In this blog post, we’re diving into the differences—and the similarities—between the Foundations of Reading exam, the Praxis 5205/5206 Teaching Reading exams, and the Texas Science of Teaching Reading (STR). Whether you’re preparing for Pearson, Praxis, or state-specific assessments, the key takeaway is this: all of these exams test your knowledge of the science of teaching reading.
Why These Exams Exist
If you’re pursuing certification as a reading teacher—or even if you’re in another content area like social studies or science—many states now require that you pass a reading exam. The goal is to ensure that all teachers have a foundation in reading instruction, since literacy impacts success across every subject.
While the names and structures differ, each of these assessments evaluates your ability to help students move from:
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Phonological and phonemic awareness (sounds only)
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Phonics (connecting letters and sounds to decode words)
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Fluency (automaticity, prosody, and accuracy when reading connected text)
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Vocabulary (developing meaning and word knowledge)
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Comprehension (understanding, predicting, summarizing, and interpreting text)
In short, they measure whether you can take a student from the very beginning of reading all the way to deep comprehension.
Key Differences Between the Exams
1. Foundations of Reading (Pearson)
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Fewer major content categories, but with more subcategories.
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Covers:
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Phonological/phonemic awareness
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Phonics (including morphology: prefixes, suffixes, roots)
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Fluency
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Vocabulary & comprehension (literary and informational text)
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Assessment and instruction
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Includes two open response prompts:
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One on foundational skills (phonological awareness, phonics, fluency)
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One on higher-level skills (comprehension/vocabulary)
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Emphasis on analyzing student data and choosing appropriate instructional strategies.
2. Praxis 5205 / 5206 Teaching Reading
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Organized into larger content categories:
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Phonological and phonemic awareness
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Phonics and decoding
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Vocabulary and fluency
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Comprehension
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Writing
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Assessment & instructional decision-making
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Includes three open-response questions on a mix of foundational and comprehension skills.
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Heavier focus on writing instruction compared to Pearson’s exam.
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Expect scenarios where you must prescribe interventions and provide rationales.
3. Texas STR (Science of Teaching Reading)
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Structured specifically for Texas, but mirrors the same concepts.
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Heavy emphasis on the science of teaching reading framework.
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Covers all stages: foundational skills through comprehension and assessment.
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Like the other exams, it requires you to demonstrate instructional decision-making.
What They All Have in Common
No matter which test you’re taking:
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They all cover the same reading science framework.
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They expect you to apply knowledge, not just recall definitions.
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They emphasize explicit and systematic instruction.
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They require you to be familiar with progress monitoring and assessment.
Study Tips for Success
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Chunk your study sessions – 20 minutes a day beats cramming.
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Learn go-to strategies for each reading skill (e.g., repeated reading for fluency, sound isolation for phonemic awareness).
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Practice analyzing data – most exams include scenarios where you identify strengths, weaknesses, and interventions.
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Prepare for constructed responses – know how to write a clear rationale that connects assessment data to instructional strategy.
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Use high-quality study materials – align your prep with the official test specifications.
These exams may look different on paper, but they all test the same big idea: can you teach students to become proficient readers using explicit, systematic instruction? If you focus on the progression from sounds → words → fluency → vocabulary → comprehension, you’ll be well prepared for any version of the test.
🎥Watch the full video where I break down each exam step by step and show you exactly how to prepare for success 🎥