Praxis® Core Requirement

Who Must Meet the Praxis® Core Requirement?

According to state law, each person admitted to a teacher education program in Connecticut shall take the Praxis® Core Academic Skills for Educators tests in reading, writing, and mathematics OR meet the requirements for a waiver (see below).

If you do not qualify for a waiver, create an account on the ETS Praxis site. Register to take the computer-delivered Praxis® Core. Students will need to submit test scores by May 1 (prior to entering the teaching program).

Download Praxis Requirement information flyer or see information below. For more information on Connecticut testing codes, visit the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Guide to Assessments.

Computer-Based Tests:

Although there are minimum passing standards, students do not need to achieve the passing score in order to enter the teaching program. The TCPCG will use the scores diagnostically to determine if students need remediation in any area. However, students should spend time preparing for the tests, so we can accurately determine whether or not you need remediation.

  • Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading (Test #5713; Passing Score = 156)
  • Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing (Test #5723; Passing Score = 162
  • Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics (Test #5733; Passing Score = 150
  • Core Academic Skills for Educators: Combined Test #5752 (Reading, Writing, Mathematics)
  • Core Reading (Test #5712; Passing Score = 156) - previous version, but still accepted
  • Core Writing (Test #5722; Passing Score = 162) - previous version, but still accepted
  • Core Mathematics (Test #5732; Passing Score = 150) - previous version, but still accepted
  • Core Combined Test #5751 (Reading, Writing, Mathematics) - previous version, but still accepted

Test Structure:

  • Reading: 85 minutes; 56 selected-response questions based on reading passages & statement
  • Writing: 100 minutes; 40 selected-response questions and two 30-minute essay questions
  • Math: 90 minutes; 56 selected-response and numeric entry questions (on-screen calculator available)
  • Combined Test: 5 hours

Test Locations:

  • Dates: Offered year-round by appointment (Monday – Saturday)
  • Locations: Glastonbury, Hamden, Hartford, Litchfield, New Haven (See ETS website for locations)
  • Praxis Testing at Home

Registration:

Praxis® registration information, including test sites and dates, is available online. Study tips and practice tests are also available on the ETS website. Call 1-800-772-9476 for questions about the test.

Score Report Receipt:

Score reports are available via your online account. You will receive an email when scores have been posted. Reading or math score results available 10-12 business days after testing window closes. Writing scores available 15-17 days after testing window closes.

Fees:

1 test: $90; Combined Test: $150

Fee Waivers:

May be available for students with demonstrated need that meet the criteria (see ETS website).

Test Accommodations:

Retest:

You do not need to retake the test since passing scores are not needed to enter the program.

Recipient Code:

Include the University of Connecticut as a score recipient: Code 3915. If you did not include UConn as a score recipient, you must contact ETS and have them send UConn a score report.

Praxis® Waiver

How do I know if I am eligible for a Praxis® waiver?

You are eligible for a Praxis® waiver if you meet one of the following sets of criteria:

  • SAT Waiver. A combined score of 1,100 or more on the SAT* (mathematics and critical reading sections only; does NOT include writing section) with neither the mathematics nor the critical reading subtest score below 450; or
  • ACT Waiver. Scores no less than 22 on the English subtest and no less than 19 on the mathematics subtest on the American College Testing (ACT) program assessment.
  • PAA Waiver. A total score on the Prueba de Aptitud Academica (PAA) equivalent to a combined score of 1,000 on the SAT with neither the mathematics nor the verbal subtest score below the equivalent of 400 points. In addition, a minimum score of 510 on the English-as-a-Second-Language Achievement Test (ESLAT) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
  • GRE Waiver. For candidates taking the test prior to Oct. 1, 2002: A combined minimum score of 1000 on the GRE quantitative and verbal reasoning tests, with no less than a score of 500 in quantitative reasoning and 450 in verbal reasoning. For candidates taking the test after Oct. 1, 2002: A combined minimum score of 1000 on the GRE quantitative and verbal reasoning tests, with no less than a score of 500 in quantitative reasoning and 450 in verbal reasoning, plus a minimum analytic writing score of 4.0. For candidates taking the test on/after August 1, 2011: a score of 297 on the quantitative reasoning and verbal reasoning tests with no less than a score of 144 on quantitative reasoning and 150 in verbal reasoning, plus a minimum analytical writing score of 4.0.

* If you have taken the SAT on more than one occasion, your highest verbal score and your highest mathematics score will be combined.

If you DO MEET one of the criteria, you must submit qualifying scores to UConn.

Current UConn students: To see if you qualify for the waiver, look at your ACT or SAT scores in High School Summary in the Student Administration system. If you qualify for the waiver AND your scores appear in PeopleSoft, you do not have to request test scores.

If you qualify for the waiver and did not submit scores to UConn when you applied, you MUST request official scores and have them sent to UConn (GRE/SAT recipient code 3915; ACT recipient code 0604) by May 1 (prior to entering the teaching program).

If you DO NOT MEET one of the criteria listed above, you must take the Praxis Core Exam.

Praxis® Subject Assessments for Certification

The Praxis® Subject Assessments are required by the state of Connecticut for certification. All students in Teacher Preparation Programs must complete and pass the Praxis® exam in their certification area. The Neag School of Education cannot recommend teacher candidates for certification until they have completed the required Praxis® Subject Assessments, as well as all other program completion requirements. All students in the TCPCG take the Praxis® Subject Assessment or ACTFL (world language students only).

Recipient Code: Include the University of Connecticut as a score recipient: Code 3915. If you did not include UConn as a score recipient, you must contact ETS and have them send us a score report.

For complete information on the Praxis® Subject Assessment, visit the Praxis website.

For Special Education Students: Testing requirements include the Foundations of Reading test and Praxis® Subject Assessment (5543).

For World Language Students: The CSDE has approved the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) for any world language endorsement. Call ACTFL at 1-800-486-8444 or register online at languagetesting.com.

For Agriculture Education Students: There is currently no Praxis® Subject Assessments or testing requirement for Agriculture Education certification.

When should I take the Praxis® Subject Assessment?

We require you to complete and pass the Praxis® Subject Assessment so that we can recommend you for certification. We strongly recommend that you take the Praxis® Subject Assessment exam prior to entering the teacher preparation program. Overall, the earlier you take the Subject Assessment, the earlier you are able to check off the requirement, insuring fewer complications with your certification papers.

Subject Assessment are held according to the ETS schedule and are generally scheduled during the academic year. Praxis® Subject Assessment scores arrive at the University 4-8 weeks after your test date. Therefore, you must plan ahead to make sure your test scores arrive in plenty of time to support your certification process. While most UConn students pass the Praxis® Subject Assessment on the first try, some do not. We recommend that you prepare for the test (test preparation material on ETS website and in HuskyCT cohort site for current students). Take the test(s) early enough so that, if you do not pass, you will have a chance to take the exam again before you complete the program.

Questions?

If you have any questions about assessment requirements, please contact the Certification Officer Dr. Ann Traynor.

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