Switching careers? Read this before you begin!
There are NO short-cuts to succeeding on the Praxis 5161 assessment. It is challenging, and cognitively demanding. Let me say that again: there are no corners to cut, no tricks to excellence.
In fact, be very wary of those that promise you otherwise. For instance, there are cheap -- and easy on the pocket book -- prep materials out there of a very rudimentary level: the absurdly simple Qs they pose are the sort you'd encounter in a Middle School Algebra or Geometry curriculum. Their problems involve basic substitution into elementary formulas. The Praxis 5161, on the other hand, is far far more demanding: you need to be Jedis on Logarithms, Linear Programming, Trigonometric functions, Binomial probabilities, Confidence intervals, Derivatives and Integrals, Permutations and Combinations, Vectors, Polar functions, Matrices and Determinants...and so on..
After all, the Praxis 5161 assesses concepts and skills at a sophisticated level: that of High School and beyond. The standards the assessment demands of you is simple: you are pretty expected to be extremely well-versed in all aspects of High School mathematics...and somewhat beyond.
If you're switching careers into High School Math OR a Middle School teacher seeking a change and transitioning to a High School curriculum, be fully aware of the challenges ahead. This is not to frighten you; just to caution you that considerable industry and single-minded diligence is a prerequisite for success.
The duration for preparation for the Praxis 5161 Exam, unsurprisingly, depends on one's familiarity with advanced Algebra, Geometry and Statistics, and Trigonometry and Calculus, and middle-school Math teachers [current / prospective] aren't, in general, terribly proficient in High School / College level Math - the assumption, after all, is: why would I need it if I'm teaching Middle School? Isn't that why decided to teach at the Middle School level in the 1st place?!
That said, if studying individually is a frightful chore, form a study group if possible (though it's hard to find chaps in the neighbourhood / area in a similar situation... I would have imagined that "advertising" to seek fellow pilgrims worshipping at the same Praxis 5161 shrines would be more widespread!)
Otherwise, here’s sound advice: Break the entire course / syllabus into manageable chunks, prepare a detailed plan to cover a certain number of sections each week, and come hell or high water, resolve to accomplish your objectives.
Needless to say - and yet I say it! - sacrifices shall have to be made: get up earlier / sleep later, study when others are yet to awake. Put in ~2-3 hours daily and ~4 on weekends. Curtail customary diversions: fun and frolic can be had once the Subtests have been surmounted...
Alternately, hire an accomplished tutor or get somebody from the state university / community college in advanced Math classes as an instructor. You shall make much quicker progress!
But, as I've said before till I've got blue in the face - and you should see my face: it's decidedly blue, and not merely because it was struck recently by a violent blunt object... – there *are* NO shortcuts, NO elixir to magically transform the unprepared bugger to an intellectual X-Man.
So guard against complacency. And stay away from shoddy preparatory resources and cheap Practice Exams and quacks and shamans and charlatans that promise you a passing score with ease. Much like weight loss, one has to work really hard to pass!
Anxiety - unless it is marked by unseemly panic that requires blokes in masks poring over you and yelling "CLEAR!" - is OK: it is a natural reaction that usually abates once the test begins. I passed my credential exam soon after I deemed myself ready, but even I was more nervous than a Mafioso appearing as witness for the prosecution.
If you don't pass the 1st time, examine the back of your Score Report and remedy the deficiencies. Gird your loins to "lucubrate", which, my bedside Oxford informs me, refers to "studying assiduously into the night"...
I'm sure there shall be chaps out there that shall vociferously disagree, snort their disdainful protestations and be willing to slap my countenance and challenge me to to duel at sundown if not actually start Holy Wars and begin turning keys for the launch of nuclear missiles at my stout declaration.
But the inflexible Tauran that reposes in me refuses to concede this point of there being no short-cuts even upon threat of exposure of past crimes and misdemeanours. (Three Cheers for the Statute of Limitations!) So there. [Those that don't relish the my bluntness can stuff in their collective pipes and smoke it!]
But remember: success follows industrious work and labour, and there's nothing like success to put the flush to one's cheeks, a scabrous song to one's lips, a swagger to one's steps, and Dionysian mischief to one's intentions!
Comments? Email me at [email protected]
In fact, be very wary of those that promise you otherwise. For instance, there are cheap -- and easy on the pocket book -- prep materials out there of a very rudimentary level: the absurdly simple Qs they pose are the sort you'd encounter in a Middle School Algebra or Geometry curriculum. Their problems involve basic substitution into elementary formulas. The Praxis 5161, on the other hand, is far far more demanding: you need to be Jedis on Logarithms, Linear Programming, Trigonometric functions, Binomial probabilities, Confidence intervals, Derivatives and Integrals, Permutations and Combinations, Vectors, Polar functions, Matrices and Determinants...and so on..
After all, the Praxis 5161 assesses concepts and skills at a sophisticated level: that of High School and beyond. The standards the assessment demands of you is simple: you are pretty expected to be extremely well-versed in all aspects of High School mathematics...and somewhat beyond.
If you're switching careers into High School Math OR a Middle School teacher seeking a change and transitioning to a High School curriculum, be fully aware of the challenges ahead. This is not to frighten you; just to caution you that considerable industry and single-minded diligence is a prerequisite for success.
The duration for preparation for the Praxis 5161 Exam, unsurprisingly, depends on one's familiarity with advanced Algebra, Geometry and Statistics, and Trigonometry and Calculus, and middle-school Math teachers [current / prospective] aren't, in general, terribly proficient in High School / College level Math - the assumption, after all, is: why would I need it if I'm teaching Middle School? Isn't that why decided to teach at the Middle School level in the 1st place?!
That said, if studying individually is a frightful chore, form a study group if possible (though it's hard to find chaps in the neighbourhood / area in a similar situation... I would have imagined that "advertising" to seek fellow pilgrims worshipping at the same Praxis 5161 shrines would be more widespread!)
Otherwise, here’s sound advice: Break the entire course / syllabus into manageable chunks, prepare a detailed plan to cover a certain number of sections each week, and come hell or high water, resolve to accomplish your objectives.
Needless to say - and yet I say it! - sacrifices shall have to be made: get up earlier / sleep later, study when others are yet to awake. Put in ~2-3 hours daily and ~4 on weekends. Curtail customary diversions: fun and frolic can be had once the Subtests have been surmounted...
Alternately, hire an accomplished tutor or get somebody from the state university / community college in advanced Math classes as an instructor. You shall make much quicker progress!
But, as I've said before till I've got blue in the face - and you should see my face: it's decidedly blue, and not merely because it was struck recently by a violent blunt object... – there *are* NO shortcuts, NO elixir to magically transform the unprepared bugger to an intellectual X-Man.
So guard against complacency. And stay away from shoddy preparatory resources and cheap Practice Exams and quacks and shamans and charlatans that promise you a passing score with ease. Much like weight loss, one has to work really hard to pass!
Anxiety - unless it is marked by unseemly panic that requires blokes in masks poring over you and yelling "CLEAR!" - is OK: it is a natural reaction that usually abates once the test begins. I passed my credential exam soon after I deemed myself ready, but even I was more nervous than a Mafioso appearing as witness for the prosecution.
If you don't pass the 1st time, examine the back of your Score Report and remedy the deficiencies. Gird your loins to "lucubrate", which, my bedside Oxford informs me, refers to "studying assiduously into the night"...
I'm sure there shall be chaps out there that shall vociferously disagree, snort their disdainful protestations and be willing to slap my countenance and challenge me to to duel at sundown if not actually start Holy Wars and begin turning keys for the launch of nuclear missiles at my stout declaration.
But the inflexible Tauran that reposes in me refuses to concede this point of there being no short-cuts even upon threat of exposure of past crimes and misdemeanours. (Three Cheers for the Statute of Limitations!) So there. [Those that don't relish the my bluntness can stuff in their collective pipes and smoke it!]
But remember: success follows industrious work and labour, and there's nothing like success to put the flush to one's cheeks, a scabrous song to one's lips, a swagger to one's steps, and Dionysian mischief to one's intentions!
Comments? Email me at [email protected]