Praxis Core Writing 5723: Grammar + Essays

In this blog post, I walk you through my best strategies for the Praxis Core Writing (5723) test. We will cover how to approach the grammar multiple-choice questions, a simple trick for who versus whom, and how to structure the argumentative and source-based essays so you earn the score you need.

Whether you are a recent graduate or a career changer who has not thought about semicolons in years, these tips will help you work smarter, not harder, on test day.

What to expect on the Praxis Core Writing test

You'll have 100 minutes to complete two parts:

• Grammar multiple choice: questions on usage, sentence structure, and revision.
• Two essays: one argumentative and one source-based, about 30 minutes each.

For the official details, review the Praxis Core Writing (5723) test specifications on the ETS website.

My #1 tip: work backward

Before you read anything, look at the answer choices or the task. When you know exactly what the test maker is asking, you read with a purpose, waste less time, and make fewer mistakes. This one habit applies to every section of the test.

Grammar Strategies: Don't Trust What Sounds Right

Many schools stopped teaching grammar as its own subject years ago. Today it's usually folded into writing instruction, so rules like semicolons, em dashes, and subject versus object pronouns fade from memory.

The biggest trap on this section is picking an answer because it sounds right. Most of us don't speak with perfect grammar, so your ear isn't a reliable guide. Before test day, brush up on three areas in particular: semicolons, colons, and pronouns.

Example: Aunt Judy and the pronoun trap

A common question type shows a sentence with several underlined portions. You decide whether one of them needs to change, or whether the sentence has no error. Try this one:

Aunt Judy was happy to see that my mom was sitting with my sister and me.

Let's check each part:

• Aunt Judy was is correct. You'd never say "Aunt Judy were."
• My mom stays lowercase. Capitalize mom, dad, or uncle only when the word works as a name, as in "Mom is calling" or "Uncle John came over." If my comes before it, keep it lowercase.
• Was sitting is correct because only one person is sitting.
• My sister and me is also correct, even though many test takers change it to I.

Choosing I here is overcorrecting. We've been drilled to say "my sister and I are going to the store," but in this sentence the pronoun is an object, not a subject. Test it by removing the other person: "Aunt Judy was happy to see that my mom was sitting with me." You'd never say "with I."

So the answer is no error.

Don't be afraid of "no error"

Test takers often avoid the no error option because the task feels like it demands a fix. But no error is a real answer, and it will be correct some of the time. If every part checks out against the rules, trust the rules over your urge to change something.

A Simple Trick for Who Versus Whom

You'll almost certainly see a who versus whom question. Here's the rule in one line:

• Who is a subject pronoun, like I, we, they, he, and she.
• Whom is an object pronoun, like me, us, them, him, and her.

Trick #1: Look for a preposition. If the word comes right after with, for, to, or of, it's usually whom: "With whom are you going to the dance?"

Trick #2: Answer the question. If your answer uses him (or her, me, them), the correct choice is whom. If it uses he (or she, I, they), choose who. An easy way to remember it: him = whom, since both end in m.

• "With ___ are you going?" → "I'm going with him." → whom
• "___ is driving?" → "He is driving." → who

The exam also covers sentence structure and rhetorical skills, such as deciding what a sentence would accomplish if the author added it to a paragraph. I cover all of these in more depth in the grammar section of my Praxis Core Writing (5723) study guide and in my Praxis Core Writing (5723) online course.

How to Write the Argumentative Essay

For both essays, start by working backward. Skip straight to the task (the part that begins "Write an essay in which you...") and make sure you know exactly what's required. Then use the scratch whiteboard you're given to jot down ideas. Writing things down helps you organize your thoughts and remember what you read.

You'll have 30 minutes for the argumentative essay. The prompt is a strongly worded opinion, such as:

"The only important criterion by which to judge a prospective teacher is his or her ability to get along with students."

Pick a side in your first sentence

State clearly whether you agree or disagree in your very first sentence. Don't be wishy-washy. Even if you partly agree and partly disagree, commit to one position. The graders are judging your writing, not your character, and a clear position keeps your whole essay organized.

Using I is fine in the argumentative essay. (You'll avoid it in the source-based essay.)

Use specific examples

The scoring rubric rewards specific reasons and examples, so make them easy to spot with phrases like for example and for instance. My simple formula: a general statement, followed by a specific example.

A teacher must be an expert in their content area. For example, a biology teacher must understand cell division, osmosis, and photosynthesis.

Personal anecdotes count, too. Maybe you had a high school English teacher nobody liked who still prepared you well for college. No one will check your transcripts; you're being graded on your writing.

Aim for a solid four

Essays are scored on a six-point scale, and a four shows competence. Many future teachers are overachievers who want a six, but you don't need to be the next great American author. Follow these strategies and you'll often land a five or six anyway. Check your state's passing requirements so you know your target.

Want to see where you stand before test day? Take my free Praxis Core Practice Test to check your skills and find out what to focus on.

How to Write the Source-based Essay

The source-based essay (also called the informative/explanatory essay) asks you to explain the important points of two passages on the same topic. It looks intimidating because the reading can run about three pages, but it's actually the easier essay. More text means more information to pull from.

Read strategically, not carefully

The directions tell you to read both passages carefully. Instead, read them strategically, and start with the titles. In one sample prompt:

• Source 1: "Give Felons and Prisoners the Right to Vote"
• Source 2: "Ex-Cons Should Prove They Deserve the Right to Vote"

Before reading a single paragraph, you can note on your whiteboard that Source 1 is for and Source 2 is against.

Pull two specific points from each source

You don't need to read every word. Cherry-pick two reasons from each source:

• Source 1 argues that felons are still citizens who deserve their rights, and that restoring the vote can help discourage recidivism.
• Source 2 cites a Florida Department of Corrections report showing recidivism rates of 31% to 34%, and argues that felons should have to earn back the right to vote.

Four solid points, clearly explained, are enough for a strong essay.

Cite your sources simply

You don't need perfect MLA formatting. Just mention the article title or the author's last name:

Yaffe argues that voting gives formerly incarcerated people a sense of citizenship.

What if both sources agree?

Sometimes both sources take the same side. That's fine. They'll agree for different reasons, so your job is to explain each author's reasoning. Nothing in the rubric says the sources have to disagree.

Practice Your Essays with AI and the Rubric

The best way to become a stronger writer is to practice, and to get feedback on what you write. A few easy ways to do that:

• Ask AI to grade you. Paste a prompt and your essay into an AI tool, include the rubric, and ask for a score with specific feedback.
• Ask a friend. Hand them the rubric and your essay and have them score it.
• Grade yourself. Score your essay against the rubric in my book or in the official Praxis Core Writing Study Companion from ETS.

You can also give AI one of my sample essays and ask it to create a similar prompt on a new topic. Talk to it, give it examples, and always double-check what it produces. I share more about studying for the Praxis with AI in my online course.

Final Thoughts

To pass the Praxis Core Writing test, think like a test maker. Look at the answer choices first, test your pronouns instead of trusting your ear, pick a clear side in the argumentative essay, and pull just two points from each source in the source-based essay. With focused practice, a passing score is well within reach.

🎥 Watch the full video for the grammar questions and sample essay walkthrough 🎥