Below are some helpful tips and strategies to help you do your best on the Praxis® tests.
Tips to help you prepare effectively for test day:
You can find test specifications for your test(s) in the free Study Companion. Each Study Companion includes a comprehensive overview for the test, with detailed test descriptions and sample questions with answers and explanations to help you prepare.
Research has shown that test takers tend to overestimate their preparedness — this is why some test takers assume they did well and then find out they did not pass.
The Praxis tests are demanding enough to require serious review of likely content, and the longer you've been away from the content the more preparation you will most likely need. If it has been longer than a few months since you've studied your content area, you will want to make a concerted effort to prepare for the Praxis tests.
Obtaining and organizing your materials for review are critical steps in preparing for the Praxis tests. Consider the following reference sources as you plan your study:
Additional test preparation resources are available for many Praxis tests. Check the Prepare for a Test page to see what materials are available for your test.
You can begin to plan and organize your time while you are still collecting materials. Allow yourself plenty of time to review so you can avoid "cramming" new material at the end. Here are a few tips:
A study plan provides a roadmap to prepare for the Praxis tests. It can help you understand what skills and knowledge are covered on the test and where to focus your attention. A written study plan (PDF) can help you organize your efforts.
The Praxis® Subject Assessment constructed-response tests assess your ability to explain material effectively. As a teacher, you'll need to be able to explain concepts and processes to students in a clear, understandable way. What are the major concepts you will be required to teach? Can you explain them in your own words accurately, completely and clearly? Practice explaining these concepts to test your ability to effectively explain what you know.
Scoring information can be found in the Study Companion for each test.
Carefully read the question. Break the question into parts so you know what you need to answer for full credit.
Note what type of question is being asked - compare and contrast, analyze and comment...
Take the time to create an outline on your answer sheet so that even if you don't complete the essay the professor can see where you were going and may give you points. Although you are taking a few minutes away from answering the essay, it will increase your chances for a more coherent answer with examples that flow and an essay that makes sense. Use the parts of the essay to help create the outline - this will help with organization and keep you focused on topic.
Follow your outline and begin the essay. Write straight through and do not vary from the outline. You took the time to write it out so trust it. If you try to change the direction of your essay, you end up with arrows etc. and a difficult to read finish. The easier your essay is to read and the better it flows, the easier it will be for your professor to follow your train of thought thus a better grade.
Reread the directions and make sure you answered the entire questions. And if you still have time, reread your essay and correct spelling and grammar errors.
Most students experience some level of anxiety but it is when it interferes with test performance that it is deemed excessive and labeled test anxiety. Test anxiety is often defined in physiological terms: sweaty palms, going blank, butterflies in the stomach...
But if it goes beyond the physiological and consistently interferes with performance then you may want to seek additional assistance from the College Counseling Center to gain a better understanding of its origin and how to cope with it.