If one of your summer goals is to prepare for the upcoming fall Praxis exam testing date, then obviously you have a big goal ahead of you. By now, you probably know which Praxis exam you need for one or more of the various levels of teacher licensure. The key for success is to know the format and the question types as you practice.
Preparing for the Praxis initially includes understanding how the test is structured. If you already know how the SAT is structured in terms of reading content and time, then perhaps you'll be pleasantly surprised knowing that the level and questions of The Computer Pre-Professional Skills Test in Reading do not vary not much in terms of question types, levels and skill ability.
Critical Reading Skills of the Praxis Exam
According to the Praxis Series website, “the Computerized Pre-Professional Skills Test in Reading measures the ability to understand and to analyze and evaluate written messages.” [Computerized Pre-Professional Skills, The Praxis Series website].
Reading through the explanations of the sample questions from the Praxis website gives you “a window” into the type of skills used for this exam which includes:
- Inferences from the passage or statement
- Distinguishing between the main idea and supporting details
- Understanding vocabulary in context
As a college student reading research articles for your teacher education courses, you probably have had to demonstrate your critical reading skills in applying your research and understanding. The difference is that in a test format, reading critically involves using a variety of reading skills all a once, which can sometimes put test takers under stress.
Last Minute Test Taking Techniques During the Praxis Exam
You should set aside some time to download all the free sample Praxis practice tests from the Praxis website and questions and treat each as a real test.
- Reread, when necessary, the various parts of a passage which are needed for choosing the right answer.
- Make sure you record the answer in the correct place on the computer screen.
- Read and respond to items one at a time.
- Read each passage together with the accompanying questions and instructions.
- Avoid spending too much time on any one question.
Training yourself to get used to the format of the Praxis test is the best way to succeed on standardized tests as you climb the ladder towards achieving your goal of teaching licensure.
Dorit Sasson - Hello! I'm an ESL instructor, teacher diversity coach and writer for the educational markets who writes on English language learners ...
