The Praxis I Core Academic Skills for Educators test is a basic skills test required for admission to the teacher preparation program at NKU. The test consists of three parts - Reading, Writing, and Mathematics - and passing scores must be achieved for each part of the test before you may begin the admission process for the Teacher Education Program.
Fulfilling this test requirement is one of the most common obstacles that College of Education advisors help students overcome as they try to progress toward their degree. The resources on this page are things that the advising center has created or identified that have helped students in the past with completing the tests on-time and successfully.
When registering for the Praxis:
*Some students may be able to use ACT scores in place of the Praxis I Core. Passing scores must be less than ten (10) years old at the date of admission to the teacher education program. Your date of admission occurs at the end of a successful admission semester, not at the beginning. Speak to your advisor about this option. If you send ACT scores to NKU, do not send "superscore" reports.
The Praxis I Core Academic Skills for Educators test is created specifically for admission to teacher education programs. It is in use at many colleges and universities in many states across the country.
The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) requires the Praxis I exam for admission to all teacher preparation programs in the state. As a student at NKU, this requirement applies regardless of whether or not you live in Kentucky and regardless of whether or not you plan to eventually seek teacher certification in a state other than Kentucky.
Successful completion of all three parts of the test is one of several crucial and necessary steps in the transition from being a pre-major to being admitted to the Teacher Education Program. A significant amount of the credit hours required for the majors in teacher education have successful completion of the Praxis I Core Academic Skills for Educators test as a pre-requisite. While the exact number of credit hours may vary from one major to another, the simplest way to think of it is that success on the test is required before you can enter or complete the final two years of your bachelor's degree in any of the teacher education majors.
*The Core Academic Skills for Educators: Combined (5752) exam consists of all three of the above.
** The minimum score for each Praxis subject test is lowered by five (5) points if your overall GPA is 3.00 or higher. Speak with your COE advisor for more details.
The Praxis I Core Academic Skills for Educators exam consists of three parts - Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. You have the option to take all three parts together in one session, or you can take them separately on different dates or at different locations. ETS uses a four-digit code to identify each test that it offers. The following codes are the ones that pertain to the Praxis I test options that you can use for admission to our program:
OR
Please keep in mind that there is no combined score for this exam. If you choose to register under the Combined option, your scores will be reported for each individual section.
For most students it is recommended to take the test for the first time around the end of your freshman year or beginning of your sophomore year. Summer can be a great time to attempt the test since most students do not have classes scheduled during those months.
For non-traditional students and transfer students the timeline can look a bit different. The advisors in the College of Education Advising Center recommend taking the test well in advance of when you plan to apply to the Teacher Education Program. This will help ensure that you will have a chance at attempting the test (or parts of it) multiple times before your target application deadline.
The most common mistake that students make with the Praxis I is waiting too long to attempt it for the first time. Some students wait so long that they only give themselves time to attempt the test once before their target admission semester. Students who are late to take the test and come up short of the minimum score on one or more sections could end up having to delay their application to the Teacher Education Program. It could delay their graduation date as well.
If you are unsure of when the right time to take the test is, get in touch with your advisor right away.
There are a variety of options for how to take the test. There are three parts to the Praxis I Core Academic Skills for Educators test and you may take the three parts together in the same session or one-at-a-time on separate days. If you are unsure which option is best, be sure to speak with your advisor. Your decision will depend in large part on your strengths and weaknesses as a test taker.
ETS.org provides a listing of available Computer Delivered Test sites when you register.
Most students will prefer taking the tests at NKU as the most convenient option. All test sites however will provide the exact same test, and the results of test taken at any site may be used when applying for admission to the teacher education program so long as an official score report is sent to NKU.
Students may also register to take the tests online at-home. Praxis At Home tests have the same content, format and on-screen experience to the Praxis tests taken at a test center. They can be taken on your own computer at home or in another secure location The tests are monitored by a human proctor online through ProctorU®. If you choose to take the test at-home, you must meet the equipment and environment requirements on the ETS website. If you are in need a piece of equipment in order to take the test, please contact the NKU IT Help Desk for information about checking out a laptop and/or camera.
Test fees depend on the options you choose when you register for the test. Please visit ETS.org for a complete listing of fees.
Your official score reports must be sent to both NKU and the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB).
The recipient codes you need to enter while registering are as follows:
ETS allows you to request up to three official score reports to be sent each time you register for a test. If you do not order all of the score reports you need before taking the test, ETS may charge extra to have them sent. NKU must be added as a score report recipient regardless of whether the test is taken on-campus or at another site.
You must include your birthdate and social security number when registering for EPSB to match your scores.
ETS.org has practice tests that are retired versions of the tests from previous administrations. They are the closest you can get to the real thing. They offer official study guides for each section for use in conjunction with the practice test. Also, they have occasional free webinars that can assist in your preparation.
ETS Official Test Prep Materials
Khan Academy Videos & Exercises
ETS has published a reference document for Kahn Academy that are relevant to preparation for the Praxis I Core Academic Skills for Educators exams. For each exam topic, this document points you toward the names of videos and exercises that you can search for and use on the Khan Academy website.
This book contains a detailed overview so you know what to expect on test day, as well as access three full-length online practice exams. This is the most highly recommended resource among NKU students who have passed the exam.
The College of Education and Human Services has purchased access to this resource for use by current students. This online course contains a complete study guide and practice tests for the three areas of the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test. Contact your advisor for more information and instructions on how to get access.
Mometrix is a company that publishes test prep materials for a wide variety of standardized tests, including the Praxis I. A few students have recommended their resources to us after using them to achieve significant gains in their scores when re-taking the tests. They offer a study guide and a flash card program.
LearningExpress Library offers students and adults unlimited, 24/7 access to targeted skill–building in preparation for taking the Praxis I CASE exams in math, reading, and writing. Complete answer explanations accompany each response so that students understand why a particular answer is correct or incorrect.
Access to LearningExpress Library through Steely Library
LearningExpress Library Walkthrough with Screenshots
ETS has a brief pamphlet outlining tips for overcoming or coping with test anxiety:
ETS: Reducing Test Anxiety (pdf)
Learning PLUS offers assistance with preparing for the Praxis I Core Academic Skills for Educators test. There is no additional charge for NKU students to use this resource because it is included in your tuition. They can offer help with any of the three sections of the test, as well as test-taking strategies. You can make an appointment with Learning PLUS through TutorTrac at this link:
The Learning PLUS office recommends that you take a practice test on your own before attending your first tutoring session.
Northern Kentucky University
Mathematics Education Psychology Center
Nunn Drive
Highland Heights, KY 41099
Local: +1 (859) 572-6069
Email: coedean@nku.edu
