Sep 7 / DR. JASON AMPEL

Praxis Passing Score - Passing and Failing Scores for The Praxis Test

The Praxis test is a series of exams administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to prospective teachers. The test evaluates essential academic skills, specific subject knowledge and is part of the licensing and certification process.

Approximately 46 States use the Praxis test as part of the teacher licensing and certification process in the United States. In addition, the District of Columbia and other regions also offer the Praxis test.

The Praxis test is primarily used to test potential teachers' academic capabilities and readiness before joining the industry. Also, it's part of the licensing and certification requirements for all teachers across the United States.

This article will help you learn more about the Praxis passing score and how to prepare for the test.

Praxis Exams

The Praxis exam involves a series of tests with multiple questions to assess your academic and pedagogical knowledge. The test is administered as part of your credentialing process. It ensures that you attain the required threshold before joining the profession. 

Every state that uses the Praxis test has a different combination of tests and requirements you need to attain. It’s good to ensure that you understand your state's requirements so that you save money and time.  

The Praxis test was introduced in the United States by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), a non-profit organization established in 1947.  

The objective was to introduce testing programs to help enhance quality standards within the teaching sector.

The different types of Praxis Exams include:

1. The Praxis Core

The Praxis Core test is meant to measure general knowledge among prospective teachers. The test assesses academic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. It offers a comprehensive assessment that evaluates both skills and content knowledge of candidates joining the teaching field. 

The test helps to ensure that every candidate has the required skills before taking further steps in the industry. The praxis core exam is compulsory for all aspiring teachers for all grades.

Various colleges require students to take the Praxis core exams as part of the entry assessment into the institution. 

2. Praxis Subject Tests

The Praxis subject test evaluates your general teaching skills and knowledge in a specific content area you intend to teach. The test is computer-based and administered by the ETS for teachers within the K-12 level. 

Your Praxis subject test mainly depends on your state. Every state has unique requirements that you need to achieve before moving to the next level. Ensure that you check your state requirements before identifying the specific tests that you need to undertake.

 In addition, the test measures your pedagogical knowledge across different grade levels. The grade levels include early childhood, K1 through 6th, 5th through 9th, and 7th through 12th. 

The Praxis subject test you take depends on the subjects you plan to teach. For instance, if you want to become a math teacher, you must take the middle school mathematics test. 

The options you need to choose from in subject assessment include: 

  •   Algebra I
  •   Braille Proficiency
  •   Computer
  •   Science
  •   Economics
  •   French
  •   Geography
  •   Health Education
  •   Middle School Science
  •   Psychology
  •   Special Education

3. Praxis Content Knowledge for Teaching Assessments

The content knowledge for teaching assessment, also known as CKT, is meant for prospective teachers looking for a generalist elementary school license. The assessment measures your general understanding of elementary education subject matter.

 It also evaluates how well you can use your content knowledge to recognize, understand and respond to the content problems you encounter. 

The test is divided into different categories: Mathematics, science, reading and language arts, and social studies. All the tests are delivered through a computerized system. 

Praxis Passing Scores

The Praxis passing scores depend on the state and the test since every state has different requirements that you need to attain for certification and licensing. However, most states have scores ranging between 100 - 200

Although every state has unique requirements, the passing score may range between 127 - 177. Several states may have similar passing scores on the main Praxis exams.

 For instance, Colorado and Kentucky require prospective teachers to take the Praxis Elementary Education Multiple Subjects and pass each subtest. Given that the exam is divided into different segments, the scores vary. 

Some exams may have multiple-choice responses, constructed-response questions, or a mix of the two. The passing scores for different exams vary from one state to the other. 

For instance, Colorado only requires a score of 152 in the Latin World Language exam, while Kentucky requires a passing score of 166 or higher. This outlines the difference in state score requirements that you need to achieve.

 The Praxis test is scored depending on the number of questions answered correctly. Besides, there is no penalty for guessing. Given that the Praxis scores vary from region to region, you need to learn how to identify Praxis passing scores by state. 

The Educational Testing Service allows you to evaluate the Praxis passing scores by state. By logging into the ETS portal, you can access the passing scores recommended by every state. 

Here are the steps to check Praxis passing scores by state on the ETS. 

  1.   Select your state on the Educational Testing Service and select "What are my requirements?"
  2.   The new site will give you access to a list of all the state requirements. It also outlines the exams that need to be taken and the Praxis passing scores for every exam. 
  3.   You can also look at different institution Praxis score requirements to see the passing rates for every exam. The passing scores are outlined based on the state requirements. 


The ETS website helps you understand the requirements for licensing and certification in your state.

Average Praxis score

The passing score for the Praxis test depends on your state and type of exam, among other factors nationwide. Even though some states have similar passing scores, they may vary based on the year.

Colorado and Kentucky are some of the states that require candidates to pass all the subtests. They require you to score at least 157 in mathematics, 155 in social studies, and 159 in science.

Since identifying the average Praxis scores might be challenging, you can easily access this information on the ETS portal. The Educational Testing Service has a data manager on its website where you can request your Praxis test score reports.

When calculating the average score of an exam, you add all the scores together and divide by the number of examinees. The average score determines whether you have passed or failed the exams.

You can easily predict the outcomes of your test after getting your average score. However, always wait for the final report published by the Educational Testing Service.

Getting the questions right

There is no specific number of questions that you need to answer correctly to pass the exam. The questions come in different versions and scores. Every version has different questions that should be answered based on specific requirements.

This is why raw scores are converted to scaled scores to compare the results based on the test technicality. You can compare the raw points earned with those available on the Praxis score report.

By comparing the two segments, you can easily identify the areas you need to improve in case you do not pass. It also gives you an overview of the areas you performed better. This only works well if you understand the passing scores of your state and the type of exam.

When you want to find out how you have scored in every exam, you can find the information on the scores page on the Educational Testing Service website. There is a chance to retake the Praxis test if you do not pass.

Evaluating how you performed in the previous test can help you prepare in advance on how to overcome your weaknesses. Remember that every state has specific requirements and obligations that candidates must meet.

List of States Using Praxis

Most states across the US use the Praxis test in different ways to ensure that they absorb the right teaching talents. However, the Praxis test requirements vary from one state to the other.

Some of the states that have adopted the use of the Praxis test include Washington. DC, the US Virgin Islands, as well as the American Samoa. However, some states use different exams to gauge the knowledge of prospective teachers, while others only use one specific exam. 

States such as Kentucky require you to take the Praxis Core and the Praxis subject assessment. California only uses the Praxis subject assessments for teachers' licensing and certification.

 Ensure you understand the Praxis test requirements for the state you intend to work in. The Educational Testing Service allows every state the power to choose its requirements to elevate the provision of quality education in schools. 

The states using the Praxis test to evaluate prospective teachers' knowledge include: 

  •   Alabama
  •   Alaska
  •   Arkansas
  •   California
  •   Colorado
  •   Connecticut
  •   Delaware
  •   Georgia
  •   Hawaii
  •   Idaho
  •   Indiana
  •   Iowa
  •   Kansas
  •   Kentucky
  •   Louisiana
  •   Maine
  •   Maryland
  •   Massachusetts
  •   Minnesota
  •   Mississippi
  •   Missouri
  •   Montana
  •   Nebraska
  •   Nevada
  •   New Hampshire
  •   New Jersey
  •   New Mexico
  •   New York
  •   North Carolina
  •   North Dakota
  •   Ohio
  •   Oklahoma
  •   Oregon
  •   Pennsylvania
  •   Rhode
  •   Island South
  •   Carolina South
  •   Dakota
  •   Tennessee
  •   Texas
  •   Utah
  •   Vermont
  •   Virginia
  •   Washington
  •   West Virginia
  •   Wisconsin
  •   Wyoming

Other Relevant Information About Praxis Exam

Like any other exam, the Praxis test can last between 1 and 4 hours. The exam duration mainly depends on the specific test you are doing. Different exams have different time frames depending on the level of complexity. 

Different Praxis exams have different questions. For instance, the Praxis Core and the Praxis Subject assessments have different questions. All the Praxis exams are taken through a computer within the testing center. 

Every test comes with different types of questions. Some tests come with selected-response questions, constructed-response questions, or essays. Others have a combination of all these questions. What defines the questions is the type of test and the region. Your success is mainly determined by the number of correctly answered questions. 

The Praxis tests are charged between $60 to $200, depending on the region. Check with your state if you need to pay additional charges apart from the test fees. 

The scoring of the Praxis test is done differently compared to regular exams. The scores are awarded based on the question's nature and the test's type. Occasionally, every selected-response question answered correctly is scored as one raw point. 

The raw score refers to the number of questions answered correctly in the exam. The exam is converted to a scale that adjusts the scores depending on the difficulty of the questions.  The scores recorded in every test are transformed into uniform values based on the test's technicality. This helps to generate clear scores that determine whether you passed or failed. 

Different states have varying requirements for the Praxis exam that you need to achieve. At some point, the exam is done as an entry to the college. Every assessment comes with a testing fee that you need to pay. 

The Praxis score is presented on a scale of 100 - 200. The 100 mark is considered 0%, while the 200 make is 100%. The data ranges from the highest and required minimum scores to the qualifying scores.

 If you did an exam that had a qualifying score of 163 out of 200 and scored 170, you would pass the exam. All that matters is the qualifying score.

 Are you a prospective teacher planning to undertake the Praxis test? We have all the resources to keep you up to the mark. Reach out today, and let's equip you with the information you need to score a pass. Let’s help you make your teaching career come to life!