Praxis Requirements

 

Test Registration

Accepted candidates are responsible for passing the Praxis I exam and the assigned Praxis II Content Knowledge exam in order for enrollment in the Prince George’s County Teaching Fellows to be finalized.  Although not an initial application requirement, PGCTF strongly encourages candidates to register for all three parts (math, reading, writing) of the Praxis I exam as soon as possible.  The Praxis I is a computer-based exam and can be scheduled at your convenience. Candidates may test out of the Praxis I requirement with qualifying SAT, ACT, or GRE scores. For more information, visit the ETS website.

If invited to an interview, the Fellows office will assign candidates to a subject area and advise candidates on the Praxis II Content Knowledge exam(s) that should be taken.  Please note that subject area assignments are based on the information that candidates report on the online application.  Please see the eligibility page for detailed information about subject area eligibility.  Upon further review of transcripts, the Fellows program may change candidates’ subject area assignments if necessary.  In such cases, candidates may need to take an additional Praxis II exam.  Ineligibility for a specific subject does not necessarily remove a candidate from the interview and selection process. 

We suggest that candidates invited to interview with the program register to  take the Praxis II Content Knowledge exams required for their subject area as soon as possible. Many candidates and Fellows find the exams challenging. The Praxis II is only offered as a paper-based test and is given on specific dates. Therefore, earlier test administrations may allow candidates to retake examinations if needed before passing scores are required by the Prince George’s County Teaching Fellows. We strongly recommend that candidates register for the Praxis II Content Knowledge exam as soon as they receive their subject area assignment.

All candidates accepted into the program will be required to produce passing scores on all required tests by June 1, 2009.

The following table lists upcoming dates for paper-based Praxis administrations as well as their registration deadlines:

 

Test Date	Registration Deadline	Late Registration Deadline
1/10/09	12/11/08	12/18/08
3/14/09	2/12/09	2/19/09
4/25/09	3/26/09	4/2/09

Registration for the Praxis Series exam is handled through ETS.

Please visit www.ets.org to register online for a test and for more information about the Praxis exam.

Test Preparation

It is imperative that all candidates study thoroughly for both the Praxis I and Praxis II exams. Fellows and candidates report that these exams are challenging and require thorough preparation in order to pass -- even for individuals with deep content knowledge or relevant professional experience. As you prepare, consider the following test preparation resources recommended by Fellows:

 

• Visit www.ets.org for information. Select the "Tests at a Glance" feature for the Praxis I and Praxis II to access an overview of the material covered on the exam and download sample test problems. Consider purchasing ETS’ Praxis Study Guides. However, please note that many candidates report that the exams are more rigorous and difficult than these study guides; thus candidates will likely need study materials beyond these ETS resources

• Refer to college and high school textbooks focused on the appropriate subject matter for your Praxis II. Review math textbooks in preparation for the math section of the Praxis I, as well

• Consider purchasing study guides from major test preparation providers (e.g., Barrons, Kaplan, Princeton Review, etc.) at a local library or bookstore

• Actively search the internet for additional test prep materials and resources

• Form study groups with other candidates or teachers that you already know

Although PGCTF and Prince George’s County Public Schools do not specifically endorse any of these materials, and while individuals' preparation needs will vary, Fellows have cited these resources as helpful starting points in studying for these important tests.