Praxis® Core Writing Practice Test

What Is the Praxis Core Writing Test?

The Praxis Core test has three primary subject areas: reading, writing, and mathematics. You can take each of these tests separately in two-hour sessions, or take them all in one five-hour session. The Core Writing test assesses both informative/explanatory writing and argumentative writing. There will be one writing task for each of the two writing types. In addition to the Praxis essay questions, selected-response questions will assess research strategies and abilities to revise and improve text. Skills assessed are important for college and career readiness and align with the Common Core State Standards for Writing. The Praxis Writing test does not measure an individual's disposition toward teaching or potential for success, nor does it measure your actual teaching ability.

Practice tests give you a better idea of the topics you have mastered and those you should keep studying.

Praxis Writing Test Structure

The Praxis Core Writing test has two content categories:

  1. Text Types, Purposes, and Production
  2. Language and Research Skills for Writing

The topics for the argumentative and informative/explanatory essays attempt to present situations that are familiar to all educated people; no topic will require specialized knowledge other than an understanding of how to write effectively in English.

Content Categories Approximate Number of Questions Approximate Percentage of Exam
Text types, purposes, and production 6-12 selected-response
2 essays		 60%
Language and research skills for writing 28-34 selected-response 40%

Multiple-Choice Section

The selected-response, or multiple-choice, section will include 40 questions to be answered in a 40-minute time period. There are four question types covered:

  1. Error identification
  2. Sentence correction
  3. Revision in context
  4. Research skills

Many of the selected-response questions will begin with 'which of the following.' Take a look at our example below.

Which of the following is red in color?

(A) Blueberry

(B) Cucumber

(C) Strawberry

(D) Corn

How do you think you would respond to this question? While this one is purposely obvious for demonstrative purposes, the ones on the Praxis writing test may be tricky. Here are some steps you can follow to select the correct answer.

  1. Focus on the choices given. We know that there are other red fruits and vegetables out there, but they are not listed.
  2. Eliminate the obviously wrong answers. You know that blueberries are blue, and cucumbers are green. Without overthinking the possibility of all of the various types of corn that may be out there, we know that corn is generally yellow. That only leaves one right answer: strawberry.
  3. Verify your response. Try replacing 'which of the following' with your response. Does it make sense? 'A strawberry is red in color.' If you're still not quite sure, try substituting the other options to see if they make sense.

For most questions, you will respond by clicking an oval to select a single answer from a list of answer choices. However, there are some other interactive question types to be aware of:

  • Clicking more than one oval
  • Typing into an entry box
  • Clicking checked boxes
  • Clicking parts of a graphic
  • Clicking on sentences
  • Dragging and dropping answer choices into targets on the screen
  • Selecting answer choices from a drop-down menu

Argumentative Essay Section

The argumentative essay section will invite examinees to draw from personal experience, observation, or reading to support a position with specific reasons and examples. You have 30 minutes to complete the essay question. You will need to be able to produce an argumentative essay to support a claim using relevant and sufficient evidence. In doing so, you will need to write clearly and coherently:

  • Address the assigned task appropriately for an audience of educated adults
  • Organize and develop ideas logically, making coherent connections between them
  • Provide and sustain a clear focus or thesis
  • Use supporting reasons, examples, and details to develop clearly and logically the ideas presented
  • Demonstrate facility in the use of language and the ability to use a variety of sentence structures
  • Construct effective sentences that are generally free of errors in standard written English

Informative/Explanatory Essay Section

The Informative/Explanatory essay topic asks examinees to extract information from two provided sources to identify important concerns related to an issue. You will need to produce an informative/explanatory essay to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. You have 30 minutes to complete the essay question. The following are expected:

  • Write clearly and coherently
  • Address the assigned task appropriately for an audience of educated adults
  • Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis
  • Organize and develop ideas logically, making coherent connections between them
  • Synthesize information from multiple sources on a subject
  • Integrate and attribute information from multiple sources on a subject, avoiding plagiarism
  • Provide and sustain clear focus or thesis
  • Demonstrate facility in the use of language and ability to use a variety of sentence structures
  • Construct effective sentences that are generally free of errors in standard written English

Preparing for the Praxis Writing Test

Setting clear goals and deadlines can help you maximize your Praxis test preparation. Here are some helpful tips to help you feel more confident on test day:

  1. Learn what the test covers. Get familiar with the content of the exam and its format.
  2. Assess how well you know the content. Be honest with yourself here; it's better to be over-prepared than to be under-prepared.
  3. Collect your study materials. Use any books or notes you may have from relevant courses you may have taken.
  4. Plan and organize your time. Once you select your test date, work your timeline backward to figure out how much time you have for review.

Praxis Core Writing Practice Tests

Take advantage of the practice tests and other Praxis resources available online. Becoming familiar with the structure of the test and questions prior to the testing day is to your advantage.

How Is the Praxis Writing Exam Scored?

The passing Praxis score is set by each state or agency requiring the test. You can find out what your state requires on the Praxis State Requirements page. Below is a breakdown of how each section is scored.

Selected-Response

The selected-response sections are scored based on the number of correct answers chosen. Your score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly, with no penalty or subtraction for answering a question incorrectly. Make sure you're taking a moment to carefully read and consider each question.

Argumentative Essay

The Argumentative Essay Praxis Core is scored on a scale from one to six, with six being the best score. Readers assign scores for the argumentative essay based on the following score guide.

Score of 6

  • Demonstrates a high degree of competence
  • Few minor errors
  • States or clearly implies the writer's position
  • Well-organized and developed ideas supported with examples, details, or other well-chosen reasons
  • Displays effective sentence variety
  • Generally free from errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics
  • Clearly displays facility in the use of language

Score of 5

  • Demonstrates clear competence
  • Minor errors
  • States or clearly implies the writer's position
  • Ideas are clearly organized and developed with connections made between them
  • Key ideas are explained and supported with relevant reasons, examples, or details
  • Some sentence variety displayed
  • Facility in the use of language displayed

Generally free from errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

Score of 4

  • Demonstrates competence
  • States or implies the writer's position
  • Shows control in the organization and development of ideas
  • Some key ideas are explained, supported with adequate reasons, examples, or details
  • Adequate use of language
  • Shows control of grammar, usage, and mechanics but displays errors

Score of 3

  • Displays some competence
  • Limited in stating or implying a position
  • Displays limited control in the organization and development of ideas
  • Inadequate reasons, examples, or details to explain key ideas
  • Accumulation of errors in the use of language
  • Accumulation of errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

Score of 2

  • Seriously flawed
  • No clear position
  • Weak organization and/or very little development
  • Few or no examples, relevant reasons, or details
  • Frequent serious errors in the use of language
  • Frequent serious errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

Score of 1

  • Fundamental deficiencies in writing skills
  • Contains serious and persistent writing errors
  • Incoherent
  • Undeveloped

Informative/Explanatory Essay

The informative/explanatory essay, or source-based essay, is scored using the same 1-6 scale as the argumentative essay and many of the criteria are similar. Graders will assign a score to the essay based on the following score guide.

Score of 6

  • High degree of competence
  • Few minor errors
  • Insightful and explains why the concerns are important
  • Supports explanation with an effective link between the two sources and well-chosen reasons, examples, or details
  • Ideas are organized and developed logically
  • Effective sentence variety
  • Facility in the use of language
  • Cites both sources when paraphrasing or quoting
  • Generally free from errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

Score of 5

  • Demonstrates clear competence
  • Clearly explains why concerns are important, clear links between sources
  • Ideas are clearly organized and developed
  • Facility in the use of language
  • Cites both sources when paraphrasing or quoting
  • Generally free from errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

Score of 4

  • Demonstrates competence
  • Adequately explains why the concerns are important
  • Supports explanations with some links between the two sources using adequate reasons, examples, and details
  • Information is incorporated from both sources to identify and explain important concerns
  • Shows control in the organization and development of ideas
  • Adequate use of language
  • Cites both sources when paraphrasing or quoting
  • Shows control of grammar, usage, and mechanics, may display errors

Score of 3

  • Demonstrates some competence
  • Limited explanation as to why the concerns are important
  • Incorporates only one of the sources or incorporates two sources inadequately
  • Limited in supporting the explanation
  • Limited control in the organization and development of ideas
  • Accumulation of errors in the use of language
  • Accumulation of errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics
  • Cites sources when paraphrasing or quoting

Score of 2

  • Seriously flawed
  • Fails to explain why the concerns are important
  • Incorporates only one source weakly or fails to identify concerns regarding the issue discussed in the provided sources
  • Offers weak support for the explanation
  • Weak organization or very little development
  • Frequent serious errors in the use of language
  • Fails to cite any sources when paraphrasing or quoting
  • Serious errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

Score of 1

  • Fundamental deficiencies in writing skills
  • Persistent and serious writing errors
  • Incoherent
  • Undeveloped

Expert Contributor

Amanda Carpenter

Amanda Carpenter, M.S. is an ESL Teacher with 5 years of experience teaching English to students in China. She has also worked as a 5th Grade Teacher in Alabama. Amanda completed an M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction at Western Governors University.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How many questions are on the Praxis Core Writing?

    The Praxis Core Writing test has 40 selected-choice questions and two essay questions. The essay questions will assess argumentative writing and informative/explanatory writing skills. The selected-choice questions will assess text types, purposes, production, language, and research skills.

  • What is the passing score for the Writing Praxis?

    While the test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the passing score is determined by the licensing state or agency. Find out your state's required scores here.

  • What is Praxis Core Writing?

    The Praxis Writing Test measures academic skills in writing needed to prepare successfully for a career in education. All skills assessed align with Common Core State Standards for Writing and have been identified as needed for college and career readiness.

  • What is on the writing part of the Praxis?

    The Praxis Core Writing test consists of approximately 40 selected-response questions and two essay questions. The essay section will assess both informative/explanatory writing and argumentative writing abilities. You are given 40 minutes for the selected-response questions and 30 minutes for each essay question for a total of 100 minutes of testing time.

Exam

Take a Praxis Core Writing Practice Test Online

Exam Instructions:

Complete the practice test below to test your knowledge of Praxis Core Writing.
Choose your answers below. Complete the 15 questions then click "See Results."

You have answered 0 out of 15 correctly.

The correct answers are highlighted with green below.

    Use this material to answer questions #1 through #2

    Heading!CHAPTER I.

    Possibilities.

    Bicycling is a modern sport, offering infinite variety and opportunity.

    As an exercise, at present unparalleled, it accomplishes much with

    comparatively little expenditure of effort; as a relaxation, it has many

    desirable features; and its limitless possibilities, its future of

    usefulness, and the effect of its application to modern economic and

    social conditions, present a wide field for speculation.

    Bicycling possesses many advantages, and is within the reach of nearly

    all. For the athlete and the sportsman, it opens up new worlds; for the

    family it solves problems; for the tired and hurried worker, it has many

    possibilities. The benefits to be derived from the exercise cannot be

    over–estimated and the dangers that result from over–doing are

    correspondingly great; for it is easy to over–exert when exhilarated

    with exercise and unconscious of fatigue.

    It is but recently that the bicycle has become a perfected mechanism,

    adaptable to general usage, simple and scientific. The railroad makes

    possible direct and rapid communication between widely separated

    localities. The usefulness of the bicycle begins where that of the

    railroad ceases, for it connects and opens districts of country that the

    railroad has not reached; indeed, it is to the bicycle in connection

    with the railroads with which the country is gridironed that we must

    look to make possible the enjoyment of much that is beautiful and

    valuable, but otherwise inaccessible. To the naturalist, the traveler,

    and the intelligent observer, cycling offers advantages which are

    limited only by time and opportunity.

    Bicycling has been adapted to serve many purposes; but it is bicycling

    as an athletic exercise and sport, with the bicycle propelled by human

    power only, that we shall now consider. The history of the bicycle is

    modern. The study of its evolution shows the development of a great

    industry, constantly introducing and applying improvements; most

    important of these was the pneumatic tire, which made bicycling

    universally possible.

    Excerpt from Bicycling for Ladies by Maria E. Ward

  1. Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

    Which of the following is the stated position in the writer's argument?
    • Correct Answer
  2. Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

    Which of the following offers a reason for bicycling?
    • Correct Answer
    3. Use this material to answer question #3

    (1) The bunny sits in its cage, staring through the bars at the outside world. (2) While most bunnies want to naturally hop around and discover the world, this bunny is confined in a lab. (3) It cannot explore and is limited to a three-by-three space. (4) This bunny, though, will eventually be released into the grips of laboratory scientists and assistants. (5) It may face excruciating pain and even death. (6) Society would not accept this if it happened to people, so why does society accept such occurrences with animals? (7) While animal testing serves a purpose, it should be illegal because it is cruel and testing technologies have become more advanced.

  3. What type of appeal is exemplified in this paragraph?
    • Correct Answer

  4. A key way to create an essay appropriate for a certain audience is to
    • Correct Answer

  5. A thesis statement can be described as
    • Correct Answer

  6. Read the sentence that follows and then consider which italicized portion, if any, needs to be corrected for grammar, punctuation, structure or word choice.
    (A) Everyone (B) in kindergarten talks about who (C) they want to be when they (D) grow up.
    • Correct Answer

  7. Read the sentence and determine which, if any, of the italicized parts of the sentence is incorrectly written.

    (A) After the movie, the group (B) opts to go (C) to the local ice creamery where they waited in line for nearly (D) half an hour for ice cream cones.
    • Correct Answer

  8. Read the sentence and determine which, if any, of the italicized parts of the sentence is incorrectly written.

    The manager (A) did not want to miss (B) the presentation on leadership, so (C) they (D) opted to skip lunch and head to the conference room where the presentation (E) was going to be held.
    • Correct Answer

  9. Read the sentence and determine which, if any, of the italicized parts of the sentence is incorrectly written.

    (A) After the final exam, the student (B) was not only exhausted (C) but also (D) hoping to eat lunch.
    • Correct Answer
    10. Use this material to answer questions #10 through #11

    What shall we have for dinner ...

    This is easy to answer after you have decided on the main dish.

    The main dish is especially important in meal planning. It is the hub

    around which the rest of the meal is built, and often it carries a large

    proportion of the cost of the meal. Usually the main dish is the main

    source of protein—so essential to building and repairing body tissues.

    In this booklet are recipes and suggestions for about 150 main

    dishes—easy to make, hearty, and economical. Most of the dishes give

    four liberal servings; a few provide more.

    Most of these main dishes furnish about a fourth of the day's needs for

    protein. For those that provide less, additional protein foods are

    specified in the menu suggestion following the recipe. Or you may prefer

    to increase the amount of protein–rich food in the main dish—by adding more meat, for instance, to a main–dish soup, salad, or casserole. The rest of the day's protein will come from milk used as a beverage, and from cereals, bread, and other foods eaten as part of the day's meals.

    You get top–rating proteins (as well as other important nutrients) in

    foods from animal sources, as in meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk,

    cheese. Some of these protein foods are needed each day; and it is an

    advantage to include some in each meal.

    Next best for proteins are soybeans and nuts and dry beans and peas.

    When these or grain products are featured in main dishes, try to combine

    them with a little top–rating protein food, if you can.

    No one food is exactly like any other food and no food is complete in

    all nutrients. Milk products are high in calcium; meats are low. Meat,

    poultry, eggs, and beans are good sources of iron; milk is low in it.

    One kind of B vitamin abounds in meats, another in milk, and a third in

    whole grains. The best way to be sure of a good diet is to use a variety

    of main dishes and wide choices of other foods to complete the meal.

    Excerpt from Money–Saving Main Dishes: Home and Garden Bulletin No. 43 by Anonymous

  10. Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

    Which key part of an essay is missing in this passage?
    • Correct Answer
  11. Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

    This passage would be relevant to essays on all except which of the following?
    • Correct Answer

  12. Which of the following is NOT a way to write coherently?
    • Correct Answer

  13. To make the following sentence better, which revision will NOT work?
    ''Pat was swarmed by the crowd at the bus station, and it held his luggage tightly.''
    • Correct Answer

  14. Read the sentence and choose which of the answer options reflects the most correct edited version of the original sentence, if applicable.

    Before the start of the school day, the children decided to meet on the playground, divide into teams and play a game of soccer.
    • Correct Answer

  15. Which of the following is NOT a factor in designing an essay for a particular audience?
    • Correct Answer