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Exam Overview
Exam Overview
Exam Purpose
The Praxis Music: Content Knowledge (5113) exam is a standardized assessment used to evaluate subject-specific knowledge in music.
It is required by many state education agencies in the United States as part of the music teacher licensure or certification process.
The test measures the core competencies that music educators must demonstrate to teach successfully.
Administering Body
- The exam is developed and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS).
- ETS oversees registration, scheduling, test administration, scoring, and reporting.
Exam Pattern and Structure
120
Selected-response questions
2 hrs
Total testing time
30
Listening questions
4
Content categories
The test is computer delivered and has two separately timed sections. Every question is selected response with four answer choices; there are no essays or performance tasks.
Questions and Timing
- There are 120 selected-response questions, each with four answer choices.
- Questions 1–30 are based on recorded excerpts that play through headphones.
- The practice tests in this book use 100 written questions each, weighted like the real test. Because a printed book cannot play audio, the listening items are written as precise descriptions of what you would hear or as notation given in text.
- Total testing time is 2 hours.
- Section 1 (listening) is timed separately on screen; Section 2 allows 85 minutes for 90 questions, a little under one minute per question.
- Once you leave Section 1 you cannot go back to it, so answer every listening question before moving on.
| Section | Questions | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Section 1 · Listening | 30 (questions 1–30) | Answer questions about recorded musical excerpts. The section has its own on-screen clock, which counts down only after each excerpt finishes playing. You cannot return to Section 1 once you move on. |
| Section 2 · Non-listening | 90 (questions 31–120) | Answer written questions in 85 minutes, including score reading, theory, performance, pedagogy, professional issues and technology. |
Content Categories
| Category | Questions | Share | Listening / Non-listening |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Music History and Literature | 18 | 15% | 9 / 9 |
| II. Theory and Composition | 19 | 16% | 9 / 10 |
| III. Performance | 27 | 22% | 12 / 15 |
| IV. Pedagogy, Professional Issues, and Technology | 56 | 47% | — / 56 |
Where to Focus Your Study
Share of the test by category
Pedagogy, Professional Issues, Technology — 47%Methods, planning, assessment, ethics, standards, technology
Performance — 22%Critical listening, conducting, notation, accompaniment
Theory and Composition — 16%Aural and written analysis, arranging, transposition
Music History and Literature — 15%Style periods, jazz and popular music, world music
Pedagogy, Professional Issues, and Technology is almost half of the test and appears only in Section 2. It is the single best place to invest study time, followed by Performance.
How This Book Maps to the Categories
| Exam category | Sections of this book |
|---|---|
| I. Music History and Literature | 1 Music History and Literature · 2 Sources of Printed and Electronic Information |
| II. Theory and Composition | 4 Basic Music Theory Concepts When Composing · 6 How Musical Sounds Vary · 10 Score Markings and Style Periods (score reading) |
| III. Performance | 7 Critical Listening · 8 Warm-Up Techniques · 9 Notation and Expressive Elements · 10 Performance Practice · 11 Rehearsal, Conducting, and Accompaniment |
| IV. Pedagogy, Professional Issues, and Technology | 3 Improvisation · 5 Care of Instruments · 12 Careers · 13 Collaboration · 14 Pedagogical Approaches · 15 Performance Challenges · 16 Professional Issues, Standards, and Technology |
Scoring and Score Reporting
- Scores are reported as scaled scores; Praxis subject tests use a 100–200 reporting scale.
- Each state or licensing agency sets its own passing score, so check the requirement where you plan to teach.
- There is no penalty for wrong answers. Answer every question.
- The registration fee listed by ETS is $130. Confirm the current fee when you register.
- You can retake the test, but not within 28 days of your last attempt.
Importance of the Exam
Licensure Requirement
- Many state education agencies require Praxis Music (5113) for certification.
- Passing the exam is mandatory in states that include this test in their music teacher preparation standards.
Indicator of Content Mastery
- The exam demonstrates that you have the necessary content knowledge for music education.
- It validates your understanding of music theory, literature, performance practices, and teaching principles.
Professional Credibility
- Achieving a passing score supports your professional credibility.
- It strengthens your qualification portfolio when applying for teaching positions.
Preparation Demands
- The exam requires strategic review of music fundamentals, history, pedagogy, and performance concepts.
- Understanding each domain and its tested skills increases your likelihood of success.
This section provides the foundational context for all subsequent study and review.
Refer to the detailed breakdowns that follow for targeted content preparation within each tested area.
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