PRAXIS sections
PRAXIS I
Reading
Comprehension and critical thinking are the two sub-sections in the reading section of Praxis I. The texts given are of varied nature. They may be 1 or 2 paragraphs or many paragraphs put together. All questions are multiple-choice questions. The paper based Praxis test has 40 questions and the computer PRAXIS test has 46 questions. The paper based questions are allotted with 60 minutes and the computer based test is allotted with 75 minutes. The topics covered are from subjects like Science, economics, art and philosophy.
Comprehension
The comprehension section requires no prior preparation. The questions are solely based on the passages given. The student must go through the passage given keenly to answer the questions asked.
PRAXIS I Math
High school algebra and geometry curriculum is brushed in the form of questions in this section. The student must be thorough in basic mathematical formulas, basic geometry etc. Most of the questions asked are word problem format. It is better for the student to familiarize with basic tenets of mathematics to successfully answer this section. No calculators are allowed. Other material the student must be ready with is ratios, square roots, probability problems etc. It is very hard to complete this section if the student has lost touch with mathematical formulas recently. The number of questions varies between the written (40) and computer (46) PRAXIS math version. You are allowed (60) minutes on the written and (75) minutes on the computer version. There are five answer choices for each question on the math section of the PRAXIS. It is better to buy a study guide to review the mathematical formulas and equations.
PRAXIS I
Writing
The PRAXIS I Writing Test is divided into two sections, the multiple-choice questions and the essay. 30 minutes are allotted to complete both the sections. In the multiple-choice questions there are 25 ‘mistake’ and 20 ‘rewording’ questions asked. The ‘mistake’ questions have one choice as ‘No Error’ as its fifth choice. The last 20 questions expect the student to reword a part of a sentence for a clearer meaning and proper grammar. Answer choice (A) will always be the sentence fragment repeated. In some cases, no change will be required and answer choice (A) will be the correct answer with the final 20 multiple-choice questions on the PRAXIS.
PRAXIS essay
The essay section in the PRAXIS test is graded by two reviewers. The essay is scored on a range of 1-6 by each reviewer. The two scores are totaled to a range of 2-12. 30 minutes are allotted to complete the PRAXIS essay. Only 2 pages are given to complete this section. The reviewers watch out for good sentence formation, proper grammar use and consistent flow of ideas in the essays. Below mentioned is a sample PRAXIS essay topic.
“In the late 1990’s families began moving into more urban areas in search of higher paying jobs. The average family in America has more representation in the work force of the late 1990’s. Discuss the disadvantages and advantages of these changes in today’s modern family.”