The Praxis I tests are required for US teacher certification and measure academic skills in math, reading, and writing. Preparation materials are available online, and the tests can be taken in paper or computer format. Scores are based on correct answers and converted into a scaled score.
The Praxis I tests are the first in a series of required US teacher certification exams. The three parts of Praxis I measure the existing academic skills of university students who wish to complete degrees in education, and are generally taken within the first two years of study. A passing score on Praxis I is required for teacher licensing in all states, although different states have slightly different testing procedures and scoring requirements. These exams are also known as Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Tests, or PPST.
Before completing teacher training courses, teacher candidates are required to demonstrate competence in math, reading, and writing as measured by the Praxis I tests. The exam material is intended for test takers with a high school education. Praxis I tests are offered in English only. Second language English speakers can apply for additional testing time by submitting an accommodation form to the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
Preparation materials for the Praxis I tests are available free of charge on the ETS website and are organized by each of the three areas of study. The reading section measures three types of reading comprehension: literal, inferential, and critical. The math section measures basic skills in arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data interpretation. The writing skills section measures knowledge of grammar and syntax, as well as the ability to formulate an essay.
The ETS website is the portal for test takers to register and schedule their Praxis I test dates. For candidates who may have additional questions that are not answered on the website, ETS offers live webinars. The seminars also take participants through the process of creating effective study plans and even offer ideas for reducing exam anxiety. Test takers have the added option of purchasing complete study guides from Praxis and practicing ETS tests if they prefer.
When teacher candidates are ready to take the Praxis I tests, they can choose to take them in paper or computer format. Either way, exam sections can be administered separately for a few days or all at once. The computer-based Praxis I has a few more questions per section than the paper-based one, and test takers have a little more time to complete them.
Exam scores for the Praxis I tests are based on the number of correct answers to multiple-choice questions. There is no penalty for deducting points for guessing or incorrect answers. A raw score is calculated by adding the total number of correct answers, and this score is converted into a scaled score based on the average difficulty level of each section.
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