companion.

Praxis Content Knowledge for Teaching (CKT) Assessment

The Praxis CKT assessment was designed for teacher candidates seeking a generalist elementary school license. Its purpose is to assess whether candidates have the full range of knowledge needed at the time of entry into the elementary teaching profession:

• content knowledge they will learn during their elementary education studies that they need to do the work of the student curriculum
• specialized content knowledge that they apply to specific tasks, so they can teach the student curriculum

The CKT assessment is made up of four subtests: Reading and Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. All four subtests contain selected-response questions. The Mathematics subtest also includes numeric-entry questions. The assessment is computer delivered and administered in test centers or at home.

For more information about the CKT assessment, download the appropriate Study Companion.