McKay School of Education > Education Student Services > Praxis Faq

Praxis II Content Testing - Frequently Asked Questions

This page contains a list of several frequently asked questions regarding the Praxis II exams. Click on a question to view its answer. Then click the question again to make the answer disappear. If your question is not answered on this page, feel free to contact Education Student Services at 422-3426.

What is Praxis?

No Child Left Behind (NCLB), an act passed by Congress in 2002, states, “Every child is entitled to a ‘highly qualified’ teacher.”

To assist states with identifying "highly qualified teachers" , Educational Testing Services (ETS) developed a series of nation-wide exams known as Praxis I, II, and III (www.ets.org/praxis) which provide evidence of a teachers' content knowledge.

From the over 200 different Praxis exams, each state selects the exam needed for a teacher to pass in order to be "Highly Qualified" in a specific teaching major and teaching minor.

Who should register for the Praxis II Content Tests?

The successful completion and subsequent graduation from BYU with a teaching major* requires the student to complete at least one content Praxis test approved by the Utah State Office of Education (USOE) in their teaching major and have the scores sent to BYU prior to graduation (see list). In certain circumstance, student will also be required to take the Praxis in their teaching minor.(See Education Student Services for addional information.)

*All teaching majors require a Praxis exam to graduate except dance as no test has been approved for this major. Students in this major must test in their minor.

When should I take the Praxis?

Students should take the Praxis exam in their pre-student teaching practicum semester in order for test results to be received on time for graduation.

The Praxis exam test your knowledge of the content of your major. For this reason students usually take the exam toward the end of their program, prior to student teaching. You may wish to review the sample test (online at ETS: www.ets.org) or purchase a study guide to determine your readiness for the exam.

How do I know which tests to take?

A list of approved Praxis tests has been provided for your review.

How do I register?

→ Students will register and pay their praxis exam fee online at: ets.org/praxis

→ When registering there are a few things you will need to keep in mind:

Register for the "paper-based" test
You must include your social security number as an identifier used for licensing.
You must identify both Brigham Young University - Provo and Utah State Office of Education (USOE) as recipients of your test results.
Remember to print out your receipt, if wishing to be reimburesed, before moving on to print your ticket. (see Reimbursement below)

What are the 2009-2010 Praxis test dates?

Test Date	Registration Deadlines
September 12, 2009*	August 13, 2009 @ 5:00 P.M.
November 14, 2009*	October 15, 2009 @ 5:00 P.M.
January 9, 2010	December 10, 2009 @ 5:00 P.M.
March 13, 2010	February 11, 2010 @ 5:00 P.M.
April 24, 2010	March 25, 2010 @ 5:00 P.M.
June 12, 2010	May 13, 2010 @ 5:00 P.M.
July 24, 2010	June 24, 2009 @ 5:00 P.M.

*The Mckay School of Education will pay the cost of one Praxis exam per student. The dates indicated are the last dates eligible for reimbursement. (See Education Student Services for details.)

How do I get reimbursed?

There are two test dates that the McKay School of Education will reimburse the cost of one Praxis exam per student - Sept 12, and Nov 14, 2009.

Complete and sign a Praxis Reimbursement Form
Print a copy of your Praxis payment.* The amount paid must be included on the printout.
Submit items above to Education Student Services, 120 MCKB. (Once your official Praxis test score has been received by our office from ETS, your reimbursement will be processed.)

*To print a copy of your Praxis payment you may need to use the "Ctrl" plus "Print Screen" keys on your keyboard. To do this press the "Ctrl" key at the same time you press the "Print Screen" key. Then release both keys at the same time.

Open Microsoft Word and "Paste" the screen print. Adjust the pasted image to fit the page and then print. You may also need to crop any unneeded material from the pasted image before printing.

No reimbursement requests received after Dec 31, 2009 will be processed.

What if I have a disability and need special testing accommodations?

Student with disabilities or who need special testing accomodations will need to follow instructions provided at the praxis website. After declaring your disibility, it is very important to check the status of your disability request with ETS one month before the test to verify that your paper work has been correctly processed.

What if I am an International student?

International students whose native language is not English may request extended time to take the Praxis exam.

What if I register but later find I can’t test on the scheduled day?

Contact ETS (1-800-772-9476) and request a change in test date.

What if I miss the test for illness/hospitalization?

Contact ETS (1-800-772-9476) and request a change in test date.

How can I study for the test?

Six strategies have been helpful to students in the past:

You may benefit from reviewing notes and textbooks from past course work, especially in areas suggested by the “Topics Covered” section of the Test at a Glance (TAAG) publication, which is available online at no charge at www.ets.org/praxis.
You may find it helpful to practice with the sample test questions in TAAG and compare your responses to the answers provided in the booklet.
You might consider asking a mentor or professor to discuss the sample questions.
You are encouraged to form study groups with other examinees, and to prepare for the tests as you would for any professional examination.
Study guide books are also available for some Praxis II tests. Ask your major supervisor, or look at the lists available in the advisement centers of all departments offering a teaching major/minor. You may purchase your own copy of a study guide from www.ets.org/praxis.
It is helpful to complete the sample tests.