So you’re taking the Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) exam and you’re asking some of the following questions:

  • Where do I find a free practice test?
  • An exam breakdown?
  • How do I register for the test?

Those are all great questions, and you’ve found the right place to get them answered!

My name is Kayman McIver, and at Best in Class we are here to help you get familiar with everything you need to know about the Praxis® Elementary Education (5018) exam!

Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge Video Overviews

For a helpful refresher on several topics that may appear on the exam, check out these elementary subject tutorials from 240 Tutoring:

Reading

Writing

Math

This video from Mometrix goes through a handful of practice questions from each content category, providing you with a quick preview of what to expect on the exam:

First Thing to Know

Praxis® is a national educator certification test. Each state has different certification requirements, so it is advised that you check with your state certification board to ensure you are taking the correct test. This website can also guide you in determining your state’s requirements: Praxis®: State Requirements

The main purpose of this test is to allow the test taker to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in each core subject: Reading/Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science. Some questions will be about the content taught and other questions will assess the manner in which it is taught. In other words, one question might be a math equation to solve and another might ask how to teach an English Language Learner (ELL) the steps in solving an equation.

The identification number for the Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge is 5018. Each test is assigned a random number that is used by the testing company and the states to keep accurate records. The test names are long and sometimes quite similar, so they are not efficient for recordkeeping. This also helps you ensure that you are taking the correct test!

Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge Exam Breakdown

The Elementary Education: Content Knowledge test is made up of 140 questions that cover all of the content categories. The questions are mixed together rather than separated into sections for each category. You will have 150 minutes (2½ hours) to complete the test. Most of the questions are multiple-choice, but there are some math and science questions that require you to enter a number for an answer rather than select an option. Each content category covers a different portion of the exam, as shown in this table:

Content Category Approximate Percentage

 of Exam

Approximate Number of Questions
  1. Reading and Language Arts
35% 49
  1. Mathematics
29% 41
  1. Social Studies
18% 25
  1. Science
18% 25

Since there are no subtests for this exam, you’ll need to retake the entire exam if you don’t pass.

What is a Passing Score

Each state sets its own passing score. The possible scores range from 100 to 200, with most passing scores in the 160-170 range. To determine the score you need, visit https://www.ets.org/Praxis®/states. Click on your state, and then click on “Test Requirements in My State.” On this page, you can determine what the passing score is for the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge exam in your state.

How to Register for the Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge Exam

New to Teaching?

Before you register for the Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge exam, you’ll likely need to complete a teacher preparation program that’s approved by your state. You’ll also want to check for any other requirements your state might have. A good place to start is the ETS Praxis® State Requirements page. 

Once you’ve completed a teacher preparation program, the next step will be to register for your exam on the  ETS Praxis® test registration page. Follow these steps to register for your exam:

  • Find the “New User” box and click on the blue “Create Account” button.
  • Enter your information. ETS does not require you to submit your social security number, but some states require it.  If you do not provide it and later find out your state requires it, you might experience a delay in the processing of your application.
  • Now that you have created an account and logged in, you will be directed to a home page with several links. On the left-hand side under “Registrations and Orders”, you should see “Register for a Praxis® Test.” Click this link.
  • The next page will ask optional questions about your experience and education. These questions are not required by ETS, but they might be required by your state.
  • Next, select your state and agency from the drop-down menus.
  • Select your exam and score recipients, and pay for your test. It’s a good idea to print your test ticket, in case it is required by your testing center.

Already Certified?

If you want to add a certification to the ones you already have, you’ll start by signing into your  Praxis® account. Next, follow the steps below to register for the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge exam. If you’re planning to move to a new state and need to update your certification, make sure you check the specific requirements for the state in which you plan to teach.

  • When you log in to your account, you will be directed to a home page with several links. On the left-hand side under “Registrations and Orders”, you should see “Register for a Praxis® Test.” Click this link.
  • The next page will ask optional questions about your experience and education. These questions are not required by ETS, but they might be required by your state.
  • Next, select your state and agency from the drop-down menus.
  • Select your exam and score recipients, and pay for your test. It’s a good idea to print your test ticket, in case it is required by your testing center.

Once you pass the exam, you are well on your way to becoming an elementary school teacher!

Yay!

Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) Free Practice Test

You’re ready to take the Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) test and you want to go into the test prepared. You need to know exactly what to study. I’m not talking about the general topics; I mean what do you — yes, specifically you — need to study? Where should you focus your time and energy as you prepare? The best way to find out is by taking a practice test!

I am going to help you out with a list of the best practice tests for the Praxis® Elementary Education.

Best Free Practice Test

240 Tutoring’s Diagnostic Practice Test

240 Tutoring has been helping teachers pass their exams since 2011. They offer an online, completely free practice test for the Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge. The practice test will give you a free score breakdown, so you can see exactly what you need to study.

240 Tutoring Practice Test

Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) Paid Practice Test

Best Paid Practice Test

240 Tutoring’s Online Study Guide and Practice Test

240 Tutoring also offers a full practice test that comes with their paid study guide. The Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) study guide includes more than 900 questions and almost 400 pages of content. So while it is a paid practice test, it also includes a lot of other benefits.

240 Tutoring is a month-to-month subscription. You get all of their Praxis® study guides, including the entire Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) guide, for just one monthly price of $39.99. You decide how long you need to keep the subscription in order to be prepared.

240 Tutoring’s Study Guide

Runner-Up for Practice Test

Teachers Test Prep

Teachers Test Prep offers a diagnostic practice test that can be very helpful in determining what to study. The one drawback to the tests is that they are separated by subject, not combined like the real test. You take one test and receive your results and then you move onto another subject. The results can help you determine what areas should be your focus as you prepare.

Teachers Test Prep Practice Test

Honorable Mention

Mometrix Test Preparation

Mometrix offers a very brief test with 10 sample questions that cover all four subject areas. You won’t be able to diagnose much with only 10 questions, but it might make a good starting point for your studying.

Mometrix Test Preparation

Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) Free Study Guide

You are ready to take the Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) exam and you want to ensure that you will pass. You don’t want to spend all of your free time focused on preparing for the test, but you do want to be ready.

You’re at the right place. We are going to tell you about the absolute best study guides for the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge exam. These guides will help you study efficiently and ensure that you have all the knowledge needed to pass.

Best Free Study Guide

240 Tutoring’s Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge Ultimate Guide

The Ultimate Guide from 240 Tutoring is a great introduction to the material that will be on the exam. This guide covers some of the topics from each subject and gives you an idea of what the full study guide looks like. The specific standards are listed along with explanations and examples. This ensures that you will understand the topics in a way that you can apply the information to the test questions.

240 Tutoring’s Ultimate Guide

Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) Paid Study Guide

Best Paid Study Guide

240 Tutoring’s Online Study Guide

240 Tutoring also offers a full study guide that covers all of the exam topics. The Praxis® Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) study guide includes more than 900 questions and almost 400 pages of content. This guide will help you maximize your study time and prepare you to enter the exam confident you will pass.

Best of all? The study guide comes with a money-back guarantee that you will pass the test. So while it is a paid study guide, you know you’re getting your money’s worth.

BONUS: 240 Tutoring is a month-to-month subscription. You get all of their Praxis® study guides, including the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) guide, for just one monthly price of $39.99. You decide how long you need to keep the subscription in order to be prepared.

240 Tutoring’s Study Guide

Runner-Up for Study Guide

Praxis® Study Companion

This resource is available on the ETS website. While it’s not a true “study guide,” it is free, lists all concepts that might be on the exam, and comes from the test makers themselves, so you know it’s reliable. If you feel like you understand the material and just want a detailed overview of what to expect, this might be the right resource for you. If you think you need more in-depth explanations of the exam topics, you’ll probably want to try one of the other study guides we have listed.

Elementary Education: Content Knowledge Study Companion

Honorable Mention

Study.com

Study.com offers a study guide with flash cards, practice questions, and study material. Much of their study material is presented in videos or transcripts of videos. The entire study guide is online, making it easy to access no matter where you are. However, at $59.99 per month, this is one of the more expensive study guides available.

Study.com Guide

About the Author

Kayman McIver

Kayman McIver

Kayman McIver is a teacher with 13 years of experience teaching both elementary and secondary. She loves her middle school students the most, even if eighth graders are too cool for her!

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