Strategies for Success
Set clear goals and deadlines so your test preparation is focused and efficient.
Effective Praxis 5161 preparation doesn’t just happen. You’ll want to set clear goals and deadlines for yourself along the way. Otherwise, you may not feel ready and confident on test day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn from the experts. Take advantage of the following answers to questions you may have and practical tips to help you navigate the Praxis 5161 test and make the best use of your time.
Comments? Email me at [email protected]
Effective Praxis 5161 preparation doesn’t just happen. You’ll want to set clear goals and deadlines for yourself along the way. Otherwise, you may not feel ready and confident on test day.
- Learn what the test covers. You may have heard that there are several different versions of the same test. It’s true. You may take one version of the test and your friend may take a different version a few months later. Each test has different questions covering the same subject area, but both versions of the test measure the same skills and content knowledge. You’ll find specific information on the test you’re taking on Getting Started, which outlines the content categories that the test measures and what percentage of the test covers each topic.
- Assess how well you know the content. Research shows that test takers tend to overestimate their preparedness—this is why some test takers assume they did well and then find out they did not pass. The Praxis 5161 tests are demanding enough to require serious review of likely content, and the longer you’ve been away from the content, the more preparation you will most likely need. If it has been longer than a few months since you’ve studied your content area, make a concerted effort to prepare.
- Collect study materials. Gathering and organizing your materials for review are critical steps in preparing for the Praxis 5161 test. Consider the following reference sources as you plan your study: Did you take a course in which the content area was covered? If yes, do you still have your books or your notes? Does your local library have a high school-level textbook in this area? Does your college library have a good introductory college-level textbook in this area?
- Plan and organize your time. You can begin to plan and organize your time while you are still collecting materials. Allow yourself plenty of review time to avoid cramming new material at the end. Here are a few tips:
- Choose a test date far enough in the future to leave you plenty of preparation time.
- Work backward from that date to figure out how much time you will need for review.
- Set a realistic schedule—and stick to it
- Develop a study plan. A study plan provides a road map to prepare for the Praxis 5161 Exam. It can help you understand what skills and knowledge are covered on the test and where to focus your attention. And most important—get started!
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn from the experts. Take advantage of the following answers to questions you may have and practical tips to help you navigate the Praxis 5161 test and make the best use of your time.
- Should I Guess?
Yes. Your score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly, with no penalty or subtraction for an incorrect answer. When you don’t know the answer to a question, try to eliminate any obviously wrong answers and then guess at the correct one. Try to pace yourself so that you have enough time to carefully consider every question. - Can I answer the questions in any order?
You can answer the questions in order or skip questions and come back to them later. If you skip a question, you can also mark it so that you can remember to return and answer it later. Remember that questions left unanswered are treated the same as questions answered incorrectly, so it is to your advantage to answer every question. - Are there trick questions on the test?
No. There are no hidden meanings or trick questions. All of the questions on the test ask about subject matter knowledge in a straightforward manner. - Are there answer patterns on the test?
No. You might have heard this myth: the answers on tests follow patterns. Another myth is that there will never be more than two questions in a row with the correct answer in the same position among the choices. Neither myth is true. Select the answer you think is correct based on your knowledge of the subject. - Can I write on the scratch paper I am given?
Yes. You can work out problems on the scratch paper, make notes to yourself, or write anything at all. Your scratch paper will be destroyed after you are finished with it, so use it in any way that is helpful to you. But make sure to select or enter your answers on the computer.
- Skip the questions you find extremely difficult. Rather than trying to answer these on your first pass through the test, you may want to leave them blank and mark them so that you can return to them later. Pay attention to the time as you answer the rest of the questions on the test, and try to finish with 10 or 15 minutes remaining so that you can go back over the questions you left blank. Even if you don’t know the answer the second time you read the questions, see if you can narrow down the possible answers, and then guess. Your score is based on the number of right answers, so it is to your advantage to answer every question.
- Keep track of the time. The on-screen clock will tell you how much time you have left. You will probably have plenty of time to answer all of the questions, but if you find yourself becoming bogged down, you might decide to move on and come back to any unanswered questions later.
- Read all of the possible answers before selecting one. For questions that require you to select more than one answer, or to make another kind of selection, consider the most likely answers given what the question is asking. Then reread the question to be sure the answer(s) you have given really answer the question. Remember, a question that contains a phrase such as “Which of the following does NOT ...” is asking for the one answer that is NOT a correct statement or conclusion.
- Check your answers. If you have extra time left over at the end of the test, look over each question and make sure that you have answered it as you intended. Many test takers make careless mistakes that they could have corrected if they had checked their answers.
- Don’t worry about your score when you are taking the test. No one is expected to answer all of the questions correctly. Your score on this test is not analogous to your score on the GRE® or other tests. It doesn’t matter on the Praxis 5161 tests whether you score very high or barely pass. If you meet the minimum passing scores for your state and you meet the state’s other requirements for obtaining a teaching license, you will receive a license. In other words, what matters is meeting the minimum passing score.
- Use your energy to take the test, not to get frustrated by it. Getting frustrated only increases stress and decreases the likelihood that you will do your best. Highly qualified educators and test development professionals, all with backgrounds in teaching, worked diligently to make the test a fair and valid measure of your knowledge and skills. Your state painstakingly reviewed the test before adopting it as a licensure requirement. The best thing to do is concentrate on answering the questions.
Comments? Email me at [email protected]