Praxis Core Reading
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Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
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Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
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Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
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Put your knowledge to work in context.
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Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
Praxis Core Reading is the reading subtest of the Praxis Core academic skills tests, identified by test code 5713. It is designed for candidates preparing to enter educator preparation programs or seeking initial teacher certification, and it measures the reading comprehension skills expected of a beginning teacher rather than subject-matter knowledge in a specific content area. On the ETS test catalog, Core Reading appears as a subtest of Core Combined (5752; subtests 5713, 5723, 5733), which ETS describes as measuring academic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics for a career in education. The reading subtest is organized around three content domains: Key Ideas and Details, Craft, Structure, and Language Skills, and Integration of Knowledge and Ideas. Because the exam is passage-based, preparation should center on reading dense informational and argumentative prose under time pressure, then practicing the question types that follow each passage. ETS directs candidates to free study companions and study guides that describe the test format and outline, and to official Praxis test prep such as practice tests and digital flashcards. Candidates should also confirm their state's requirements before registering, since ETS notes that each state sets its own certification requirements. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ETS.
What you'll study
About Praxis Core Reading preparation
What does the Praxis Core Reading test cover?
The subtest is organized into three domains: Key Ideas and Details, Craft, Structure, and Language Skills, and Integration of Knowledge and Ideas. Questions are passage-based, so you will read extended prose and then answer items about what the passage says, how it is built, and how its ideas connect or are supported.
Is Core Reading a standalone test?
ETS lists Core Reading as subtest 5713 within Core Combined (5752; subtests 5713, 5723, 5733). Core Combined measures academic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics for a career in education. Check with your state and your preparation program about which test or subtest you are required to take.
How should I plan my study time?
Start with the free study companion and study guide that ETS publishes for the Core tests, which describe the format and outline. Then work domain by domain, spending the most time on the domain where your practice accuracy is lowest. Finish with timed practice so your pacing is realistic before test day.
What is the most common way candidates lose points?
Answering from memory or general knowledge instead of from the passage. Many items hinge on a single sentence or on the function of a paragraph, and plausible-sounding options often go beyond what the text actually supports. Train yourself to locate the supporting lines before choosing an answer.
How do I handle paired passages and author-comparison questions?
Read the first passage and note its central claim, then read the second and mark exactly where the two agree and where they diverge. Comparison items usually turn on a specific point of contrast, so predicting the relationship before you read the options keeps you from picking a choice that is true of only one passage.
How much does the test cost, and how long is it?
ETS lists Core Combined (5752; subtests 5713, 5723, 5733) at $150.00 in its test catalog. The source material used for this page does not state a separate fee or a time limit for subtest 5713 alone, so confirm current details on the official ETS Praxis pages before registering.
What if I need to retake it?
ETS provides a Reschedule, Retake, or Cancel section in the Praxis navigation, so retake procedures are handled through your ETS account. The source material does not specify a waiting period or a retake limit for this subtest, so check the Information Bulletin and your account for the rules that apply to you.
How do I know whether I passed?
Passing scores are set by states, not by a single national cutoff. ETS publishes passing scores by state and explains how to understand your score report. Look up the requirement for the state where you are seeking certification rather than relying on a score you saw online.
Where can I find official practice materials?
ETS offers free study companions and free resources for the Core tests, plus paid official Praxis prep such as interactive practice tests, digital flashcards, and prep eBooks. Begin with the free companion for the format and outline, then add a practice test to check your timing and accuracy.