Start Here · 3 min read
Exam Overview
An Overview of the Exam
Test facts, content categories, and scoring
The Praxis® School Librarian (5312) test is developed and administered by ETS. States and licensing agencies that use it set their own qualifying scores, so the test serves as one requirement for a school librarian license or endorsement, alongside the state's degree, preparation-program, and other testing requirements.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Test name and code | School Librarian (5312) |
| Number of questions | 120 selected-response questions |
| Testing time | 2 hours |
| Question types | Selected-response: most questions have four answer choices with one correct answer; ETS notes that its tests can also include questions with one or more correct choices and other interactive formats |
| Unscored questions | Some questions are being tried out and do not count toward your score; they are not identified |
| Delivery | Computer delivered, at a test center or at home with online proctoring |
| Test fee | $130 (confirm the current fee when you register) |
| Score scale | 100–200 scaled score |
| Qualifying score | Set by each state; for example, Louisiana and South Carolina require 154 |
| Standards alignment | ALA/AASL/CAEP School Librarian Preparation Standards and AASL National School Library Standards |
Content Categories
| Content category | Approx. questions | Approx. % of test |
|---|---|---|
| I. Program Administration | 24 | 20% |
| II. Organization and Access | 23 | 19% |
| III. Information Access in the Learning Environment | 24 | 20% |
| IV. Teaching and Learning | 35 | 29% |
| V. Professional Development, Leadership, and Advocacy | 14 | 12% |
Approximate number of questions by content category
I. Program Administration
Using data, action research, and needs assessment to plan, manage, and evaluate the library's collections, programs, and services; developing policies with the learning community.
II. Organization and Access
Selecting, acquiring, and maintaining resources; cataloging and classification; arranging physical and virtual spaces for equitable access; scheduling; circulation data and privacy.
III. Information Access in the Learning Environment
Current and emerging technologies and resource sharing; equitable access for all learners; intellectual freedom, privacy, copyright, fair use, and plagiarism.
IV. Teaching and Learning
Children's and young adult literature; inquiry-based learning; information, media, visual, and digital literacies; developmentally and culturally responsive instruction and assessment.
V. Professional Development, Leadership, and Advocacy
Professional relationships and networks, leading professional development, committee work, legislation and policy, ethics, and advocacy for the program.
Scoring
Your score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly; there is no penalty for wrong answers, so answer every question. The raw score is converted to a scaled score from 100 to 200, which adjusts for small differences in difficulty between test editions. Your score report shows whether you met the qualifying score for the state you designated and your performance in each content category.
Passing the Test
There is no single national passing score. Check your state's requirement on the ETS state-requirements pages or with your state education agency before you test; several states that use this test set the qualifying score at 154.Registration and Test Day
1
Create an ETS Praxis account
Register online, choose the test center or at-home option, and select the score recipients your state requires.
2
Request accommodations early
Testing accommodations and health-related needs must be approved by ETS before you register for your test date.
3
Prepare your ID and space
Bring acceptable, current photo identification. For at-home testing, check the equipment, room, and system requirements in advance.
4
Receive your scores
Scores are posted to your ETS account on the published score-reporting date for your test window and sent to the recipients you selected.
5
Retake if needed
If you need to retest, you may take the test again after a 28-day waiting period.
Always Confirm Current Details
Fees, testing policies, qualifying scores, and score-reporting dates are set by ETS and by each state and can change. Verify them on the official Praxis website before you register.Finished reading?
Next, start the first chapter.