Praxis PLT: Early Childhood (5621)

The Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood (5621) exam is a two-hour, computer-delivered test made up of 70 selected-response questions and 4 constructed-response questions. It covers foundational pedagogical knowledge for teaching young children. Some questions are set in early childhood classrooms; others apply to teaching

Total time 2 hours (120 minutes)

70; some questions may be unscored pilot questions

4, based on 2 case histories (2 questions per case)

Computer delivered at a test center or at home with online proctoring

Set by each state that uses the test

IV. Professional Development, Leadership, and Community

V. Analysis of Instructional Scenarios

SHARE OF THE TOTAL SCORE BY CATEGORY (%)

I Students as Learners II Instructional Process III Assessment

IV Prof. Development V Case Analysis (CR)

HOW THE PRACTICE TESTS MIRROR THE EXAM

Both practice tests contain 100 selected-response questions weighted like the real selected-response section (30, 30, 20 and 20 questions for Categories I to IV), with many questions grouped around short case histories. Category V, the constructed-response part, is practiced in Section 5 with two complete case histories, four questions, sample

2-point responses and the scoring guide.

How the Test Is Scored

Each selected-response question is worth one raw point, and there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so answer every question. Each constructed-response answer is scored from 0 to 2 by trained educators using a general scoring guide. The raw points from both parts are combined and converted to a scaled score from 100 to 200. Because the constructed- response questions count for about a quarter of the total score, a strong written performance can make a real difference

How young children develop cognitively, physically, socially, emotionally and morally, and how they learn How to plan for and teach diverse learners, including students with disabilities, gifted students and English learners How to create a productive learning environment and motivate students How to plan instruction, choose strategies and use questioning and communication effectively

How to choose, use and interpret assessments

How to grow professionally, collaborate, work with families and meet legal and ethical responsibilities How to analyze a classroom case and explain sound instructional decisions in writing