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Exam Overview
The 7811 test is computer delivered at testing centers and at home with online proctoring. It is made up of four separately timed subtests. You may take all four in one appointment as test 7811, or take the subtests separately if your state allows it.
Key Facts About Praxis 7811
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching |
| Test code | 7811 (subtests 7812, 7813, 7814, 7815) |
| Total questions | 222 |
| Total time | 4 hours 45 minutes, four separately timed subtests |
| Delivery | Computer delivered at a test center or at home |
| Calculator | On-screen four-function calculator for Mathematics |
| Fee | $209 for the full test |
| Score scale | 100 to 200 for each subtest |
| Passing scores | Set by each state for each subtest |
| Status | Still offered; being phased out as states move to the 8000 series |
The Four Subtests
Subtests, Questions and Time
| Subtest | Questions | Time | About per Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7812 Reading and Language Arts | 63 | 90 minutes | 1 minute 25 seconds |
| 7813 Mathematics | 52 | 85 minutes | 1 minute 35 seconds |
| 7814 Science | 47 | 60 minutes | 1 minute 15 seconds |
| 7815 Social Studies | 60 | 50 minutes | 50 seconds |
Social Studies is the tightest subtest: 60 questions in 50 minutes. Practice answering content questions quickly so you save time for the longer classroom scenarios.
Content Categories and Weights
Official Content Categories
| Subtest | Category | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Language Arts | I. Foundational Literacy Skills | 30% |
| II. Language | 15% | |
| III. Constructing Meaning | 55% | |
| Mathematics | I. Counting and Operations with Whole Numbers | 30% |
| II. Place Value and Decimals | 25% | |
| III. Fractions, Operations with Fractions, and Ratios | 25% | |
| IV. Early Equations and Expressions, Measurement, and Geometry | 20% | |
| Science | I. Earth and Space Sciences | 30% |
| II. Life Sciences | 35% | |
| III. Physical Sciences | 35% | |
| Social Studies | I. History | 26% |
| II. Government and Citizenship | 26% | |
| III. Human and Physical Geography | 24% | |
| IV. Economics | 24% |
In Science, Engineering, Technology and the Application of Science is tested inside the other three categories and reported with them.
What Kinds of Questions to Expect
- Single-answer multiple-choice questions with four choices, the most common type
- Select-all-that-apply questions and questions that ask you to choose two or three answers from a list
- Numeric-entry questions in Reading and Language Arts and Mathematics, where you type a number
- Questions that ask you to select a sentence or part of a passage on screen
- Two-part questions in which the second part builds on the first
- Classroom scenarios: a student's work sample, a student's spoken explanation, a lesson plan or a set of instructional materials, followed by a question about what it shows or what the teacher should do
The practice tests in this guide use four-choice questions, the format of most real items. Some practice questions list Roman-numeral statements and ask which combination is correct, so you also practice the thinking behind select-all questions.
How the Test Is Scored
Each subtest is scored and reported separately on a scale of 100 to 200, and your state sets the passing score for each one. Most questions are worth one point. Reading and Language Arts includes three two-point questions and Mathematics includes five; partial credit is possible on those. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave a question blank. A few questions on each subtest may be unscored trial questions, and you cannot tell which ones they are, so give every question your best effort.
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