PRAXIS II Workshop

Dr. Betty Bush,Curriculum and Instruction

AndTim Wall, Graduate Assistant

What should I know? How should I prepare?

Test Taking Tips and Strategies

Why do I have to take this exam?Registration: Bring ID and Admission

Ticket

Before the Test

In preparing for the test: 1. Register 2. Study 3. Rest

Be awake: “Educational research indicates the mind not fully activated until three hours after waking.”

The Praxis takes 2 hours; plan to be at the test site at 7:30

Finished by 11:00 a.m.You may not leave until the time has expired

Before the Test (continued)

Bring supplies: Bring and Use a Watch Bring a four-function calculator* Bring several number two pencils

No food or drink, special calculators or paperNot allowed to wear hatsTip: Be ready for unusual testing circumstances

Test Taking Tips and Strategies

This is an objective test: 110-150 questionsEach Praxis Test is different- Review the TAAGThere are similar strategies to each test:1. Answer each question2. Equally weighted; skip around3. Get to each question;4. Use time to your advantage

Test Taking Tips and Strategies

5. Circle the details in your question book so that you don’t miss any of them.

6. If you do not immediately know the answer, narrow down your choices, then make a guess.

7. Don’t lose focus, get stressed, and dawdle when you don’t know an answer. Move on.

8. Read carefully, as there are usually hints

Test Taking Tips and Strategies

9. Use time to your advantage10. Know strengths and weaknesses; make sure

you get all the points possible for your strengths.11. Use all allotted time and check your work12. Spend time getting the graphs right- answers

are on the page in front of you.

Test Taking Tips and Strategies

13. Test divided up into content sections within your content area. For example:

Social Science--130 questions in 2 Hours. I. U.S. History - 29 = 22% II. World History - 29 = 22% III. Government - 21 = 16% IV. Geography - 19 = 15% V. Economics - 19 = 15% VI. Behavioral Sciences - 13 = 10%

Test Taking Tips and Strategies

Elementary Education Praxis: 150 questions I. Reading/Language Arts - 51 = 34% II. Mathematics - 25 = 17% III. Science - 21 = 14% IV. Social Studies - 21 = 14% V. Fine Arts - 21 = 14% VI. Physical Education - 11 = 7%

Individualize Your Study Plan to Fit Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Test Taking Tips and Strategies

Physical Education Praxis: 150 questions I. The Art of Human Movement - 38 = 25% II. The Science of Human Movement - 37 = 25% III. The Role of Physical Education as a Profession 15 = 10% IV. The Role of P.E. Within Total School Curriculum 15= 10% V. Planning the Teaching/Learning Process 15 = 10% VI. Implementing the Teaching/Learning Process 15 = 10% VII. Evaluating the Teaching/Learning Process 15 = 10%

Individualize Your Study Plan to Fit Your Strengths and Weaknesses

How are these tests created?

Praxis tests challenge both content knowledge and your ability to reason.

Quote, “When the Praxis tests were first being developed by teachers and teacher educators across the country, it was almost universally agreed that prospective teachers should be able to analyze situations, synthesize material, and apply knowledge to specific examples.”

How are these tests created?

Each test written by educators in their own field.Quote from the P.E. test at-a-glance Booklet, “The test is broad in scope because of the variety of

programs in which physical education students are enrolled…Approximately half the questions concern the art and science of human movement; the other half relate to teaching physical education, including planning, implementing, and evaluating the teaching/learning process.

How are these tests created?

(continued) “…Generally, 70 percent of the questions measure knowledge and comprehension of basic concepts and principles, and 30 percent measure higher order thinking skills, such as application and evaluation.”

Test takers often say the test reflected questions about “common sense.”

Example of Content Knowledge

An example:“In which of the following theories is the

influence of rewards most likely to be emphasized in explaining behavioral change?

(A) Information-processing theory(B) Operant conditioning theory(C) Classical conditioning theory(D) Cognitive development theory

Example of Content Knowledge and knowing how to apply it

“According to most researchers on bilingualism, which of the

following would be least helpful for children whose native language is not English and who have limited English proficiency to acquire knowledge of a subject?”

(A) Teaching them the subject exclusively in English. (B) Teaching them the subject in their native language until their

English skills permit instruction in English. (C) Developing their English skills while they are learning the

subject. (D) Strengthening native language skills to support subject-

matter instruction.

More strategies

Praxis questions try to confuse students, or at least make you think and spend time.

For example, test questions routinely use the words, “NOT,” “EXCEPT” and “LEAST”

The significance of these words are found in the way sentences, paragraphs, and meaning changes

Pay attention to what the question asks, then reason out the BEST answer.

Improving your ability to guess correctly

There is a common pattern to the response choices on Praxis tests.

Answer choices will have two very similar answers that seem correct, one that is definitely wrong, and one that seems plausible.

Your goal is to eliminate as many as possible.If an answer seems ridiculously basic or simplistic,

reread the question and look for tricks.

Types of Questions:

Multiple-choice question types:I. Complete the statementII. Which of the followingIII. Roman Numeral Choices.IV. Least, Except, NotV. Questions about Graphs, Tables, or

Reading Passages

PRAXIS Fee Waiver

There are a limited number of fee waivers available

By quotaFinancial needFinancial aid Apply very early Instructions in the

registration booklet

Praxis Review SessionRead the Test At A Glance Booklet (TAAG)

one third of the persons who fail the test have not read the tag

Form a study groupSchedule study sessionsKnow topics covered on the test obtained

from the TAAG bookletReview course syllabi

Praxis Review SessionFamiliarize yourself with the test before

taking itRead the directions carefullyPlan your approachPace your activitiesOrganize your response

Remember that the PRAXIS II is your licensure test. Just like law students study for the barexam and finance students study for the CPA exam, education students need to study for thePRAXIS II in order to pass and do their very best. Please complete this study plan. The contentis listed in you “Tests at a Glance” booklet.

List the contentthat is covered

How well do Iknow thiscontent?

What resourcesdo I have forstudying thecontent?

What resourcesdo I need?

Where could Ifind thisresource?

Date and time Iplan to study(individually,pairs, groups)

Date completed

Study your plan and plan your study

About the PRAXIS IIEmphasis is on thinking skills:

convergent, divergent, literal, analytical, critical, creative, knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, interpretation, memory, and translation

Know Terms:

practice, reinforcement, transfer, mastery, understanding, motivation, cognitive, abstract, asserted, and others.

Review:

terms in content areas and others related to developmental stages, curriculum development, instructional strategies and assessments.

Practice:

reading charts, graphs, maps, and other graphics

PRAXIS Review SessionThe Questions

Key Questions to ask yourself:

1. What is the question asking?

2. What is knowledge base needed to answer the question?

3. What are the processes used to answer the question?

4. What are the obviously wrong answers I can eliminate?

5. What is the answer?

Sample PRAXIS II Questions

1. Although lecturing and full-class discussion are common methods of teaching used in high schools, small-group discussion is the most effective tool a teacher has.

An effective essay developing the topic sentence or thesis above would have as itsfocus which of the following?

(A) A description of the skills a teacher needs to have in order to lead effective small-group discussions

(B) An explanation of the features that make small-group discussion especiallybeneficial for learning

(C) A listing of teachers' reasons for using lecturing and full-class discussion more oftenthan small-group discussion

(D) An argument that advocates the elimination of lecturing and full-class discussion forteaching students in high schools

Sample PRAXIS II Questions

What is question number 1 asking?

Sample PRAXIS II Questions

What is question number 1 asking?

What is the focus of the essay derived from the topic sentence?

Sample PRAXIS II Questions

What do you need to know to answer the question?

Sample PRAXIS II Questions

What do you need to know to answer the question?

Something about an essay.Something about a topic sentence and focus

Sample PRAXIS II Questions

What are the processes used to answer the question?

Sample PRAXIS II Questions

What are the processes used to answer the question?

Application, analysis, synthesis, interpretation and evaluation

Sample PRAXIS II Questions

Can you eliminate the obviously wrong answers?

Sample PRAXIS II Questions

Can you eliminate the obviously wrong answers?

Did you choose A? Why or Why not?Was a description of teacher skills needed to lead

effective small group discussion the focus?How about C? Was a listing of teacher reasons for

using lecture v.s. small group discussion the focus?Was the focus an argument to eliminate lecturing

and full-class discussion?

Sample PRAXIS II Questions

What is the answer?

Sample PRAXIS II QuestionsTry answering question number 2 on your own.2. Which of the following is most accurate concerning the findings of

cross cultural research on the capacity of people to use abstract reasoning?

(A) All children develop use of abstract reasoning at the same age.

(B) Children who have not attended school can use abstract reasoning in a wider variety of tasks than can children who attended school.

(C) People who perform poorly on standard tests of cognitive skills may be capable of abstract reasoning in more familiar contexts.

(D) In some cultures, the capacity for using abstract reasoning in all situations precedes the capacity for using concrete operation thinking.

Sample PRAXIS II Questions

Now work together with a group of two or three and discuss your choice.

Decide if you eliminated the same answers.

Did you choose the same answer?

Sample PRAXIS II Questions

Try working through some other types of questions.

Remember you can use the Talent Development Center for support