So many prospective teachers finish their exams and then see a failing score on the screen at the end of the test. It’s a huge letdown.
This may have happened to you too, and now you feel tired, frustrated, and deflated.
Many ask, “Why do I have to take these exams? They don’t even reflect what I am doing in the classroom!”
Administering state standardized teacher certification exams is the easiest and least expensive way to vet teachers.
Yes, it would be ideal if your certification hinged on a classroom evaluation rather than on test scores. However, that is not possible, so we rely on test scores as a benchmark for admission into the profession.
Unfortunately, these tests are here to stay.
What’s the pass rate for Praxis exams?
According to a report by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), the first-time pass rate for the Praxis Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects test is 46% across all subtests.
Those odds are not great. It is more complicated than just saying 54% of people do not pass the exam because there are many different exams with different subtests and different variables.
In addition, few states post pass rates for teacher certification exams publicly. That’s probably because the pass rates aren’t great. However, the NCTQ report is one I take seriously because I work in this industry, and I see evidence of this low pass rate figure. My evidence is more anecdotal but still important.
However, we do know that many teachers do not pass their exams the first time they take them. I say this so you know you’re not alone.
How many times can you fail the same Praxis test?
If you don’t pass the first time, not only are you like most people, but you can take it again.
While it is expensive and sometimes soul crushing, you can retake the exam as many times as you need to. Currently, there is no limit to the number of times you can retake the exam.
I am a former public school teacher and administrator, and I believe many people need more than one attempt to pass a test. When my students failed or were not as successful on an exam as I would like them to be, we revisited the material, focused on the skills where they were low, and then retested.
That’s why there are no expiration dates on my programs. You might need one of my online courses for more than 90 days, so you can access it for as long as you need it.
What happens if I fail a Praxis exam?
When people fail their exam, they tend to berate themselves and feel like they aren’t good enough for the profession. Some decide to give up on teaching altogether.
Failure is not easy but often it is necessary. I have failed many exams. Products I have launched have crashed and burned. I have lost money, time, and sometimes my self-worth.
So believe me when I say, failure and I are pretty well acquainted.
The thing is, you have to keep trying. The only other option is to give up. You can do that, but you’ll probably never forgive yourself.
Don’t let a test score define you. This is just a bureaucratic hurdle you must jump over. It might take you a few times, but you will eventually pass.
If you fail your exam, here’s what I suggest:
- Take a break from your studies and do something else for at least a week. You have to wait a month to retake the exam anyway, so it’s ok to take a little time off to regroup.
- When you do come back to it, try to evaluate where you are low. What questions gave you the hardest time? What areas were you most confused about?
- Look over the test blueprint and specifications and pinpoint where you need to focus your attention.
- Study again, with a fresh perspective and with the intel of the exam you took. Sometimes taking it and failing is the best way to understand it.
What you should NOT do is:
- Give up. Sometimes you have to work really hard and plow through several failures to reach a goal.
- Blame someone or something else. I understand you’re frustrated, but playing the blame game is an exercise in futility. It will not increase your score.
- Pay for a score verification. The testing company will never change your score. So paying and waiting for score verification is not the best choice.
- Do more practice tests over and over. This will not fix the problem because you must understand the skills and content on the exam. Check out this video I did on TikTok about it.
Failed Praxis Core Math?
Try not to be too hard on yourself if this happens. The Praxis Core Math exam is TOUGH.
Many of us who take the exam are career changers, and it’s been a while since we used the Pythagorean Theorem, figured out the area of a circle, or solved a probability word problem.
You probably need to brush up on some of these skills by working through an online course or study guide.
In all the years I have been engaging with those trying to pass their teacher certification exams, the Praxis Core Math is one test that people have a hard time passing.
Failed Praxis Core Writing?
The Praxis Core writing is also a very difficult test. You only have 30 minutes for each essay. It’s not a lot of time.
In addition, the grammar section tests your ability to correct grammatical errors in text. Many of us never received explicit grammar instruction in school. And if we did, it was a LONG time ago.
I have a bunch of free videos that go over the writing and the grammar. You can watch those here.
What if I failed the Praxis by one point?
This can be especially frustrating because you’re so close but still missed the passing score. Lots of people think if they go through the score verification process they will be granted the extra point and get a pass.
THIS NEVER HAPPENS.
Testing companies will never change your score. I have been in this business for many years, and I have never seen anyone get the extra point by going through score verification. It’s not worth the money or the extra time you have to wait.
If you failed by one point, study again and go back in and take the exam.
If you fail a Praxis exam, do you have to pay again?
Unfortunately, yes. If you fail your Praxis exam, you will have to pay for the exam again. Testing companies are not in the business of giving people free test administration. Some people have spent thousands on their tests.
How long do you have to wait to retake an exam? The answer is at least 28 days. I know this too is frustrating. However, this will give you time to look at those areas where you were low and focus your studies.
Improve your chances of passing with our study guides and online courses.
There is a solution. You can study with materials that are aligned with the exam. Our products are the very best to help you improve your chances of passing.
While we do not guarantee a passing score (that is an impossible guarantee) we do allow you to access your materials for as long as you need. They do not expire.
Here’s why our materials are the best:
- They are 100% aligned to the test blueprint and specifications. Everything in our study guides and online courses is relevant to what is on the tests. While we cannot predict what questions you will get on test day, we do know how the questions are structured and what skills they measure.
- We present test questions in a variety of ways. There are several ways to assess any skill. For example, on the Praxis Core Math exam, you might have to perform algebra in a word problem, an equation, a proportion, or even in a geometry problem. Yes, you must use algebra in many geometry problems. That’s why we have questions on our practice tests that help you understand all the ways you might be asked to perform a skill on test day.
We’ve helped thousands of people pass. Check out our reviews on Amazon and on our website and see what people say. Lots of people fail the exam and then get our products and pass.
Check out our study guides here
Check out our online courses here
We also have a variety of free webinars that come with mini study guides. If you are trying to save money or if you want to try our free stuff before you invest in the paid products, click here for a variety of webinars for different Praxis exams.