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The Praxis Study CompanionCore Academic Skills forEducators: Writing5722www.ets.org/praxis
Welcome to the Praxis Study CompanionWelcome to The Praxis Study CompanionPrepare to Show What You KnowYou have been working to acquire the knowledge and skills you need for your teaching career. Now you areready to demonstrate your abilities by taking a Praxis test.Using the Praxis Study Companion is a smart way to prepare for the test so you can do your best on test day.This guide can help keep you on track and make the most efficient use of your study time.The Study Companion contains practical information and helpful tools, including: An overview of the Praxis tests Specific information on the Praxis test you are taking A template study plan Study topics Practice questions and explanations of correct answers Test-taking tips and strategies Frequently asked questions Links to more detailed informationSo where should you start? Begin by reviewing this guide in its entirety and note those sections that you needto revisit. Then you can create your own personalized study plan and schedule based on your individual needsand how much time you have before test day.Keep in mind that study habits are individual. There are many different ways to successfully prepare for yourtest. Some people study better on their own, while others prefer a group dynamic. You may have more energyearly in the day, but another test taker may concentrate better in the evening. So use this guide to develop theapproach that works best for you.Your teaching career begins with preparation. Good luck!Know What to ExpectWhich tests should I take?Each state or agency that uses the Praxis tests sets its own requirements for which test or tests you must take forthe teaching area you wish to pursue.Before you register for a test, confirm your state or agency’s testing requirements at www.ets.org/praxis/states.How are the Praxis tests given?Praxis tests are given on computer. Other formats are available for test takers approved for accommodations (seepage 40).The Praxis Study Companion2
Welcome to the Praxis Study CompanionWhat should I expect when taking the test on computer?When taking the test on computer, you can expect to be asked to provide proper identification at the testcenter. Once admitted, you will be given the opportunity to learn how the computer interface works (how toanswer questions, how to skip questions, how to go back to questions you skipped, etc.) before the testing timebegins. Watch the What to Expect on Test Day video to see what the experience is like.Where and when are the Praxis tests offered?You can select the test center that is most convenient for you. The Praxis tests are administered through aninternational network of test centers, which includes Prometric Testing Centers, some universities, and otherlocations throughout the world.Testing schedules may differ, so see the Praxis web site for more detailed test registration information at www.ets.org/praxis/register.The Praxis Study Companion3
Table of ContentsTable of ContentsThe Praxis Study Companion guides you through the steps to success1. Learn About Your Test.5Learn about the specific test you will be taking2. F amiliarize Yourself with Test Questions.9Become comfortable with the types of questions you’ll find on the Praxis tests3. Practice with Sample Test Questions. 13Answer practice questions and find explanations for correct answers4. Determine Your Strategy for Success. 31Set clear goals and deadlines so your test preparation is focused and efficient5. Develop Your Study Plan. 34Develop a personalized study plan and schedule6. Review Smart Tips for Success. 38Follow test-taking tips developed by experts7. Check on Testing Accommodations. 40See if you qualify for accommodations that may make it easier to take the Praxis test8. Do Your Best on Test Day. 41Get ready for test day so you will be calm and confident9. Understand Your Scores. 43Understand how tests are scored and how to interpret your test scoresAppendix: Other Questions You May Have . 45The Praxis Study Companion4
Step 1: Learn About Your Test1. Learn About Your TestLearn about the specific test you will be takingCore Academic Skills for Educators: Writing (5722)Test at a GlanceTest NameCore Academic Skills for Educators: WritingTest Code5722Time100 minutes, divided into a 40-minute selected-response section and two30-minute essay sectionsNumber of Questions40 selected-response questions and two essay questionsFormatSelected-response questions involving usage, sentence correction, revision incontext, and research skills; 2 essay topics as the basis for writing samplesTest DeliveryComputer deliveredContent CategoriesApproximateNumber ofQuestions*ApproximatePercentage ofExaminationI. Text Types, Purposes, and Production 6–12 selected-response2 essayIIII.ILanguage and Research Skillsfor Writing28–34 selected-response60%40%* Includes both scored and unscored (pretest) questions. Depending on thenumber of pretest questions included in each scoring category, the total numberof questions in that category may vary from one form of the test to another.Note: On your score report, points earned on the selected-response section of the test are reported separatelyfrom points earned on the essay sections of the test.About This TestThe Core Academic Skills for Educators Test in Writing measures academic skills in writing needed to preparesuccessfully for a career in education. All skills assessed have been identified as needed for college and careerreadiness, in alignment with the Common Core State Standards for Writing.The Writing test is 100 minutes in length and has three separately timed sections: a 40-minute selectedresponse section containing 40 selected-response questions and two 30-minute essay sections that eachrequire a response based on an essay topic. This test may contain some questions that will not count towardyour score.The selected-response section is designed to measure examinees’ ability to use standard written Englishcorrectly and effectively. This section is divided into four parts: usage, sentence correction, revision in context,and research skills. In the usage questions, examinees are asked to recognize errors in mechanics, in structuralThe Praxis Study Companion5
Step 1: Learn About Your Testand grammatical relationships, and in idiomaticexpressions or word choice. They are also asked torecognize sentences that have no errors and thatmeet the conventions of standard written English. Thesentence correction questions require examinees toselect, from among the choices presented, the bestway to restate a certain phrase or sentence by usingstandard written English; in some cases, the phraseor sentence is correct and most effective as stated.Examinees are not required to have a knowledge offormal grammatical terminology. In the revision-incontext questions, examinees are asked to recognizehow a passage with which they are presented can bestrengthened through editing and revision. Revisionin-context questions require examinees to considerdevelopment, organization, word choice, style, tone,and the conventions of standard written English. Insome cases, the indicated portion of a passage will bemost effective as it is already expressed and thus willrequire no changes.In the research skills questions, examinees are asked torecognize effective research strategies, recognize thedifferent elements of a citation, recognize informationrelevant to a particular research task, and assess thecredibility of sources.The two essays assess examinees’ ability towrite effectively in a limited period of time. TheArgumentative essay topic invites examinees to drawfrom personal experience, observation, or reading tosupport a position with specific reasons and examples.The Informative/Explanatory essay topic asksexaminees to extract information from two providedsources to identify important concerns related to anissue.The topics for the Argumentative and Informative/Explanatory essays attempt to present situationsthat are familiar to all educated people; no topic willrequire any specialized knowledge other than anunderstanding of how to write effectively in English.Examinees should write only on the topic assignedfor each essay task, address all the points presentedin the topic, and support generalizations withspecific examples. For the Informative/Explanatoryessay, examinees should also draw information fromboth sources, making sure to cite the source of theinformation. Before beginning to write each essay,examinees should read the topic and organize theirthoughts carefully.The Praxis Study CompanionExperienced teachers read and evaluate each essayholistically (i.e., with a single score for overall quality)under carefully controlled conditions designed toensure fair and reliable scoring. Acknowledgingthat writing comprises a number of features thatare not independent of one another, scorersbase their judgments on an assessment of suchfeatures as quality of insight or central idea, clarity,consistency of point of view, cohesiveness, strengthand logic of supporting information, rhetoricalforce, appropriateness of diction and syntax, andcorrectness of mechanics and usage. In addition,for the Informative/Explanatory essay, scorers willalso evaluate the examinees’ ability to synthesizeinformation from the provided sources and to cite thisinformation in the essay.Test SpecificationsTest specifications in this chapter describe theknowledge and skills measured by the test.I. Text Types, Purposes, and ProductionA.Text Production: Writing Arguments1. Produce an argumentative essay to support aclaim using relevant and sufficient evidence2. Write clearly and coherentlya. address the assigned task appropriately for anaudience of educated adultsb. organize and develop ideas logically, makingcoherent connections between themc. provide and sustain a clear focus or thesisd. use supporting reasons, examples, and detailsto develop clearly and logically the ideaspresentede. demonstrate facility in the use of languageand the ability to use a variety of sentencestructuresf. construct effective sentences that aregenerally free of errors in standard writtenEnglish6
Step 1: Learn About Your TestB.Text Production: Writing Informative/Explanatory Texts1. Produce an informative/explanatory essay toexamine and convey complex ideas andinformation clearly and accurately through theeffective selection, organization, and analysis ofcontenta. write clearly and coherentlyb. address the assigned task appropriately for anaudience of educated adultsc. draw evidence from informational texts tosupport analysisd. organize and develop ideas logically, makingcoherent connections between theme. synthesize information from multiple sourceson the subjectf. integrate and attribute information frommultiple sources on the subject, avoidingplagiarismg. provide and sustain a clear focus or thesish. demonstrate facility in the use of languageand the ability to use a variety of sentencestructuresi. construct effective sentences that aregenerally free of errors in standard writtenEnglishC.Text Production: Revision1. Develop and strengthen writing as needed byrevising and editinga. recognize how a passage can bestrengthened through editing and revision–– apply knowledge of language tounderstand how language functions indifferent contexts and to make effectivechoices for meaning or style choose words and phrases for effect choose words and phrases to conveyideas precisely maintain consistency in style and toneThe Praxis Study CompanionII.Language and Research Skills for WritingA.Language Skills1. Demonstrate command of the conventions ofstandard English grammar and usagea. grammatical relationshipsrecognize and correct:–– errors in the use of adjectives and adverbs–– errors in noun-noun agreement–– errors in pronoun-antecedent agreement–– errors in pronoun case–– errors in the use of intensive pronoun–– errors in pronoun number and person–– vague pronouns–– errors in subject-verb agreement–– inappropriate shifts in verb tenseb. structural relationshipsrecognize and correct:–– errors in the placement of phrases andclauses within a sentence–– misplaced and dangling modifiers–– errors in the use of coordinating andsubordinating conjunctions–– fragments and run-ons–– errors in the use of correlative conjunctions–– errors in parallel structurec. word choicerecognize and correct:–– errors in the use of idiomatic expressions–– errors in the use of frequently confusedwords–– wrong word use–– redundancyd. No Errorrecognize:–– sentences free of errors in the conventionsof standard English grammar and usage2. Demonstrate command of the conventions ofstandard English capitalization and punctuationa. mechanicsrecognize and correct::–– errors in capitalization–– errors in punctuation commas (e.g., the use of a comma toseparate an introductory element fromthe rest of the sentence) semicolons (e.g., the use of a semicolon[and perhaps a conjunctive adverb] tolink two or more closely relatedindependent clauses)7
Step 1: Learn About Your Test
Appendix: Other Questions You May Have . 45 . The Praxis Study Companion 5 Step 1: Learn About Your Test 1. Learn About Your Test Learn about the specific test you will be taking Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing (5722) Test at a Glance Test Name Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing Test Code 5722 Time 100 minutes, divided into a 40-minute selected-response section and .
