Everything You Need To Know About The Praxis Core Exam
Taking the Praxis Core Exam can be daunting, especially when using it to demonstrate your proficiency as a teacher. However, there are things you can do to prepare yourself for test day. These include practicing and studying for the test, learning to relax in stressful situations, and preparing by knowing the layout rather than getting lost.
For those seeking a career in education, the following is a helpful guide for understanding and mastering the Praxis Core Exam:
Table of Contents
Practice
It’s a good idea to take a practice test once or twice before you take the exam. A Praxis practice test covering the core materials (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics) allows you to become familiar with the format of the test and budget time accordingly. Practicing also gives you a focus for your study, as you will be able to recognize mistakes and correct them before testing day.
Study
While the practice test questions may not be the same as on test day, they will be similar. For example, if a question in the practice mathematics section requires you to evaluate a particular expression, you can assume that the Praxis test will also require algebraic evaluation. You should also practice your strengths in relation to the test. For example, if you want to teach ELA, you should prioritize your study on the rules and mechanics of grammar rather than understanding how to calculate the area of a trapezoid.
Relax
Before you take the test, take some time to find some mental exercises that help you stay calm. The Praxis is a closed-book, closed-door examination, which means that you can’t bring in a fidget spinner or anything else to distract yourself. This means you will need to find some ways to relax your mind on a regular basis. It may sound ridiculous, but taking ten deep breaths after ten questions has been known to help students in the past. Whichever mental or breathing exercises you decide to learn, use them during the exam at regular intervals to maintain focus.
Prepare
Many Praxis tests are given on college campuses, which hopefully locates a water fountain or vending machine close to the room where the Praxis is being given. Otherwise, plan to bring some granola bars or fruit in a zipped bag. The proctors will not allow you to bring these snacks in, but they will allow you to access them during breaks. Since the tests are given on a college campus, try to take some time and tour the campus before the day of the test. This will allow you to recognize potential places to get lost or turned around, such as going to Building AG instead of Building GA.
Remember that if you take time to prepare, relax, study, and practice, you actually do know the answers to the questions on the test. You’ve prepared by knowing where the test is and fortified yourself with sustenance. You’ve learned to relax in difficult situations. You’ve studied the kinds of things you need to know for the test and you know your strengths because of it. Finally, you’ve practiced the test, which makes you another advantage by making you familiar with the format and types of questions.