Exam Overview

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An Overview of the Exam

The Praxis Family and Consumer Sciences (5122) test, developed and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), measures whether a prospective teacher has the subject knowledge and teaching methodology needed to begin teaching family and consumer sciences in middle and high school. States and licensing agencies use the score as one requirement for a teaching license or endorsement.

Test at a Glance

Test Details
Aspect	Details
Questions	120 selected-response questions (some may be unscored pretest questions)
Time	2 hours (120 minutes), with no scheduled break
Question format	Multiple choice with four answer choices and one best answer; many questions describe a classroom, laboratory, family, or consumer situation
Calculator	Not needed; the few calculations use simple numbers
Score scale	Scaled score from 100 to 200
Passing score	Set by each state or licensing agency; many states that use this test require 153
Delivery	Computer delivered at a test center or at home with remote proctoring
Test fee	$120 (verify the current fee with ETS)
Retakes	Allowed after a 28-day waiting period
Scores	An unofficial score appears on screen at the end of most selected-response tests; official scores are posted to your ETS account a few weeks later

Check Which Test Code Your State Requires

ETS also offers a newer Family and Consumer Sciences test, code 5123, with a different content outline, 130 questions, and 130 minutes. Some states now require 5123, while others continue to accept 5122. Confirm the required test code with your state education agency before you register. This guide is written for test 5122.

Content Categories and Weights

Share of Questions by Content Category

Food and Nutrition; Human Development — 42%22% and 20% · about 26 and 24 questions

Resource Management — 18%About 22 questions

Foundations of FCS Education — 16%About 20 questions

Housing; Textiles and Apparel — 24%12% each · about 14 questions each

Test Blueprint
Content category	Approx. questions	Share of test
1. Food and Nutrition	26	22%
2. Housing and Interior Design	14	12%
3. Textiles, Fashion, and Apparel	14	12%
4. Human Development and Interpersonal Relationships	24	20%
5. Foundations of Family and Consumer Sciences Education	20	16%
6. Resource Management	22	18%

How the Questions Are Written

Subject knowledge

Precise facts and distinctions: a safe cooking temperature, a fiber's properties, a design principle, a theorist's stage, a consumer law.

Teaching methodology

Each category includes questions asked from the teacher's seat: planning a lab, choosing a strategy or assessment, keeping students safe, or integrating FCCLA.

Scenarios

Many questions describe a student, child, family, client, or consumer and ask for the BEST, FIRST, or MOST appropriate response.

Calculations and data

Expect recipe scaling, unit prices, percent of calories, interest, markup, and budget questions, plus small tables to interpret.

Scoring

Your raw score is the number of questions you answer correctly; there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so answer every question. ETS converts the raw score to the 100–200 scale so that scores are comparable across test forms. Your score report also shows the points you earned in each content category, which is the best guide to what to review if you need to retake the test.

Why the Test Matters

A qualifying score is a common requirement for a family and consumer sciences teaching license or endorsement.
It documents broad knowledge of the field to licensing agencies and employers.
Preparing for it builds the content knowledge you will draw on when teaching nutrition, personal finance, child development, housing, and apparel.

Confirm Current Details

ETS and your state set fees, policies, and qualifying scores, and they can change. Check the ETS Praxis website and your state's requirements before you register.

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