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Exam Overview
An Overview of the Exam
Format, content categories, and scoring
The 5089 test is developed and administered by ETS. It is required for middle-level social studies licensure in a number of states and is delivered on computer, either at a test center or at home with a remote proctor.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Test name and code | Praxis Middle School: Social Studies (5089) |
| Test time | 2 hours |
| Questions | 90 selected-response + 3 constructed-response (short content essays) |
| Score weighting | Selected-response 75% · Essays 25% |
| Format | Computer-delivered; test center or at-home testing |
| Score scale | 100–200; each state sets its own qualifying score |
| Test fee | $156 (check the ETS test page when you register) |
| Retake policy | Wait 28 days between attempts |
Content Categories
| Category | Approx. questions | Share of score |
|---|---|---|
| I. United States History | 22 | 19% |
| II. World History | 18 | 15% |
| III. Government/Civics | 17 | 14% |
| IV. Geography | 17 | 14% |
| V. Economics | 16 | 13% |
| VI. Short Content Essays | 3 | 25% |
Share of total score by category (%)
What the Numbers Mean
The three essays together are worth more than any single selected-response category. A candidate who writes three solid essays (2–3 points each) protects a quarter of the score; skipping essay practice is the most common preparation mistake on this test.Question Types
Stand-alone selected-response
One best answer from four choices: cause and effect, chronology, comparison, significance, and application of concepts.
Stimulus-based selected-response
Questions built on written passages, maps, charts, graphs, tables, cartoons, diagrams, and photographs.
Interdisciplinary items
Some selected-response questions and all of the essays combine two fields, such as history and geography.
Short content essays
Three equally weighted essays of about 10 minutes each, scored 0–3 on accuracy, completeness, and analysis.
Pacing the Two Hours
| Task | Suggested time | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90 selected-response questions | about 85 minutes | just under 1 minute each |
| 3 short content essays | about 30 minutes | about 10 minutes each |
| Review of flagged questions | about 5 minutes | — |
Confirm the Test Code Your State Requires
ETS has introduced a newer middle-school social studies test, Middle School: Social Studies (5589), a selected-response-only test that some states have adopted in place of 5089. Check your state's requirements on the ETS website before you register, and register for the code your state lists.Finished reading?
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