About my Best-Selling Practice Tests & Q Banks
I've been teaching High School Math for almost 16 years now and have taught all subjects [Algebra I, II, Geometry, Precalculus, AP Statistics & AP Calculus], and find teaching mathematics challenging, yet enormously satisfying and joyful.
A lot of my responsibilities concern creating unconventional assessments for students unlike those customarily found online or in a textbook.
This is what I do.
Now, the pass rate for the Praxis 5161 Exam is pretty low. Not surprisingly. Do keep in mind that the Qs on the test are unlike those found in a regular textbook: there's always a "twist" / subtlety involved, and as I always advice candidates, you can expect to be assessed on
My detailed and exhaustive best-selling Practice tests and Q Banks for each key domain area seeks to narrow this "bridge", and do so very ably, addressing each / every Praxis 5161 "domain" / topic area. Additionally, I've put together NOTES that are indeed quite exhaustive. Still, I do expect / recommend that candidates have a grasp of the foundations of each topic area since, both - the Praxis 5161 and my materials - are at a level considerably higher than a conventional textbook!
Id advise you to first get really familiar with what you need to know i.e. the relevant content standards and the most important skills and concepts [see other links on my site!]. Then, go about getting those skills.
Now, you can acquire, build and reinforce those skills via
Candidates at times get bogged down by certain “strategies” to pass the Praxis 5161 Exam. But a sound strategy can get you only so far and no further. Most candidates DONT pass on their 1st several attempts and my diagnosis of the problem is that they take too much time on either or both of the MCQs and the Case Study / Lesson Plan. But it is evident that the real problem is that they weren't terribly well-prepared for the test in the 1st place! After all, you shall acknowledge that speed is a function of familiarity and knowledge: if you don't know (enough of) something, it'll simply take you much longer to figure out.
My point is it isn't test-taking strategy that contributes to the majority of frustration; it is simply a lack of subject-matter mastery...which slows one down inordinately. Were one more conversant with High School Algebra [Precalculus and beyond] and Geometry / Statistics, and Calculus i.e. had practiced more Qs that mirrored the style and difficulty of those on the Test, one'd have been fine, yes? Because one'd have been faster. Also, grappling with the computer-based test wouldn't have been a big issue, then!
To help you in your preparation, you may try my Practice tests and Q banks. My materials are very rigorous and shall enable you to be conceptually comfortable since the style / difficulty of the Praxis 5161 is more sophisticated than what you'd find in textbooks!
The other reason for poor performance and lack of solid preparation is that a substantial proportion of the study materials for the Praxis 5161 out there is utter rubbish: most of the candidates that approach me have tried the inexpensive garbage but as the expression is: if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. And since I boast that I offer the Rolls Royce of Qs [!], you're paying for blue-ribbon quality. The testimonials Ive received are uniformly and consistently effusive. Virtually all candidates that purchase my Q Bank for one of the domain areas buy the other...i.e. they're repeat customers because [from the gushing emails I receive!] they attribute their success to my materials.
A final point: my Practice tests and Q Banks don't simply prepare you for the Praxis 5161 Exam . They do far more: they make you a better teacher in Geometry / Statistics / Algebra 1 / Algebra 2 / Precalculus / Calculus [should the need arise].
Seriously.
Because the Qs Ive contrived go wide and go deep to build true understanding.
For those amongst you making a career switch after a seemingly long interaction with Math, the good news is that once you commence review with any diligence, the concepts should flood back unbidden and quickly! Trust me on this.
And with my materials, you shan't be disappointed, period: I haven't heard any - repeat: ANY! - complaints or dissatisfaction from the hundreds of examinees that've purchased my material.
On the contrary, the feedback about my Practice tests and Q Banks has been unfailingly and effusively positive since
a) the Qs very faithfully reflects the style and content of the actual Subtests. REMEMBER: many of the Qs on the Test are quite different from those in your regular texts: the Praxis 5161 test demands synthesis of several concepts / skills all in the same Q. So, you shall encounter problems that are quite novel and challenging: you need all the practice you can get!
b) the content sharpens the mind because the actual tests call for considerable mental agility! To be forewarned is to be forearmed, as the saying goes...
c) these sophisticated Qs individually tie in several concept areas simultaneously so that you shall find your skills and abilities really tested. In short, not only shall you emerge a well-prepared candidate but also a superior teacher.
The crux of the matter is if you can answer even 75% of the Qs from my packet without inordinate strain, I can virtually guarantee your passing the test! After all, all the candidates - without exception! - who've used my Practice tests and Q Banks have passed the test almost always in their subsequent attempts!!
The reason I've put my Q Bank together is that I've found numerous candidates to have gross misconceptions about the Test, about the Type of Qs asked, about the content tested, and possess terribly faulty Prep/Study techniques that not frequently do I come across poor chaps that've taken it 7 or 8 times before they pass: They simply don't have practice of the most relevant content.
In general, I understand the general apprehensiveness of candidates about taking a specialized Math test probably long after advanced topics ceased to be familiar. But it shall buck you up to know that since I began helping prospective Math teachers for the Praxis 5161 test, I've received thousands of queries for advice, for guidance, for the most efficient way to become a Math teacher / prepare for the Praxis 5161 , etc. and about 90%+ of these chaps are either
a) Elementary / Middle School teachers, with very rudimentary Algebra skills, who want to pass the Praxis 5161 [since they wish to teach at a High School level!]
OR
b) Elementary / Middle School teachers, with very rudimentary Algebra skills, who have to pass the Praxis 5161 [so that they might satisfy the requirements of the state / federal qualification mandates]
OR
c) non-teaching professionals - accountants, lawyers, bankers, engineers, managers, etc - seeking a mid-life career change, again, with very rudimentary Algebra skills!
Bottom-line: for the majority of my correspondents, a considerable time has elapsed since they took Math classes, with their current Math skill-level rather middling, even though they did reasonably well in the past! That is , they possess quite robust mathematical aptitude, only the techniques are somewhat "rusty". Nervousness is natural, but you shall overcome it with perseverance and determination bolstered by a sprightly attitude!!
REMEMBER: The Qs on the site have only been excerpted from my database of Qs, and naturally, are only a SMALL SUBSET of what I have to offer, and there are no resources out there even remotely comparable: the most common feedback has been: "Thank you! Your stuff was DEAD ON!"
CAUTION! I've looked at some of the other Praxis 5161 stuff available online, and they appear downright dubious, sleazy, shoddy and fly-by-night operations. So BEWARE. For instance, this is what a candidate wrote to me: "The XAM book is only good for those who haven't taken math in a VERY long time. It reviews some fundamentals, but nothing more. It is more relevant for a Middle school audience" Another wrote: "The National University Prep classes only went over the solutions of the Qs on the Praxis website. I learned very little else!"
The information I've received from other examinees attests invariably to the fact that, in general, the prep courses and material bear little semblance to the actual test, and are much easier than the real McCoy! All this is liable to induce a sense of complacency amongst chaps taking the test! So, please watch out!! Er, if you doubt my words - which, you verily might! - I encourage you to try out others' materials!]
By the way, a very large number of my "patrons" have tried other review texts / study materials - many of which I have indeed browsed and consider scams... - since the candidates found them very basic, inadequate and unrepresentative: many of my testimonials, in fact, are from such prospective Math teachers!
A good rule of thumb for preparation is ~ 1 month for each of the BIG domains of Precalculus, Geometry & Statistics, and Calculus if you apply yourself intensively. Specifically, here's what it takes to succeed:
a) 100+ hours of dedicated study for each of the content areas above
b) if you're currently employed full-time, considering those constraints, ~ 2 hours of skills-reinforcement DAILY + ~ 4-6 of skills-reinforcement on WEEKENDS
or
if you're employed part-time [or not at all], ~ 4 hours of skills-reinforcement DAILY [weekdays and weekends]
The Practice Tests & Question Banks are expensive, and you can't afford them?
I agree they're expensive, but you cannot not afford them.
But, to put this seemingly high amount in perspective, keep in mind that
a) Each Praxis 5161 Exam costs ~ $120. So, each time you need to retake the test on account of ill-preparedness, you're dissipating another $120+! I've known miserable fellows that've taken the test 8-9 times before passing. Surely, that is somewhat unusual but not terribly surprising - the strike rate for the Praxis 5161 tests, after all, is a paltry 15-20%!
These tests are hard.
b) There is absolutely - repeat absolutely - NO material out there that comes even close to the level of detail and extensiveness of my material. My content constitutes, without doubt, the ROLLS-ROYCE of Qs!
c) The price very closely reflects my enormous investment in time and money (thousands of hours and $!) that has gone into its preparation and organization. And as Singapore's ex-Prime Minister would say: "If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys!" You're paying for material of simply exceptional calibre!
d) I am an ordinary High School teacher and am not in it for the money!! I do not advertize the site at all - do no promotion whatsoever - and have put all this FREE information out only to help prospective Math teachers!
Most requests for my Practice tests and Q Banks are through word-of-mouth referrals, and recommendations from institutions like school district offices, Education Credential programs at universities!
e) Work through my material, and I can practically assure you of your triumph! Countless candidates shall attest to that!
f) Anytime you have a Q about the Praxis 5161 in general or a Math Q in particular, email me and I shall resolve the matter ASAP. I am a fellow-teacher committed to helping you pass. My role extends beyond mailing you the Practice tests and Q Banks. I shall periodically send you updates with Tips, Study Suggestions and specific questions to focus on, as the test date approaches!
g) Don't forget that college textbooks routinely cost $125-$150, and one spends far more on college courses! This exam is too vital for one to quibble immaturely over short-term expenses: the sooner one triumphs over the Praxis 5161, the sooner one is in a credential program / becomes a teacher and receives a comfortable income and benefits!
Without adequate and reliable study materials, one's success is that much more unpredictable, and anticipation of a regular income pushed farther down the horizon!
If you're ready to order my Praxis 5161 Practice Tests and / or Question Banks -- or simply wish to know more! -- proceed.
Comments? Email me at [email protected]
A lot of my responsibilities concern creating unconventional assessments for students unlike those customarily found online or in a textbook.
This is what I do.
Now, the pass rate for the Praxis 5161 Exam is pretty low. Not surprisingly. Do keep in mind that the Qs on the test are unlike those found in a regular textbook: there's always a "twist" / subtlety involved, and as I always advice candidates, you can expect to be assessed on
- a few concepts that are unfamiliar
- familiar concepts in unfamiliar ways
My detailed and exhaustive best-selling Practice tests and Q Banks for each key domain area seeks to narrow this "bridge", and do so very ably, addressing each / every Praxis 5161 "domain" / topic area. Additionally, I've put together NOTES that are indeed quite exhaustive. Still, I do expect / recommend that candidates have a grasp of the foundations of each topic area since, both - the Praxis 5161 and my materials - are at a level considerably higher than a conventional textbook!
Id advise you to first get really familiar with what you need to know i.e. the relevant content standards and the most important skills and concepts [see other links on my site!]. Then, go about getting those skills.
Now, you can acquire, build and reinforce those skills via
- textbooks -- use my site for some excellent recommendations! Get a couple of different ones.
- online resources -- see this site
- videos -- there are some I recommend on my site
- my question banks for Algebra, Geometry & Statistics, and Calculus
Candidates at times get bogged down by certain “strategies” to pass the Praxis 5161 Exam. But a sound strategy can get you only so far and no further. Most candidates DONT pass on their 1st several attempts and my diagnosis of the problem is that they take too much time on either or both of the MCQs and the Case Study / Lesson Plan. But it is evident that the real problem is that they weren't terribly well-prepared for the test in the 1st place! After all, you shall acknowledge that speed is a function of familiarity and knowledge: if you don't know (enough of) something, it'll simply take you much longer to figure out.
My point is it isn't test-taking strategy that contributes to the majority of frustration; it is simply a lack of subject-matter mastery...which slows one down inordinately. Were one more conversant with High School Algebra [Precalculus and beyond] and Geometry / Statistics, and Calculus i.e. had practiced more Qs that mirrored the style and difficulty of those on the Test, one'd have been fine, yes? Because one'd have been faster. Also, grappling with the computer-based test wouldn't have been a big issue, then!
To help you in your preparation, you may try my Practice tests and Q banks. My materials are very rigorous and shall enable you to be conceptually comfortable since the style / difficulty of the Praxis 5161 is more sophisticated than what you'd find in textbooks!
The other reason for poor performance and lack of solid preparation is that a substantial proportion of the study materials for the Praxis 5161 out there is utter rubbish: most of the candidates that approach me have tried the inexpensive garbage but as the expression is: if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. And since I boast that I offer the Rolls Royce of Qs [!], you're paying for blue-ribbon quality. The testimonials Ive received are uniformly and consistently effusive. Virtually all candidates that purchase my Q Bank for one of the domain areas buy the other...i.e. they're repeat customers because [from the gushing emails I receive!] they attribute their success to my materials.
A final point: my Practice tests and Q Banks don't simply prepare you for the Praxis 5161 Exam . They do far more: they make you a better teacher in Geometry / Statistics / Algebra 1 / Algebra 2 / Precalculus / Calculus [should the need arise].
Seriously.
Because the Qs Ive contrived go wide and go deep to build true understanding.
For those amongst you making a career switch after a seemingly long interaction with Math, the good news is that once you commence review with any diligence, the concepts should flood back unbidden and quickly! Trust me on this.
And with my materials, you shan't be disappointed, period: I haven't heard any - repeat: ANY! - complaints or dissatisfaction from the hundreds of examinees that've purchased my material.
On the contrary, the feedback about my Practice tests and Q Banks has been unfailingly and effusively positive since
a) the Qs very faithfully reflects the style and content of the actual Subtests. REMEMBER: many of the Qs on the Test are quite different from those in your regular texts: the Praxis 5161 test demands synthesis of several concepts / skills all in the same Q. So, you shall encounter problems that are quite novel and challenging: you need all the practice you can get!
b) the content sharpens the mind because the actual tests call for considerable mental agility! To be forewarned is to be forearmed, as the saying goes...
c) these sophisticated Qs individually tie in several concept areas simultaneously so that you shall find your skills and abilities really tested. In short, not only shall you emerge a well-prepared candidate but also a superior teacher.
The crux of the matter is if you can answer even 75% of the Qs from my packet without inordinate strain, I can virtually guarantee your passing the test! After all, all the candidates - without exception! - who've used my Practice tests and Q Banks have passed the test almost always in their subsequent attempts!!
The reason I've put my Q Bank together is that I've found numerous candidates to have gross misconceptions about the Test, about the Type of Qs asked, about the content tested, and possess terribly faulty Prep/Study techniques that not frequently do I come across poor chaps that've taken it 7 or 8 times before they pass: They simply don't have practice of the most relevant content.
In general, I understand the general apprehensiveness of candidates about taking a specialized Math test probably long after advanced topics ceased to be familiar. But it shall buck you up to know that since I began helping prospective Math teachers for the Praxis 5161 test, I've received thousands of queries for advice, for guidance, for the most efficient way to become a Math teacher / prepare for the Praxis 5161 , etc. and about 90%+ of these chaps are either
a) Elementary / Middle School teachers, with very rudimentary Algebra skills, who want to pass the Praxis 5161 [since they wish to teach at a High School level!]
OR
b) Elementary / Middle School teachers, with very rudimentary Algebra skills, who have to pass the Praxis 5161 [so that they might satisfy the requirements of the state / federal qualification mandates]
OR
c) non-teaching professionals - accountants, lawyers, bankers, engineers, managers, etc - seeking a mid-life career change, again, with very rudimentary Algebra skills!
Bottom-line: for the majority of my correspondents, a considerable time has elapsed since they took Math classes, with their current Math skill-level rather middling, even though they did reasonably well in the past! That is , they possess quite robust mathematical aptitude, only the techniques are somewhat "rusty". Nervousness is natural, but you shall overcome it with perseverance and determination bolstered by a sprightly attitude!!
REMEMBER: The Qs on the site have only been excerpted from my database of Qs, and naturally, are only a SMALL SUBSET of what I have to offer, and there are no resources out there even remotely comparable: the most common feedback has been: "Thank you! Your stuff was DEAD ON!"
CAUTION! I've looked at some of the other Praxis 5161 stuff available online, and they appear downright dubious, sleazy, shoddy and fly-by-night operations. So BEWARE. For instance, this is what a candidate wrote to me: "The XAM book is only good for those who haven't taken math in a VERY long time. It reviews some fundamentals, but nothing more. It is more relevant for a Middle school audience" Another wrote: "The National University Prep classes only went over the solutions of the Qs on the Praxis website. I learned very little else!"
The information I've received from other examinees attests invariably to the fact that, in general, the prep courses and material bear little semblance to the actual test, and are much easier than the real McCoy! All this is liable to induce a sense of complacency amongst chaps taking the test! So, please watch out!! Er, if you doubt my words - which, you verily might! - I encourage you to try out others' materials!]
By the way, a very large number of my "patrons" have tried other review texts / study materials - many of which I have indeed browsed and consider scams... - since the candidates found them very basic, inadequate and unrepresentative: many of my testimonials, in fact, are from such prospective Math teachers!
A good rule of thumb for preparation is ~ 1 month for each of the BIG domains of Precalculus, Geometry & Statistics, and Calculus if you apply yourself intensively. Specifically, here's what it takes to succeed:
a) 100+ hours of dedicated study for each of the content areas above
b) if you're currently employed full-time, considering those constraints, ~ 2 hours of skills-reinforcement DAILY + ~ 4-6 of skills-reinforcement on WEEKENDS
or
if you're employed part-time [or not at all], ~ 4 hours of skills-reinforcement DAILY [weekdays and weekends]
The Practice Tests & Question Banks are expensive, and you can't afford them?
I agree they're expensive, but you cannot not afford them.
But, to put this seemingly high amount in perspective, keep in mind that
a) Each Praxis 5161 Exam costs ~ $120. So, each time you need to retake the test on account of ill-preparedness, you're dissipating another $120+! I've known miserable fellows that've taken the test 8-9 times before passing. Surely, that is somewhat unusual but not terribly surprising - the strike rate for the Praxis 5161 tests, after all, is a paltry 15-20%!
These tests are hard.
b) There is absolutely - repeat absolutely - NO material out there that comes even close to the level of detail and extensiveness of my material. My content constitutes, without doubt, the ROLLS-ROYCE of Qs!
c) The price very closely reflects my enormous investment in time and money (thousands of hours and $!) that has gone into its preparation and organization. And as Singapore's ex-Prime Minister would say: "If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys!" You're paying for material of simply exceptional calibre!
d) I am an ordinary High School teacher and am not in it for the money!! I do not advertize the site at all - do no promotion whatsoever - and have put all this FREE information out only to help prospective Math teachers!
Most requests for my Practice tests and Q Banks are through word-of-mouth referrals, and recommendations from institutions like school district offices, Education Credential programs at universities!
e) Work through my material, and I can practically assure you of your triumph! Countless candidates shall attest to that!
f) Anytime you have a Q about the Praxis 5161 in general or a Math Q in particular, email me and I shall resolve the matter ASAP. I am a fellow-teacher committed to helping you pass. My role extends beyond mailing you the Practice tests and Q Banks. I shall periodically send you updates with Tips, Study Suggestions and specific questions to focus on, as the test date approaches!
g) Don't forget that college textbooks routinely cost $125-$150, and one spends far more on college courses! This exam is too vital for one to quibble immaturely over short-term expenses: the sooner one triumphs over the Praxis 5161, the sooner one is in a credential program / becomes a teacher and receives a comfortable income and benefits!
Without adequate and reliable study materials, one's success is that much more unpredictable, and anticipation of a regular income pushed farther down the horizon!
If you're ready to order my Praxis 5161 Practice Tests and / or Question Banks -- or simply wish to know more! -- proceed.
Comments? Email me at [email protected]