The Praxis Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications exam is designed to ensure individuals are prepared to serve as PreK-12 special education program teachers.
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Exam Outline
The Praxis Special Education exam contains 120 selected-response questions and has a time limit of 2 hours.
The exam is split into five content categories, which are designed to cover the various competencies and points of knowledge that a special education teacher should possess.
I. Development and Characteristics of Learners (20 questions)
The questions in this category assess your knowledge and abilities in the following areas:
- Human development and behavior
- Co-occurring conditions
- Environmental and societal influences on student development and achievement
- Major disability categories
- Contributions of family systems to the development of individuals with disabilities
- Impact of language, gender, and cultural differences on the identification process
II. Planning and Learning Environment (27 questions)
The questions in this category assess your knowledge and abilities in the following areas:
- Organizing the learning environment
- Characteristics of good lesson plans
- Means of providing access to the curriculum
- Theory and practice of effective classroom management
- Basic elements of effective lesson plans
- How to manage student behavior
III. Instruction (27 questions)
The questions in this category assess your knowledge and abilities in the following areas:
- Selection and implementation of research-based interventions for individual students
- Peventive strategies that support transition goals
- Appropriate instructional strategies and techniques
- Options for assistive technology
- Ensuring academic success via instructional strategies
- Selection and implementation of supplementary curriculum
IV. Assessment (22 questions)
The questions in this category assess your knowledge and abilities in the following areas:
- Define and use various assessments
- Evidence-based assessments that are effective and appropriate
- Interpret assessment results
- Understand and use the results of assessments
V. Foundations and Professional Responsibilities (24 questions)
The questions in this category assess your knowledge and abilities in the following areas:
- Major legislation
- Federal definitions
- Communication with stakeholders
- Components of a legally defensible individualized education program
- Roles and responsibilities of the special education teacher
- Strengths and limitations of various collaborative approaches
- Federal safeguards o the rights of stakeholders
- Potential bias issues that may impact teaching
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Registration
To register for the Praxis Special Education exam, you will need to create an online ETS account. Once this account is created, you can apply to take the exam.
During the exam registration, you will be asked to select the test-taking format (remote or at a testing center), test location (if you are taking the test at a testing center), and test date. You will also need to pay the $130 exam fee.
Test Day
In-person Testing
You should arrive at the testing facility about 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment to leave enough time for checking in. During the check-in process, you will be asked to sign in and present two forms of valid identification, one of which must be a photo ID.
Personal items will not be allowed into the testing room, so you will be asked to leave things like your phone, wallet, keys, and food items in your car or in a secure locker.
After you have been checked in and your personal items have been stored, you will be led to the testing area and given a brief overview of the testing system before starting your exam.
Remote Testing
To take the exam remotely, you must use a non-touchscreen laptop or desktop computer, and you must have a working speaker, microphone, and camera hooked up. Before test day, you will need to download and install the ETS Secure Test Browser on your computer, which is what you will use to take the test.
Your environment must be private, with no traffic in and out of your testing area. The area where you take the exam must be clear of all personal items, and you will not be allowed to wear headphones. The proctor will ask you to move the camera around so that your testing area can be observed.
Once the proctor has determined everything is ready, they will walk you through the examination process.
How the Exam is Scored
Your Praxis Special Education exam score is calculated using a scaled scoring system that takes your raw score (the number of questions you answered correctly) and turns it into a scaled score from 100 to 300.
The score you need in order to pass the test is different depending on the state you take it in, but the score most states require is 151.
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FAQs
Q
How many questions are on the Praxis 5354 exam?
A
There are 120 selected-response questions on the exam.
Q
How long is the Praxis 5354 exam?
A
The time limit for the exam is 2 hours.
Q
What is the passing score for the Praxis 5354 exam?
A
The passing score varies depending on which state you take the exam in.
Q
How much does the Praxis 5354 exam cost?
A
The examination fee is $130.
