Tests for Program Admission
All teacher education programs at the undergraduate level require that candidates take and pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators. Candidates with earned bachelor’s degrees are exempt from this exam.
The Praxis Core measures reading, writing, and math skills to determine a candidate’s readiness to enter a teacher education program. Passing scores for each section are:
| Reading Test: 156 |
| Writing Test: 162 |
| Math Test: 150 |
Candidates can pass the Praxis Core with a combined score of 468, even if all individual sections are not passed. The Praxis Core may be taken multiple times if needed. The best section scores from all testing attempts are combined to create the highest possible overall score.
For additional information about Praxis Core including how to best prepare, how to register, understand test scores, and more, check out this video!
An exemption from Praxis Core may be given based on the candidate’s SAT or ACT scores. Minimum scores for Praxis Core exemption are:
PRE-MARCH 2016 SAT
| Reading and Writing Tests only: | 550 Critical Reading |
| Math Test only: | 550 Math |
| All Praxis Core Tests: | 1100 Critical Reading/Math combined |
NEW (POST-MARCH 2016) SAT
| Reading and Writing Tests only: | 600 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing |
| Math Test only: | 570 Math |
| All Praxis Core Tests: | 1170 Critical Reading/Math combined |
ACT
| Reading and Writing Tests only: | 24 English |
| Math Test only: | 24 Math |
| All Praxis Core Tests: | 24 Composite |
It is strongly recommended that candidates prepare before taking the Praxis Core. ETS offers a number of preparation resources, some free and some for purchase, on the Praxis Core website. Students should begin by using the free Khan Academy Official Praxis Core Prep, a resource that includes diagnostic exams, personalized study plans, instructional videos, sample questions, and a full-length practice test that results in a score on the same scale used for the actual Praxis Core.
Information regarding registration, costs, fee waivers, and score reporting is available in the Praxis Core FAQ document.