The Praxis® Social Studies (5581) test is used to assess the knowledge, skills, and abilities of prospective entry-level social studies teachers for secondary school.
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Praxis (5581) Exam Outline
The Praxis Social Studies test contains 140 selected-response questions and has a time limit of 2.5 hours. The selected-response questions may appear in the form of any of the following:
- Single-selection multiple-choice
- Selecting ALL correct answers from a list of choices
- Clicking parts of a graphic such as a map or a chart
- Dragging and dropping answers into a targeted area on the screen
- Selecting the correct answer from a drop-down menu
The exam is split into five content categories:
I. United States History (40 questions)
The questions in this category cover a wide range of US history topics, from pre-colonization geography to contemporary US politics. Here are some of the specific topics covered in this category:
- Basic geography, people groups, and cultures before European colonization
- Origins of the American Revolution and its impact
- Causes and consequences of territorial expansion in the US
- Developments in politics, culture, and society from the Progressive Era through the New Deal
- US participation in both World Wars
- Origins, development, and consequences of the Cold War
- Ongoing impact of race, ethnicity, and gender throughout US history
- Influence of religion in US history
- Causes and consequences of immigration to the US and internal migration within the US
II. World History (31 questions)
The questions in this category cover a wide range of world history topics, from the formation and interactions of classical civilizations to the effects of major economic transformations on world societies. Here are some of the specific topics covered in this category:
- Formation, interactions, and organization of classical civilizations (Greece, Rome, India, China, and Persia) from 1000 BCE to 500 CE
- Developments in Europe from the Renaissance through the Enlightenment
- Causes and consequences of the World Wars and the Cold War
- How world societies have been shaped by technological advancements
- Major political ideologies that have influences on societies in the modern world
- Differences and similarities in family structure and gender roles across societies
- Major demographic trends in world history
- The role of trade within and between societies
III. Geography (19 questions)
The questions in this category cover a wide range of geography topics, from reading maps to the contemporary patterns of globalization. Here are some of the specific topics covered in this category:
- Various map types and projections
- Spatial patterns on local and global scales
- Characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems
- Renewable and nonrenewable natural resources
- Settlement and migration patterns
- Interrelationships of humans and their environments
- Contemporary patterns and impacts of industrialization, development, and globalization
- Demographic patterns and change
- Political geography concepts
IV. Civics (32 questions)
The questions in this category cover a wide range of topics, from political theory to international relations. Here are some of the specific topics covered in this category:
- Major political concepts
- Major political theorists
- Major political orientations
- US government and policies
- Civil liberties and civil rights
- Constitutional underpinnings
- Comparative politics
- International relations
- Forms of government
- Major electoral systems
- Major regime types
V. Economics (18 questions)
The questions in this category cover a wide range of macroeconomics and microeconomics topics. Here are some of the specific topics covered in this category:
- Factors of production
- Distribution of income
- Economic systems
- Opportunity costs
- Product markets
- Scarcity
- Supply and demand
- Unemployment
- Inflation
- Fiscal policies
- Exchange rates
- Economic growth
- Business cycle
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Registration
To register for the exam, you will need to create an online ETS account. Once this account is created, you can apply to take the exam.
During the exam registration, you will be asked to select the test-taking format (remote or at a testing center), test location (if you are taking the test at a testing center), and test date. You will also need to pay the $130 exam fee.
Test Day
In-person Testing
On the day of your test, you should arrive at the testing facility 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment time. Once you arrive, you will be asked to present at least one form of valid photo ID.
Personal items will not be allowed into the testing room, so you will be asked to store personal items in a provided locker or in your car.
Remote Testing
To take the exam remotely, you must use a supported desktop or laptop computer and complete the ETS equipment check before test day.
Your environment must be private, with no traffic in and out of your testing area. The area where you take the exam must be clear of all personal items, and you will not be allowed to wear headphones. The proctor will ask you to move the camera around so that your testing area can be observed, and at the end of your exam, the proctor will watch as you erase any notes you made.
How the Exam is Scored
One numerical point is added to your raw score for every scored question you answer correctly. The test may include unscored questions, which are not identified, so answer every question. Your raw score is then converted to a scaled score.
The score you need in order to pass the test is different depending on the certifying state or licensing agency. Generally, you must obtain a minimum scaled score of 153 to pass.
Your official score report will be posted in your Praxis account on the reporting date for your test date and delivery method, and an unofficial score may be available at the end of your testing session.
Retaking the Test
If you do not pass the test, you may retake it after a 28-day waiting period.
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Study Tips
Start with a Praxis Practice Test
Before creating your study schedule, take a Praxis practice test to establish a starting point. You don't need to wait until you have reviewed every political concept, demographic pattern, or factor of production. At this stage, the goal is to identify where your preparation time will have the greatest effect.
Review your results across the five content categories:
- United States History: Can you connect major events to their causes and consequences, place developments in the correct historical context, and trace changes over time?
- World History: Can you compare civilizations, explain the spread of religions and ideas, connect trade and empire, and trace major developments?
- Geography: Can you interpret maps and demographic data, distinguish different types of regions and spatial patterns, and analyze migration?
- Civics: Do you understand constitutional principles, federalism, the branches of government, elections, civil rights, and how different governmental systems operate?
- Economics: Can you apply concepts such as scarcity, opportunity cost, supply and demand, unemployment, monetary and fiscal policy, trade, and economic development?
Identifying those specific weaknesses will show you where to devote more attention during your study time.
Review Difficult Questions
After each practice session, review every question you answered incorrectly AND every question you guessed on or answered with low confidence.
For each difficult question, determine which of the following caused the problem:
- You knew an event but placed it in the wrong historical period.
- You remembered a fact but didn't understand its cause or consequence.
- You recognized a map, graph, or chart but misinterpreted what the data demonstrated.
- You knew the definition of an economic concept but couldn't apply it to a new situation.
- You confused correlation with causation.
- You identified what happened but not why it happened or what changed afterward.
- You interpreted an issue only from one person's or group's perspective.
- You had enough information to answer the question but spent too much time trying to recall a minor detail.
Then, outline a specific plan for improvement based on what you discovered. In other words, don't just say, “I need to study the Civil War.” Note that you need to review how slavery, westward expansion, and political compromises contributed to sectional conflict.
Similarly, replace “study supply and demand” with something specific, such as predicting the resulting change in equilibrium price and quantity.
Utilize Answer Explanations
Answer explanations are an underutilized studying resource. To take full advantage of them, read the explanation for every question you found difficult, including questions you answered correctly.
For each one, make sure you can confidently explain:
- Why the correct answer is correct
- Why each incorrect answer is less appropriate
- What concept or skill is being tested.
- Which information in the question actually controls the answer
- What cause-and-effect, chronological, geographic, political, or economic relationship is involved
- How the same concept could be tested with a different event, document, map, graph, or scenario
If the question involves history, go beyond identifying the correct event or person. Ask what came before it, what problem or condition produced it, who was affected, and what changed afterward.
If the question involves civics, identify the constitutional principle or governmental process involved. Then determine which institution has the relevant authority and what limitation, right, or procedure affects the outcome.
Connect the Social Studies Disciplines
Don't study each topic as five completely separate subjects. There will be questions on the test that are interdisciplinary, meaning they cover more than one subject.
Many major developments make more sense when you connect the disciplines.
For example:
- Migration: Geography explains movement, economics helps explain incentives, history provides the context, and civics may determine legal or political consequences.
- Industrialization: Economics explains production and labor, geography explains resources and urban development, and history shows the resulting political and social changes.
- Imperialism: Economic interests, strategic geography, nationalism, government policy, technology, and resistance movements interact.
- Globalization: Trade, technology, migration, international institutions, cultural exchange, and government policy all influence one another.
When studying an important event or process, ask yourself which other social studies disciplines help explain it.
FAQs
How many questions are on the Praxis Social Studies test?
There are 140 selected-response questions on the test.
How long is the Praxis Social Studies test?
The time limit for this test is 2.5 hours.
What is the passing score for the Praxis Social Studies test?
Each state determines its own passing score, which can range from 141 to 154.
How much does the Praxis Social Studies test cost?
The testing fee is $130.
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