Reading, Writing, and Math in one place
Practice questions for Praxis Core reading, writing, and math, with detailed explanations.
1,000+
Practice Questions
Unlock the full 1,000+ question bank.
TL;DR: The Praxis Core is a three-part exam – Reading, Writing, and Math – that most states require before you can earn your teaching license. It’s harder than it looks, but entirely passable with the right Praxis Core prep strategy. This guide covers every subtest, an 8-week study plan, state passing scores, and exactly how to practice so you walk in ready.
You’ve done the coursework. You’ve logged the student-teaching hours. Now one test stands between you and your teaching license – and it’s tripping up candidates who underestimate it. The Praxis Core is not a casual quiz. It tests college-level reading comprehension, writing mechanics, and math reasoning under timed conditions, and a single low subtest score can delay your certification by months.
The good news: the exam is completely predictable. Every question type, every content category, every time limit is published in advance. That means smart, targeted Praxis Core test prep beats raw intelligence every time. This guide gives you everything – what’s on each subtest, how to study, what passing scores your state requires, and how to practice in a way that actually builds test-day confidence.
The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators is a standardized test developed by ETS. Most states require it as part of the teacher certification process, either for admission to an educator preparation program or for licensure after graduation. It measures the foundational academic skills – reading, writing, and math – that every teacher needs regardless of grade level or subject area.
You can register for each subtest individually or take all three on the same day as the combined test (code 5752). Scores are reported on a scale of 100–200 for each subtest, and each state sets its own passing score cutoffs.
| Subtest | Test Code | Questions | Time | Passing Score Range* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 5713 | 56 selected-response | 85 minutes | 150–163 |
| Writing | 5723 | 42 selected-response + 2 essays | 100 minutes | 158–162 |
| Mathematics | 5733 | 56 selected-response / numeric-entry | 90 minutes | 142–163 |
| Combined | 5752 | All three above | ~275 minutes | Varies by state |
Exact cutoffs vary by state – see the full table below.
Most teacher candidates assume the Praxis Core will feel like a high school exit exam. It doesn’t. Here’s what catches people off guard:
The fix is not studying harder – it’s studying smarter. That means using a Praxis Core study guide built around the actual exam blueprint, not generic test-taking tips.
The Reading subtest (5713) covers three content categories:
All questions are selected-response. Passages range from short excerpts to longer academic texts drawn from humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
The Writing subtest (5723) has two parts:
Selected-Response (42 questions): Covers two content categories:
Essays (2 tasks): One argumentative essay and one informative/explanatory essay, each scored on a 1–6 scale. The combined essay score is weighted into your total Writing score.
ETS raters evaluate both essays on the same core criteria:
A score of 4 or above on each essay is a solid target. Essays scoring 1 or 2 – usually due to off-topic responses or severe mechanical errors – drag the entire Writing subtest score down significantly.
The Mathematics subtest (5733) covers three content categories:
An on-screen calculator is available for some – but not all – questions. You must be comfortable doing mental math and estimation for the rest.
PrepNovat’s question bank includes 10,100+ practice questions written to match the format, difficulty, and phrasing of actual ETS exam items. Every question maps to a specific content category – Reading, Writing, or Math – so you always know what you’re practicing and why.
This matters because generic test prep doesn’t prepare you for ETS’s specific question style. The way ETS phrases a “main idea” question is different from how a textbook phrases it. Familiarity with that style is itself a testable skill.
Every PrepNovat question comes with a full explanation that covers:
This is the difference between memorizing answers and actually understanding the material. When you know why a distractor is wrong, you stop falling for it.
PrepNovat’s timed practice mode mirrors real test conditions – 85 minutes for Reading, 100 minutes for Writing, 90 minutes for Math. Practicing under time pressure before test day eliminates the single biggest source of avoidable errors: running out of time.
Use this plan whether you’re starting from scratch or picking up where a previous attempt left off.
Weeks 1–2: Diagnostic and Foundation
Weeks 3–4: Targeted Content Review
Weeks 5–6: Practice Question Volume
Week 7: Full-Length Simulations
Week 8: Refinement and Confidence
Passing scores are set by each state, not by ETS. The table below reflects current requirements for the most commonly tested states. Always verify with your state’s Department of Education before your exam, as cutoffs can change.
| State | Reading (5713) | Writing (5723) | Math (5733) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 156 | 162 | 142 |
| New York | 163 | 162 | 163 |
| Texas | 156 | 162 | 150 |
| Florida | 156 | 162 | 150 |
| Georgia | 156 | 162 | 150 |
| North Carolina | 156 | 162 | 150 |
| Ohio | 156 | 162 | 150 |
| Virginia | 156 | 162 | 148 |
| Kentucky | 150 | 158 | 144 |
| California | – | – | – |
Note on California: California does not use the Praxis Core for teacher certification. California candidates typically take the CBEST or CSET. If you’re certifying in California, confirm your state’s specific requirements at the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing website.
New York has the highest cutoffs in the country (163 across Reading and Math). If you’re certifying in New York, build extra margin into your prep – aim for 168+ in practice before your test date.
Before you arrive:
At the test center:
During the test:
After the test:
The Praxis Core is moderately difficult – harder than most candidates expect, but well within reach with structured preparation. National pass rates vary by subtest, with Math typically having the lowest first-attempt pass rate. The key difficulty factors are time pressure, the depth of reading comprehension required, and the two-essay Writing section. Candidates who use realistic Praxis Core practice test questions and study by content category consistently outperform those who rely on general review.
Most candidates need 6–10 weeks of consistent study, averaging 1–2 hours per day. If you’re strong in one subtest area (for example, you’re a strong writer), you can front-load your weaker areas and reduce total prep time. If you’re retaking after a failed attempt, focus your prep on the specific content categories where you lost the most points – not on the entire subtest.
Yes. You can register for Reading (5713), Writing (5723), and Math (5733) as individual tests on separate dates, or take all three together as the combined test (5752). Taking them separately lets you focus your prep on one subtest at a time and retake only the subtest you didn’t pass, rather than all three.
You can retake any subtest you didn’t pass. ETS allows retakes after a 21-day waiting period. Each retake costs $90 per subtest (or $150 for the combined test). There is no limit on the number of attempts, but some states and educator preparation programs have their own policies on retakes, so check with your program advisor. Use your score report to identify which content categories cost you the most points – that’s where your next round of prep should focus.
Each individual subtest costs $90. The combined test (all three subtests on the same day, code 5752) costs $150. Taking the combined test saves $120 compared to registering for all three separately. Additional fees may apply for late registration, rescheduling, or score reporting beyond the standard recipients.
{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [ { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How hard is the Praxis Core?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “The Praxis Core is moderately difficult – harder than most candidates expect, but well within reach with structured preparation. National pass rates vary by subtest, with Math typically having the lowest first-attempt pass rate. The key difficulty factors are time pressure, the depth of reading comprehension required, and the two-essay Writing section. Candidates who use realistic Praxis Core practice test questions and study by content category consistently outperform those who rely on general review.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How long should I study for the Praxis Core?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Most candidates need 6-10 weeks of consistent study, averaging 1-2 hours per day. If you’re strong in one subtest area, you can front-load your weaker areas and reduce total prep time. If you’re retaking after a failed attempt, focus your prep on the specific content categories where you lost the most points – not on the entire subtest.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Can I take the Praxis Core subtests separately?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Yes. You can register for Reading (5713), Writing (5723), and Math (5733) as individual tests on separate dates, or take all three together as the combined test (5752). Taking them separately lets you focus your prep on one subtest at a time and retake only the subtest you didn’t pass, rather than all three.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What happens if I fail the Praxis Core?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “You can retake any subtest you didn’t pass. ETS allows retakes after a 21-day waiting period. Each retake costs $90 per subtest (or $150 for the combined test). There is no limit on the number of attempts, but some states and educator preparation programs have their own policies on retakes. Use your score report to identify which content categories cost you the most points – that’s where your next round of prep should focus.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How much does the Praxis Core cost?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Each individual subtest costs $90. The combined test (all three subtests on the same day, code 5752) costs $150. Taking the combined test saves $120 compared to registering for all three separately. Additional fees may apply for late registration, rescheduling, or score reporting beyond the standard recipients.” } } ] }