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What is the Praxis Core? Tests, format, and who has to take it

October 29, 2026 · 5 minute read

If you are preparing to teach, the Praxis Core is probably standing somewhere between you and your program. It is not a test of teaching talent. It is a basic skills check in three areas every teacher uses daily: reading, writing, and mathematics. This guide covers what the Core actually is, what each part looks like, and how to tell whether you need it.

The short version

Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators is a set of three separate tests, called subtests. You can take them together or one at a time. Each subtest gets its own score, and each one has its own passing score set by your state. Fall short on one subtest and you retake only that one. The three subtests are:

• Reading 5713: 56 questions, 85 minutes.
• Writing 5723: 40 questions plus 2 essays, 100 minutes.
• Mathematics 5733: 56 questions, 90 minutes.

The full details on scores live in our guide to Praxis Core passing scores, and the quick answers live on the FAQ page.

Who has to take it

Requirements vary, which is the first thing to understand. Many teacher preparation programs require Core scores for admission or for continuing past a certain point. Some states require it for licensure. Some programs accept alternatives, such as certain SAT or ACT scores, and rules change. The honest answer is that nobody can tell you whether you need the Core except your program and your state licensing office. Check with both before you book anything, and write down the exact scores they require for each subtest. That number is what your whole study plan should be built around.

Reading 5713: what it actually tests

The reading test is built on short passages. Questions ask for the main idea, details the passage states directly, inferences the passage supports, the meaning of words in context, and the author purpose. It rewards careful reading more than speed reading. Most of the wrong answers are wrong in a specific way: they go beyond the passage, reverse it, or use the right words to say the wrong thing. Our guide to Praxis Core Reading breaks the question types down one by one.

Writing 5723: two tests in one

Writing is really two measures in a single sitting. The selected-response part covers grammar, usage, punctuation, and sentence revision: the rules of clean written English. Then come two essays, one argumentative and one informative or source-based. Readers judge the essays on ideas and analysis, organization, language use, and conventions. The essays are why a lot of candidates who feel fine about grammar still need a writing plan. The essay guide explains how that judging works.

Mathematics 5733: broader than deep

The math test covers number and quantity, algebra, geometry, and statistics and probability. Think fractions, percents, ratios, linear equations, area and volume, and reading data displays. It is broad rather than advanced. Most candidates do not struggle because the math is hard. They struggle because a topic they have not touched since middle school shows up and costs them easy points. A short diagnostic usually finds those gaps fast, which is the subject of the math guide.

How to start

Start by confirming your required scores, then find your starting point. A short diagnostic across all three subtests tells you which subtest needs real work and which one just needs a review. Study time is limited for almost everyone, and the biggest mistake candidates make is spreading it evenly across three subtests that are not equally weak. If you want a structure for that, the guide on how long to study for Praxis Core lays out a realistic week by week plan.

Kudosli begins the same way: a 12-question placement diagnostic, then a plan built from your results. It is free to start, and it takes about ten minutes.