Praxis Core 2023-2024 For Dummies

Book Preface

If you want to be a teacher, you generally have to take the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exam at least once. “What?! What do you mean by ‘at least once’?” Yes, it’s true that you may have to take the Praxis twice in your quest to shape the minds of future generations.

Many colleges and universities require that students who want to enroll in an education major take the exam. And if that isn’t bad enough, most states and some U.S. territories require that you pass the Praxis in order to be licensed to teach. But don’t panic. You’ve come to the right place for help in acing the exam.

The goal of this book is to help you brush up on what you need to know to pass the Praxis with flying colors. We don’t cover every topic that will be tested in detail; instead, we offer an overview of those topics. The overview allows you to review a topic and say to yourself either, “Yep, got it! I can move on to the next topic” or “I don’t get it. I’d better focus on my statistics knowledge.” (If you decide you need more review on a topic, check out a For Dummies book that relates specifi-cally to that topic.)
You can also use the two practice tests in this book and the additional four practice tests online to test yourself in an almost-real testing situation. You may want to take one test before you read any chapters to see where your strengths and weaknesses are; then, you’ll know where to focus your attention. After you’ve studied your weak areas and reviewed the topics you’re better at, you can take another practice test to see how much you’ve improved and where you still may need more work.

So, we have you covered when it comes to studying for and passing the Praxis. Take a couple of tests, review the chapters, and get the confidence you need to score well on the test when it really counts.

About This Book

Praxis Core 2023–2024 For Dummies breaks down the exam’s main objectives into understandable sections. This book is organized into parts that align with the test’s subsections so that you can find the answers to your most challenging areas quickly. If you’re struggling with math, you can find all those topics grouped together in Part 2. If writing makes you want to pull your hair out, you can get a comprehensive overview in Part 4.
In addition to reviewing Praxis topics, we offer strategies that you can practice and keep in mind so that you don’t fall for the booby traps that the test creators put in your way. We outline the different types of questions so that you know where to expect the hurdles you’ll see on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exam. (Okay, this is the last time we’ll spell out the official title of the test. From now on, we’ll refer to it as the Praxis or the Praxis Core.)
A test-prep book wouldn’t be a test-prep book without a couple of practice tests. This book offers two tests in the book itself, those same two tests online, and then another four tests online to help you become familiar with the content and question types you’ll encounter when you take the exam. They say practice makes perfect. With these practice tests, you can put that theory to the “test.”

Foolish Assumptions

In writing this book, we’ve made some assumptions about you. The biggest assumption we’ve made is that you’ve decided to teach, which is one of the most rewarding professions known to man. Beyond that, you fall into one of the following categories:

» You’re a first-time exam-taker who wants to pass the test on your first try.
» You’re a exam re-tester who has taken the exam and failed based on your state cut score requirement. You can still successfully reach the passing score goal. You’re actually in a better situation than the first-time exam-taker because you possess a detailed report that outlines your strengths and weaknesses. With that information, you can truly attack the sections that challenge you the most.
» You’re a traditional teacher candidate in college who’s currently enrolled or trying to enroll as an education major in an undergraduate program, and you need to pass this exam to start taking your specialized courses.
» You’re an alternative-route teacher candidate who possesses a four-year degree, and you need to pass this exam as one of your first steps toward certification.