Praxis II Elementary Education - Science (5005) Overview

What is the Praxis 5005?

Our 5005 Study Guide

The Praxis 5005, officially known as the Praxis Elementary Education 5005 - Science, is a subtest of the Praxis Elementary Education: 5001 exam

The Praxis 5005 is designed to evaluate the scientific knowledge and competencies that elementary school teachers need to be effective science instructors.

The subtest consists of all multiple-choice questions. The test can be quite difficult because it includes content you may not have seen since you were in elementary or middle school.

Therefore, it is important to prepare properly for this exam.

What does the Praxis 5005 Consist of?

The Praxis Elementary Education 5005 - Science subtest is an integral component of the Praxis Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects test, devised to measure the scientific knowledge and competencies of potential elementary educators.

The Science subtest is classified into three main content categories, each addressing a specific domain of science. These categories include:

Earth Science

Here, your understanding of geology, meteorology, astronomy, and environmental science is assessed.

Life Science

This part tests your grasp of key concepts in biology, such as life processes, ecosystems, and heredity.

Physical Science

This category evaluates your knowledge of fundamental concepts in physics and chemistry, including matter, energy, motion, and forces.

There are also questions throughout the science subtest that have to do with the following teaching methods and how to apply those to the elementary science classroom:

Science, Technology, and Society

This section gauges your understanding of the interconnections between science, technology, and society, including their impacts and implications.

Nature of Science

This section assesses your understanding of scientific principles, methods, and inquiry skills, as well as your knowledge of the history of science.

Gaining a comprehensive understanding and practicing these content categories are pivotal for success on the Praxis 5005 Science subtest.

What is the passing scores for the Praxis 5005?

Most states require at least a 159 to pass this subtest. Although South Dakota and Kentucky require a 150 and 152, respectively. While Northern Mariana Islands requires a 157.

How many questions are on each of the subtests?

You will have 60 minutes to complete approximately 55 questions on the Praxis 5005 Science exam.

• Earth Science - 17-18 questions
• Life Science - 18-19 questions
• Physical Science - 18-19 questions

Please understand that you may have several additional questions on your test. ETS, the company that makes the exam, will often field test new items on the exams.

You will never know which test items count toward your score and which items are being field tested. You can learn more about this HERE.

Field testing items is common practice in the testing industry. Therefore, if you see a couple more questions on your exam, don’t panic. Just answer all the questions on your test.

The best ways to pass the Praxis Elementary 5005

Everyone is different in terms of how they want to prepare for the exam. People have different strengths and weaknesses, and it’s important you choose the right program for you.

The following are a few resources you can consider when preparing for this test.

The ETS Study Companion

The first and most important thing you can do to pass your Praxis 5005 test is to examine the test structure and content on the exam by reviewing the test specifications in the Praxis 5005 Study Companion. This document is developed by ETS and shows you everything you are responsible for on the exam. It even has practice test questions similar to what you will see on test day.

Study Guides

Beyond that, most people prefer to use a study guide with practice tests to prepare for the exam. Our Praxis 5005 study guide is fully aligned with the test specifications and blueprint outlined in the ETS Study Companion. It also has hundreds of practice test questions for each subtest and content category, so you are fully prepared for the exam.

Online Courses

For those who need additional support, online courses that come with tutorial videos and practice are helpful. We have a comprehensive, self-paced online course for the Praxis 5001 with hours of videos that will help you pass the Praxis 5005 test.

How many questions do you need to get right to pass?

It is difficult to predict exactly how many questions you must get correct to pass the Praxis 5005 because a scale score is used rather than a raw score.

This means that your raw score—the number of questions you get correct—is put into a formula to calculate a scale score.

To keep things simple, we recommend scoring at least a 75% on the practice tests before you go in to take the exam. Getting 75% of the questions correct when you practice indicates you are ready to take the actual test.

Remember, each section of the exam is scored separately.

Free resources for the Praxis 5005

There are many free resources you can use to pass the exam. Our Science Playlist on our YouTube Channel is packed full of videos to help you with all the foundational skills tested on the exam.

You might also want to check out our free Praxis 5001 webinar, which includes prep for the Praxis 5005. It comes with a free study guide, test strategy tips, and more. Just fill out this form and you will gain access to all of that.