Praxis 5004
Elementary Education: Social Studies (5004)
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Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
Praxis Social Studies (5004) is one of four subtests in ETS's Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects test (5001; subtests 5002, 5003, 5004, and 5005), which ETS describes as being "For a generalist elementary school license to teach english, mathematics, social studies, and science." Candidates who want a self-contained elementary classroom usually take the full multiple-subjects battery, and some states and preparation programs also accept or require the social studies subtest on its own. Either way, 5004 measures the social studies content knowledge and methods an elementary teacher needs: social studies concepts and methodologies, United States history, world history, government and civics, geography, and economics. Preparation should be broad rather than deep. Practice reading maps, timelines, charts, and short primary sources, and review the core vocabulary of civics and economics, because elementary-level items tend to ask you to apply a concept rather than recite a date. ETS points candidates to free study companions and study guides that describe the test format and outline, and warns that each state sets its own certification requirements, so confirm which test your state wants before you register. ETS also announces a new Elementary Education Fundamentals test line launching Spring 2026. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ETS.
What you'll study
About Praxis 5004 preparation
How much does it cost to take Praxis 5004?
ETS lists $180.00 for Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5001; subtests 5002, 5003, 5004, 5005), the generalist elementary license test covering English, mathematics, social studies, and science. The ETS pages reviewed here do not state a separate registration fee for the Social Studies subtest taken alone, so confirm the amount on ETS's registration page before you pay.
How many questions are on the test, and how long is it?
The ETS pages reviewed here do not state an item count or a time limit for the Social Studies subtest, so treat any specific figure you see elsewhere as unverified. ETS instead directs candidates to its free study companions and study guides to "Learn about the test format and the test outline" before test day.
Do I have to take 5004 as part of the full 5001 test?
5004 is the social studies subtest of Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5001). Whether you must take the whole battery or may register for the social studies subtest alone depends on your state's certification rules; ETS explicitly tells candidates to check state requirements before registering so they sign up for the right test.
What content actually shows up on the Social Studies subtest?
ETS describes social studies content as covering "concepts, methodologies, United States history, world history, government and civics, and more." Plan to review social studies methods and skills, U.S. and world history, civics and government, geography, and economics. Domain-by-domain weightings are not published in the ETS pages reviewed here, so do not over-invest in one area.
What score do I need to pass?
The sources reviewed here do not state a passing score for test 5004. Passing scores are set by states, and ETS maintains a "Passing Scores By State" resource plus an Information Bulletin; check those or your state licensing agency for the score required where you are seeking certification, since it can differ from state to state.
Can I retake the test if I do not pass?
The retrieved ETS pages do not state a retake policy, waiting period, or retake fee. ETS does publish a "Reschedule, Retake, or Cancel" section and an Information Bulletin, which are the authoritative places to confirm how soon you may register again and what the process costs.
Is test 5004 being replaced?
ETS announces a new Elementary Education Fundamentals test line: "Launching Spring 2026, the new tests are built to reflect what matters most for today's classrooms-ensuring candidates have the right content knowledge, with greater flexibility to succeed." The ETS pages reviewed here do not state whether or when 5004 is retired, so verify with your state before scheduling.
What is a sensible study order?
Start with the areas you would least want to teach. Because social studies sits alongside reading, math, and science in test 5001, candidates often schedule it last and run short of review time; front-load history and civics, then use short, spaced sessions for geography, economics vocabulary, and document or map interpretation practice.
How hard is the exam, and how do candidates struggle?
No pass-rate or difficulty data appear in the sources reviewed here. The commonly reported challenge is breadth rather than depth: many topics, each treated at an elementary level. A frequent failure mode is memorizing isolated names and dates instead of practicing the applied skills-reading a map, a timeline, a chart, or a short primary source-that elementary items reward.
Where can I find official practice materials?
ETS says to "Use free study companions and study guides to plan your test prep," and it also sells official interactive practice tests and prep products. Be careful with product codes: the Social Studies practice test ETS lists on those pages is for Social Studies (5581), a different test, so confirm that any practice material matches the 5004 outline.