Praxis Computer Science study guide
Praxis Computer Science · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
Praxis Computer Science (5652) is one of the Praxis Subject Assessments, the family of tests ETS develops to measure subject knowledge for educator licensing in the United States. Candidates typically take it because their state's certification requirements call for a subject-area computer science test; because those requirements differ from state to state, confirm your own state's list before you register. We are an independent study platform and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ETS. The exam is multiple choice and is organized into five content domains that carry equal weight, roughly one-fifth each: computer systems and organization; programming and algorithms; data, databases, and information retrieval; networks and the internet; and impacts of computing, ethics, and security. The Praxis Computer Science study guide has 5 sections and about 1,709 words.
01Computer Systems and Organization
Computer systems questions test the path from a high-level instruction to physical signals. Know binary, hexadecimal, and two's complement; be able to convert among them and explain why n bits represent 2^n patterns.
273 words, about 1 min02Programming and Algorithms
Programming questions reward precise reading of code and invariants. Know variables, types, scope, parameter passing, return values, control flow, exceptions, and modular design.
282 words, about 1 min03Data, Databases, and Information Retrieval
Data questions move from raw facts to organized, queryable information. In the relational model, tables have rows (records) and columns (attributes); keys enforce identity and relationships.
299 words, about 1 min04Networks and the Internet
Network questions test layered communication and addressing. Know the TCP/IP model (application, transport, internet, link) and how encapsulation adds headers at each layer.
279 words, about 1 min05Impacts of Computing
Impacts questions ask you to reason about how computing changes people, institutions, and environments-not just whether a tool works. Know the digital divide (access, affordability, skills, and broadband quality), accessibility and universal design, automation and job displacement/creation, gig work, surveillance, privacy, misinformation, algorithmic bias, filter bubbles, e-waste, energy consumption, intellectual property, open source, and digital citizenship.
576 words, about 3 min