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Exam Overview
Test 5534 is given by computer, either at a test center or at home with a remote proctor. All 120 questions are selected-response, and there is no written assignment.
Key Facts About Praxis 5534
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Early Childhood Education: Foundational Knowledge and Content |
| Test code | 5534 |
| Questions | 120 selected-response questions |
| Testing time | 120 minutes |
| Answer choices | Four on most questions; a few ask you to select more than one answer |
| Fee | $130 |
| Score scale | Praxis scaled score, 100 to 200 |
| Passing score | Set by each state |
| Delivery | Computer delivered at a test center or at home |
| Age focus | Mostly birth through age six, some questions up to age eight |
The Five Content Categories
Content Categories and Weights
| Category | Approximate Questions | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| I Child Development and Learning | 26 | 22% |
| II Child Observation, Documentation, and Assessment | 23 | 19% |
| III Developmentally Appropriate Teaching Practice | 28 | 23% |
| IV Professionalism, Family-Teacher Partnerships, and Community Connections | 14 | 12% |
| V Knowledge, Application, and Integration of Academic Content in the Curriculum | 29 | 24% |
Category V is the largest single category, and Categories I and III together are close to half of the test. Do not skip Category IV because it is small: ethics, law and safety questions are some of the easiest points to secure with study.
How the Test Is Scored
Your raw score is the number of scored questions you answer correctly. It is converted to a Praxis scaled score. Each state sets its own passing score, so check the ETS state requirements page for yours. Some questions are being tried out for future use and do not count, but they are not marked, so treat every question as if it counts.
There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so answer every question.
Your score report also shows how many points you earned in each content category. Use it to decide what to study if you need to retake the test.
What Kinds of Questions to Expect
Questions with More Than One Answer
A few questions on the real test tell you to select more than one answer, for example "Select TWO answers." Read the instruction line carefully. You must choose exactly the number of answers asked for, and you earn credit only if all of your selections are correct. Treat each choice as a true-or-false statement about the scenario, then pick the ones that are true. The practice tests in this guide use single-answer questions so that every explanation is clear, but the same reasoning applies.
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