So you’re taking the Praxis® Middle School Science (5440) 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 Marshall Highet, and at Best in Class we are here to help you get familiar with everything you need to know about the Praxis® Middle School Science (5440) exam!
Praxis® Middle School Science Video Overviews
This video runs through several practice questions followed by explanations. There isn’t a person presenting the material, but it can still provide you with a quick overview of what to expect on the exam:
While not specific to this particular exam, these two videos offer some excellent study tips and test taking strategies that can be applied to any teacher certification exam:
First Thing to Know
Praxis® tests assess a candidate’s readiness and knowledge in many different areas related to teaching. These tests are used for teacher licensing and certification processes across the country.
The Middle School Science (5440) exam is used to test a beginning science teacher’s knowledge of content and classroom practices for middle school science.
The identification number for the Praxis® Middle School Science exam is 5440. Each Praxis® test is assigned a different number to help with registration and grading purposes. Many of the Praxis® exams have similar names, so the number 5440 will help you make sure you are registering for the right test and studying the right material.
Praxis® Middle School Science Exam Breakdown
The Praxis® Middle School Science exam is one exam made up of 125 selected-response questions. The questions cover material from six different content categories. Here’s a table with a more in-depth breakdown of what’s on the test:
| Content Category | # of Questions | % of Exam |
| Scientific Inquiry, Methodology, Techniques, and History | 15 | 12% |
| Basic Principles of Matter and Energy | 15 | 12% |
| Physical Sciences | 28 | 22% |
| Life Sciences | 30 | 24% |
| Earth and Space Sciences | 22 | 18% |
| Science, Technology, and Society | 15 | 12% |
You are given two and a half hours to complete the Praxis® Middle School Science (5440) exam. There are no subtests for this exam, so if you don’t pass, you’ll need to take the entire exam again.
What is a Passing Score
Your score on the Praxis® Middle School Science exam will be a scaled score ranging from 100 – 200, rather than a percentage of correct answers. Scaled scores adjust for the difficulty level for different questions on the exam. Passing scores are determined by individual states, so be sure to check your state’s specific requirements. You can find more information for each state here.
How to Register for the Praxis® Middle School Science Exam
New to Teaching?
Before you register for the Praxis® Middle School Science 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. Make sure you use the same name as your identification document that you plan to take to the testing center. 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 Middle School Science 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 qualified to teach middle school science!
Yay!
Praxis® Middle School Science (5440) Free Practice Test
So you’re taking the Praxis® Middle School Science (5440) and you want to know if you’ll pass.
You’re probably wondering how hard the test will be and what type of questions to expect.
Well, you’re at the right place. We are going to tell you about the absolute best practice tests for the Praxis® Middle School Science exam.
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® Middle School Science exam. The diagnostic practice test will give you a free score breakdown, so you can see exactly what you need to study.
240 Tutoring’s Diagnostic Practice Test
Praxis® Middle School Science (5440) Paid Practice Test
Best Paid Practice Test
240 Tutoring’s Online Study Guide and Practice Test
240 Tutoring also offers a full study guide with tons of practice questions. The Praxis® Middle School Science Study Guide has 298 questions and 65 pages of content. The questions have been developed by professionals with years of experience in the classroom and by subject area experts with advanced degrees. Most importantly, each question is tailored to help you pass the test. The 240 Tutoring guide is specifically focused on getting you to pass the exam.
Best of all? The study guide comes with a money-back guarantee that you will pass the test.
So while it is a paid practice test, it also offers a lot of extra benefits.
BONUS: 240 Tutoring is a month-to-month subscription. You get all of the Praxis® study guides — including the Middle School Science exam — for just one monthly price of $39.99. So subscribing to one study guide gives you access to all study guides.
PRAXIS® Middle School Science Study Guide & Practice Test
Runner-Up for Practice Test
Study.com
Study.com has a free 15 question practice test, with immediate feedback on your answers. This practice test might be a good starting point, but with only 15 questions you’ll likely need more information to help you create a study plan.
Study.com Praxis® Middle School Science Free Practice Test
Honorable Mention
Mometrix
Mometrix also offers a free practice test with explanations for any incorrect answers. However, the practice test is only 10 questions long and doesn’t give you information about the specific areas you need to work on.
Mometrix Praxis® Free Practice Test
Praxis® Middle School Science (5440) Free Study Guide
So you’re taking the Praxis® Middle School Science (5440) and it’s time to start studying.
Sometimes the amount of information and the different resources out there can seem overwhelming.
Luckily, we’ve done the searching for you and have found the best study guides available for the Praxis® Middle School Science exam.
Best Free Study Guide
240 Tutoring’s Praxis Middle School Science Ultimate Guide
240 Tutoring has an informative study guide that gives you some great tips while at the same time explaining how the test is formatted. It gives an overview of each content category, followed by a few specific concepts you might see on the test. While it doesn’t cover everything, it’s one of the only high-quality free study guides out there for this exam.
Praxis® Middle School Science (5440) Paid Study Guide
Best Paid Study Guide
240 Tutoring’s Online Study Guide
240 Tutoring also offers a full study guide. The Praxis® Middle School Science guide includes more than 298 questions, 65 pages of content, and tons of flash cards.
Best of all? The study guide comes with a money-back guarantee that you will pass the test.
So while it is a paid practice test, it also offers a lot of bang for your buck.
BONUS: 240 Tutoring is a month-to-month subscription. You get all of their Praxis® study guides for just one monthly price of $39.99. So simply subscribing to one study guide gives you access to all study guides.
Runner-Up for Study Guide
Study.com
Study.com has an online study guide for $59.99 a month. The study guide includes 432 lessons, with each lesson lasting about 8 minutes. While that’s a ton of information, it also equates to nearly 60 hours of studying! This might be helpful for some, but most test takers will find that they prefer a more targeted and condensed study guide.
Study.com Praxis® Middle School Science Study Guide
Honorable Mention
Mometrix
Mometrix has study guides available for $39.99. The study guide can be purchased as a printed book or ebook. If you prefer the traditional format of a textbook then this study guide might be good for you. However, most test takers find that they learn best through online interactive study guides.
Marshall Highet has been writing since she was a wee thing. No longer a wee thing, for the past ten years she’s worked as a professor, a professional writer, and an educational consultant.
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