1. Praxis Core Workshop
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2. Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators
South Carolina Dept. of Ed. requirement for all Teacher Education students.
Test on reading, writing, and mathematics.
Computer based test.
Takes approximately 3-4 weeks for official scores to reach the USCA School of Education office.
Exempt if ACT = 24+ or SAT = (2-part SAT = 1100).

3. Praxis Core Exemption SAT ACT Exempt if score = 1650+.
Khan Academy FREE assistance
Practice tests, plan, feedback
ACT
Exempt if score = 24+.

4. Registration
Information and registration can be found at
Closest Testing Centers = Augusta, GA & Columbia, SC
The ID codes for USCA and the South Carolina Department of Education:
USCA ID#=5840 SC DOE ID#=8108
Accommodations (these take time to get approved!)
Health
Financial Need

5. Registration
If you wish to take all three computer-delivered Core exams (5712, 5722, 5732) at the same time, select Core Academic Skills for Educators: Combined Test (5751) when registering.
To Be Licensed in
You Need to Take
Test Code
Combined Test Code
Qualifying Score
Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading
5712
5751
156
AND
All Areas
Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing
5722
162
Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics (On-screen four-function calculator provided.)
5732
150

6. TOTAL TIME FOR COMBINED TEST = ~5 HOURS
Test Format
Test
Number of Questions
Testing Time
Reading 56
85 minutes
Mathematics
Optional Break --
10 minutes
Writing
40 / 2 essays
40 minutes /
30 minutes each
TOTAL TIME FOR COMBINED TEST = ~5 HOURS

7. Test Fees
INDIVIDUAL = $270
COMBINED = $150

8. Fee Waivers Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a fee waiver, you must:
Be currently receiving financial aid
Be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program (Note: You are ineligible if you have a master’s or a doctoral degree)
Meet eligibility income guidelines
Be required to take a Praxis test by an authorized score recipient

9. How to Prepare
Take practice tests and read all explanations, even for questions you get correct.
Review your practice test sub-scores and target the areas on which you did poorly.
Develop a study plan – where can I get resources on this topic?
Utilize available resources:
Test prep guides (library, bookstores)
SoE Website
Learning Express (USCA Library)
SCEA Praxis Prep workshops
Blackboard ‘My Organizations’ (under class list)
Praxis CORE Preparation

10. Praxis Core Online Course and Practice Tests software
Here are the steps to access this software:
Login to Blackboard
Look for ‘Praxis Core Preparation’ under the My Organizations tab
(You can find My Organizations underneath the list of your courses on the right side of the screen)
Log-in instructions under the My Announcements tab

11. Reading

12. Tips Read the question first!
Practice reading and answering questions on a computer. You can have scratch paper, so if you like to underline or annotate as you read, practice using scratch paper instead.
Try the strategy put the question in your own words for challenging questions.
Read 1-2 articles from the New York Times per day and ask yourself questions like “what is the main idea?” and “what is the author’s tone?”

16. Writing

17. Tips Outline or diagram first!
Answer the question/address the prompt – don’t be a politician!
Essay = 3-5 paragraphs (~1.5 pages)
Opening with purpose statement,
point #1, #2, #3 with examples (real or otherwise)
& closing/summation/review
Proofread/revise
Vocalization strategy
IMPORTANT
IMPORTANT

18. Grammar Usage

19. Sentence Correction

20. Revision in Context

21. Research Skills

22. Argumentative Essay Topic
“Minimum-wage jobs are a ticket to nowhere. They are boring and repetitive and teach employees little or nothing of value. Minimum-wage employers take advantage of people because they need a job.”
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with this opinion. Support your views with specific reasons and examples from your own experience, observations, or readings.

23. Score of 6
A ‘6’ essay demonstrates a high degree of competence in response to the assignment but may have a few minor errors. An essay in this category:
State or clearly implies the writer’s position or thesis
Organizes and develops ideas logically, making insightful connections between them
Clearly explains key ideas, supporting them with well-chosen reasons, examples or details
Displays effective sentence variety
Clearly displays facility in the use of language
Is generally free from errors in grammar, usage and mechanics

24. Informational Essay Topic

25. Informational Essay Topic Part 2

26. Score of 6
A ‘6’ essay demonstrates a high degree of competence in response to the assignment but may have a few minor errors. An essay in this category:
Insightfully explains why the concerns are important, supporting the explanation with effective links between the two sources and well-chosen reasons, examples or details
Incorporates information from both sources to identify and explain important concerns regarding the issue discussed in the sources
Organizes and develops ideas logically
Displays effective sentence variety
Clearly displays facility in the use of language
Is generally free from errors in grammar, usage and mechanics
Cites both sources when paraphrasing or quoting

27. Mathematics

28. Calculator provided Numeric Entry questions

29. Geometry (20%)

30. Algebra and Functions (30%)

31. Statistics and Probability (20%)

32. Number and Quantity (30%)

33. Fill in the Blank

34. Selected Response one or more answers

35. Day of… Get enough sleep (hopefully ~8 hours). Eat a ‘good’ breakfast.
Give yourself plenty of time to get to the testing center.
Wear comfortable clothes (think AC!)
When in doubt – take an educated guess! It won’t count against you
Don’t read into a question.
Think and act POSITIVE!

36. Questions?