Praxis II Test Overview

The Praxis II series of tests assess your knowledge of topics and subject areas that you may teach as a K-12 teacher. The tests also address teaching skills that you would need for both general and specific subjects. Depending on your state’s licensing requirements, you may need to take one or more Praxis II tests in order to teach a specific subject(s) in that state. If you would like to procure a license from a professional organization, you may also need to take a specific Praxis II test. There are over 120 different Praxis II tests, so you must check with your state’s licensing agency to determine which tests are required for the subject(s) you plan to teach.

There are three main groups of Praxis II tests. The first are subject assessment tests where you answer multiple choice and essay questions that test your knowledge and teaching skills related to both subject-specific and general topics. The Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) tests use case studies, multiple choice, and essay questions to test your pedagogical understanding and knowledge at one of four different grade levels: grades 7-12, grades 5-9, grades K-6 and Early Childhood education. Finally, the Teaching Foundation Tests assess pedagogy knowledge via multiple choice and essay questions on social science, science, English and language arts, mathematics, and multi-subject (elementary).

The tests are administered at testing centers such as Prometric test centers, universities, and more. Praxis II tests can be taken either by computer or on paper, however, not all tests are available in both testing formats. You should check with your local testing center to see if the test you want to take is offered in the format you prefer.

Paper-based Praxis II tests last one, two, or four hours. Depending on which tests you want to take and how long the tests last, you may be able to take up to three tests in the same day. For example, if you take one two-hour test in the morning, you could take two one-hour tests in the afternoon. Computer-based tests are longer than the paper tests because the time given includes time for collecting information about test-takers and for the test-taker to take a brief tutorial that shows them how to use the computer test software. Computer-based tests typically last for two to two and a half hours.

When taking the test, your score is based on the number of questions that are answered correctly. There is no penalty against your score for selecting the wrong answer to a question. So when taking the Praxis II tests, try to answer every question, even if you have to guess at some of the answers.