Praxis 5355 Special Education Digital Study Guide

Praxis 5355 is the Special Education: Foundational Knowledge exam. It is designed to measure the knowledge and competencies required for beginning special education professionals. The test focuses on core principles that support effective instruction, assessment, and collaboration in special education settings.

The exam is two hours long and includes 120 selected-response questions. It is computer-delivered and assesses foundational knowledge across development, instruction, assessment, and professional practice.

The exam is organized into four major content categories:

• Human Development and Individual Learning Differences (26%)
• Effective Planning and Instruction and Productive Learning Environments (32%)
• Assessment (23%)
• Professional Learning, Practice, and Collaboration (19%)

These categories cover characteristics of students with disabilities, evidence-based instructional strategies, IEP development, progress monitoring, behavior supports, legal and ethical responsibilities, and collaboration with families and multidisciplinary teams.

Many candidates consider Praxis 5355 moderately challenging because it requires the application of special education principles, not just the recall of definitions. Questions often present classroom scenarios that require you to determine the most appropriate instructional strategy, assessment approach, or collaborative action.

For example, you may be asked to identify the best progress-monitoring method for a student’s IEP goal or determine which instructional support aligns with a student’s identified disability. Success depends on understanding how special education laws, instructional planning, and assessment practices work together in real classroom settings.

Most states require a scaled score between 150 and 160, but requirements differ depending on your state’s certification standards. Praxis scores are reported as scaled scores. A scaled score adjusts for slight differences in difficulty between test versions, ensuring fairness across administrations. Because of this scaling process, the number of questions you answer correctly does not directly equal your final reported score.

Always check your state’s Department of Education website to confirm the exact passing score you need. You can access information on passing scores by state on the ETS website.