Praxis II Elementary Education (7811)

The proven resources you need to help pass the Praxis 5001 sooner and score higher.

The complete Praxis 7811 study guide includes all subtests: 7812, 7813, 7814, & 7815. 

The proven resources you need to help pass the Praxis 7811 sooner and score higher.

As a dedicated test prep specialist, I've supported thousands of aspiring educators to pass their teacher and leadership certification exams.

Meet Kathleen Jasper

Your Praxis 7811 FAQs Answered

Is the Praxis 7811 hard to pass?

While the Praxis 7811 is an elementary education test, the exam is rather large and complicated. First-time pass rates for many Praxis exams are less than 50%, so it’s very important you do not underestimate the test. The Praxis 7811 consists of four subtests which are timed and scored separately.

• Reading and Language Arts (7812) - 63 questions, 90 minutes
• Math (7812) - 52 questions, 85 minutes
• Science (7814) - 47 questions, 60 minutes
• Social Studies (7815) - 60 questions, 50 minutes

Because the subtests are scored separately, you can pass all or some sections of the exam. If you pass some sections but not others, you can retake just the sections you were unsuccessful in. For example, if you pass the language arts and reading, the social studies, and the science sections, but fail the math section, you will just retake the math the next time around.

This test can be difficult for new teachers because of their lack of experience in the classroom. The language arts and reading section is packed with teaching scenarios, and you’ll have to identify best practices for educating young readers.

In addition, this test covers content you may not have studied since you were in elementary and middle school. For example, in the social studies section, you’ll be asked about specifics on U.S. history, world history, and economics. In the science section, there are questions covering physical, earth and space, and life sciences. And while the math is considered elementary level, there are questions that cover algebra, geometry, and other complex concepts.

You’ll need to brush up on content you may have forgotten and skills you haven’t used in quite some time. But fear not! Our study guide covers it all.

What's the passing score for the Praxis 7811?

It is difficult to predict exactly how many questions you must get correct to pass the Praxis 7811 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. I have a video explaining this here.

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 correctly when you practice indicates you are ready to take the actual test. Remember, each section of the exam is scored separately. If you would like to learn more about how Praxis exams are scored, check out this blog.

Does the study guide have the same questions as the real exam?

While our study guide is aligned with the test, it is against testing policy to share items on the actual exam. State tests are secure, standardized, and heavily regulated.

There are hundreds of test questions in the item banks for each exam. When you take the exam, your version of the test will be different from other versions and will have questions randomly pulled from the item banks. This ensures test security, validity, and reliability. Trying to memorize what you think will be on your test is an exercise in futility. Instead, you should study the skills and content outlined in the specifications and blueprint of the exam. To learn more about this, watch this video.

Everything in our study guide is aligned with the test specifications and blueprint for the exam. That way, you can review how the test is designed and what skills are assessed. In fact, the questions in our study guide are structured similarly to what you will encounter on test day.

Is this the best study guide for the Praxis Elementary Education 7811?

Obviously, we believe our study guide is the very best resource you can purchase to prepare for the Praxis 7811. Our Praxis 7811 test prep is 100% aligned with the exam. The book is sectioned out by subtest, and within those subtests, we’ve aligned all of the information with the test specifications and blueprint. This ensures you are studying what you will see on test day–nothing more, nothing less.

In each section, there are practice items that align specifically with the skills in that section, so you can practice with specific questions for each skill. In addition, we have detailed answer explanations for every question in our study guide. This ensures you understand why you got something correct or incorrect. Finally, our study guide contains 2-3, full-length practice tests with answer explanations at the end of each subtest. Therefore, you have hundreds of practice questions to work with.

We sort every practice test question by test skill. This helps you identify the skills in which you are low, so you can go back and study those aspects of the study guide. Knowing what skill the questions assess is a huge benefit to your studies.

Does the study guide contain practice tests?

Yes. There are two full-length practice tests at the end of each subtest in our study guide, and there are practice test questions scattered throughout the book. All of the questions are categorized by skill and contain detailed answer explanations.

How long should I study for the Praxis 7811?

People have a range of skill levels when it comes to this test, so it is difficult to predict exactly how or how long you should study. This is a very large exam that covers expansive content for each subtest.

We recommend short, incremental practice over time. This is much better than cramming all of your studying into one or two weekends.

We believe 20-30-minute study sessions over a 1-2 week period for each subtest is ideal. That means it will take you anywhere from 4-6 weeks in total to study for the entire exam. If you’re digging deep into the material, you’ll need time to dedicate to each subtest.

If you really want to pass this test and move on in your career, it’s important to study everything in the study guide and apply that knowledge to scenarios on the test. This study guide will help you focus on the content you will see on test day.

Here is a video on how to study and use the study guide most effectively. 

States use the Praxis Elementary Education 7811 to certify their elementary teachers for grades K-6. However, every state has its own requirements for certification, so be sure to visit your state’s Department of Education website and find out exactly what you’re required to do before registering for the exam or buying materials.

Do I need to take any other exams with the Praxis 7811?

Most states that use Praxis 7811 exam also require prospective teachers to pass the Praxis Core and the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT).

Finally, if you are seeking certification in special education or reading, you’ll be required to take additional exams for those areas.

Depending on the state in which you are seeking certification, this will vary. That’s why it is extremely important you check with your state’s Department of Education before you purchase test prep materials to determine exactly what tests are required.

FREE Praxis 7811 Resources

Praxis 7811 Webinar and Free Study Guide

Learn everything you need to pass the Praxis Elementary Education 7811 with my free webinar. The webinar comes with a free study guide and practice test. In the webinar, I go over test structure, strategy, and content, so you can pass your exam fast.

Featured Blogs

The Praxis II Exam: Everything You Need to Know

Praxis I vs. Praxis II: What's the Difference?