Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary

The exam is delivered as multiple-choice questions in a computer-based format at a test center or at home where available. ETS publishes the exact number of questions and the testing time in its free study companion and test-at-a-glance materials for test code 5205; confirm those specifics there rather than relying on secondhand summaries, since ETS occasionally updates test designs.

ETS lists the fee for Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) at $156.00, shown alongside the test description in the Praxis test catalog. Fees and any waiver programs are set by ETS and can change, so verify the current amount in your Praxis account at checkout. Your state or preparation program may also charge separate fees for certification.

ETS describes it as being for a beginning teacher who will support reading and writing development in kindergarten through sixth-grade students. In practice, candidates take it for elementary teaching licenses, reading endorsements, or program completion requirements, depending on the state. Confirm with your state agency that 5205 is the correct test for your license area.

There is no single national passing score. Each state or licensing agency that adopts the test sets its own qualifying score, and ETS reports your results to the agency you designate. Look up your state's required score on the Praxis passing-scores page or ask your educator preparation advisor before you register, because the cutoff varies by state.

ETS sets retake rules and any waiting period, and these are described in the Praxis Information Bulletin rather than in the test description itself. Check the bulletin or your Praxis account for the current policy before scheduling a second attempt. Register early if a retake is likely, since score reporting time can affect hiring deadlines.

Validity is determined by the state or agency that accepts your score, not by the test description on the ETS site. Many agencies accept scores for several years, but the exact window varies. Ask your state licensure office how long it will honor a 5205 score before you assume an older result is still usable.

Start with the domain you know least well, then build outward. Most candidates find that foundational skills and assessment-and-intervention content rewards the most study time, because those items ask you to apply terminology and interpret student data rather than recall definitions. Use the official study companion's topic list as your checklist and quiz yourself after each section.

Two common ones: memorizing definitions without practicing application, and skipping the assessment-and-intervention content because it feels less familiar. Many items present a classroom scenario and ask what the teacher should do next, so drill decision-making, not just vocabulary. Also leave enough lead time for score reporting before any hiring or licensure deadline.

ETS states that a new Elementary Education Fundamentals test is launching in Spring 2026. The materials reviewed do not state any change to Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205). Before registering, check the 5205 test page and your state's requirements to confirm the test and code you need.