General Praxis II FAQ

Effective April 14, 2005, the Alabama State Board of Education approved amendments to expand the Alabama Prospective Teacher Testing Program (APTTP) to add the Praxis II Subject Assessments provided by Educational Testing Service (ETS) to the Basic Skills Assessments (Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information, and Writing).

Who has to take and pass the Praxis II? A minimum passing score on the appropriate Praxis II subject assessment is required for all students enrolled in initial certification programs including undergraduate teacher certification, alternative master's certification, add-on certification, and any graduate degree program that is deemed initial certification or a new area of certification for the applicant. Certification and Test Alignment provides a list of certification fields and the required Praxis II subject assessment.

When do I have to have a passing score on the Praxis II? Students in undergraduate and alternative master's teacher certification programs must have a passing score on file in the Professional Education Services (PES) Office before beginning internship. Students in graduate programs (not alternative masters) that require a Praxis II subject assessment must submit a passing score on the appropriate test prior to graduation.

How do I know what the passing score is? Minimum passing scores are different for each subject assessment. Praxis II® Passing Scores and Effective Dates provides a list of minimum passing scores for each Praxis II subject assessment

When should I take the Praxis II? Praxis II ® Test Dates provides a list of Praxis II test dates/sites for the current school year. Students are advised to take the appropriate Praxis II subject assessment early enough in their programs to allow a retake if necessary. The following guidelines are provided; however, students need to consult a faculty advisor for program-specific advice regarding when to take the Praxis II.

Undergraduate students - first semester of junior year
Alternative master's students - first semester of program
Graduate students in other programs - consult with faculty advisor

How do I register to take Praxis II? To check test dates/sites and register online, go to www.ets.org/praxis. Individuals who are unable to register online may call toll free 1-800-772-9476. Customer service is available 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time. Individuals registering for Praxis II must identify as score report recipients both the Alabama State Department of Education (7020) AND Auburn University (1005).

Are there study guides? Tests at a Glance (TAAG) are available online and include content outlines, sample questions in each teaching area with rationales for the best answers, and test-taking strategies. Printable versions can be downloaded from the Praxis website at www.ets.org/praxis. The materials are available in the Reference Collection on 2nd floor, Ralph Draughon Library. There are also study guides available at the Circulation Desk in the Learning Resources Center, 3408 Haley Center.

What if I have additional questions about the Praxis II? Additional information about Praxis II is available on the Alabama State Department of Education Web site. If you have questions regarding Praxis II, contact Dr. Leonard Lock at 334.844.4457; 3066 Haley Center.

Last Updated: Nov 30, 2011