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Exam Overview
The Praxis Speech and Theatre (5222) test measures the knowledge a beginning teacher needs to teach speech communication and theatre in middle and high school: communication theory, interpersonal and group communication, public speaking and forensics, acting and performance, production and design, and theatre history and dramatic literature.
Exam Pattern and Format
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Question type | Selected-response (multiple-choice). Most questions have four choices; a few may have more and ask you to select more than one answer. Some questions may be unscored pretest items. |
| Number of questions | 120 |
| Testing time | 120 minutes (about one minute per question) |
| Delivery | Computer-delivered at a test center or at home with online proctoring |
| Test fee | $130 |
| Passing score | Set by each state or licensing agency |
| Retakes | Allowed; ETS sets a minimum waiting period between attempts, so check the current policy before you register |
Content Categories
ETS divides the test into six content categories, three in speech and three in theatre. Each section of this guide teaches one category.
| Content category | Approx. questions | Approx. share | Where to study it |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Speech: Communication Fundamentals and Media | 19 | 16% | Section 1 |
| II. Speech: Interpersonal and Group Communication | 22 | 18% | Section 2 |
| III. Speech: Public Speaking and Debate | 19 | 16% | Section 3 |
| IV. Theatre: Creating and Performing | 20 | 16% | Section 4 |
| V. Theatre: Production | 26 | 22% | Section 5 |
| VI. Theatre: History, Literature, and Criticism | 14 | 12% | Section 6 |
Scoring Information
- Results are reported as a scaled score.
- Each state sets its own passing score, so check the requirement for the state where you plan to teach.
- There is no penalty for wrong answers. Answer every question.
- Some questions may be pretest items that do not count, and you will not know which ones they are, so treat every question as scored.
Who Administers the Exam
The test is developed and administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service) as part of the Praxis Subject Assessments. State education agencies and educator preparation programs use the scores in licensing decisions. Registration, test dates, score reporting dates, and the free Study Companion with the official content outline are on the ETS Praxis website.
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