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Score high on the Praxis Core and jumpstart the teaching career of your dreams!
Praxis Core For Dummies is a must-have resource for preparing for—and passing—the Praxis® Core Academic Skills for Educators Exam. The best way to succeed on any exam is to prepare with plenty of practice questions. This book provides you with 2 full-length practice tests plus an additional 4 tests online. That’s 6 complete tests containing the same kinds of questions you will see on the reading, writing, and mathematic sections of the exam!
Now in its third edition, Praxis Core For Dummies has been carefully updated to align with changes in the Praxis Core exam, including new mathematics subtests and revised overview information. A thorough summary of the exam shows you exactly what to expect on exam day, while in-depth content reviews help you fully understand each section of the test.
Practice your way to test-taking perfection with the help of Praxis Core For Dummies.
Carla C. Kirkland is CEO of The Kirkland Group, a consulting firm providing professional development, technical assistance, and standardized test preparation to schools. Chan Cleveland, Executive Vice President of The Kirkland Group, has created and revised language arts standards for many school districts.
Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 2
Icons Used in This Book 2
Beyond the Book .2
Where to Go from Here .3
Part 1: Getting Started With the Praxis Core 5
Chapter 1: Previewing the Praxis 7
Why Take the Praxis? .7
Breaking Down the Praxis .8
Knowing what topics are covered .8
Seeing what types of questions you’ll face .9
Understanding How the Test Is Scored 10
Chapter 2: Getting Ready for Test Day 13
Registering for the Test 13
Using Your Time Wisely 14
Budgeting your study time leading up to test day 14
Budgeting your time while taking the test 15
When Test Day Has Arrived 16
Knowing what to bring and what to leave at home 17
Getting familiar with computer testing 17
If You Are Retaking the Test 18
Chapter 3: Practicing the Praxis: Sampling Some Practice Questions 19
Going through the Pre-Assessment Questions 19
Looking at the Pre-Assessment Answers 28
Reading answers and explanations 28
Writing answers and explanations 31
Math answers and explanations 33
Assessing Your Results 35
Identifying categories where you struggled 36
Understanding where you went wrong specifically 36
Part 2: Mastering Math Concepts 39
Chapter 4: Count on It: Number and Quantity 41
Working with Integers: Whole Numbers and Their Opposites 41
Doing basic operations with integers 42
Finding factors of whole numbers 43
Employing some helpful divisibility rules 44
Finding multiples of integers 45
Determining the greatest common factor and least common multiple 45
Exponents and square roots 46
Computing with Fractions and Mixed Numbers 47
Simplifying fractions 47
Converting between fractions and mixed numbers 48
Performing basic operations with fractions and mixed numbers 49
Working with Decimals and Percents 52
Converting between decimals and percents 52
Performing basic operations with decimals 53
Understanding the Number Line 54
Interpreting numeration and place values 54
Knowing the basics of order 55
Finding orders of magnitude 55
Finding numbers in sequences 56
Following Orders: The Order of Operations 56
Remembering “GEMDAS” 57
Using the order of operations within itself 57
Reasoning with Quantities 58
Using the two major systems of measurement 58
Converting units of measurement 59
Basic word problems 60
Practice Questions about Number and Quantity 61
Answers and Explanations 62
Chapter 5: Introducing Letters: Algebra 63
Variables: When Letters Represent Numbers 63
Laying out the terms: Variable terms and expressions 64
Let’s get together: Combining like terms 64
Multiplying and dividing with terms and expressions 65
When variable values are given 67
Working with Equations 68
Solving for x and other variables 68
Undoing addition and subtraction 69
Undoing multiplication and division 70
Multistep equations 70
Proportions 71
Systems of equations 72
Solving for variables in terms of other variables 74
Solving Inequalities 74
Following two more rules when solving inequalities 75
Graphing inequalities 76
Describing solution steps 76
Factoring in Algebra 77
Factoring terms out of bigger terms 77
Using reverse FOIL 78
Decoding Algebra Word Problems 79
Translating English into mathematical language 79
Algebraic word problems 80
Thinking Outside the Algebra Box 81
Recognizing relational patterns 81
Algebraic reasoning 81
Practice Questions about Algebra 83
Answers and Explanations 84
Chapter 6: Grasping Geometry Concepts 87
Understanding the Building Blocks of Geometry 87
Getting to the point 88
Defining lines and parts of lines 88
Moving along planes in space 88
Getting the right angles on angles 89
Recognizing congruence 90
Understanding Angle Measures and Relationships 90
Distinguishing degrees of angle measure and naming angles 90
Working with angle relationships 91
Knowing Common Shapes and Their Basic Properties 93
Defining polygons in general 93
Analyzing triangles: Three-sided polygons 93
Identifying facts about quadrilaterals 95
Working with other types of polygons 96
Knowing the basic facts about circles 96
Working with Shapes that Are Alike 97
Forming conclusions about congruent shapes 97
Working with similar shapes 98
Figuring out Geometric Formulas 99
Finding the perimeter 99
Circling the circumference 100
Getting into the area 101
Finding the right volume 102
Combining Shapes 103
Coming together: Shapes that have joined without an invasion 103
Preparing for invasion: When one shape invades another 104
Knowing the Ways of the XY Coordinate Plane 105
Naming coordinate pairs 105
Identifying linear equations and their graphs 106
Using the distance and midpoint formulas 107
Finding meaning in intersecting graphs 107
Transforming coordinate plane figures 108
Touching on Right Triangles 110
Knowing what Pythagoras discovered 111
Working with special right triangles 111
Practice Questions about Geometry 113
Answers and Explanations 114
Chapter 7: Pinning Down Data Interpretation and Representation, Statistics, and Probability 115
Representing Data 115
Tables 116
Bar graphs and line graphs 117
Pie charts 118
Stem-and-leaf plots 119
Box-and-whisker plots 121
Venn diagrams 123
Scrambling around scatter plots 124
Loitering around line plots 124
Analyzing Data 125
Combing through comparisons 125
Homing in on the range 125
Measuring arithmetic mean, median, or mode 126
Variably affecting data 127
Measuring the spread of data 128
Scrutinizing samples for data analysis 129
Interpreting linear models 129
Calculating Probability 130
Determining the likelihood of an event 130
Using complements 130
Pointing Out Scientific Notation Facts 131
Practice Questions about Probability and Statistics 132
Answers and Explanations 134
Chapter 8: Test-Taking Strategies for Core Math 135
Using Helpful Shortcuts 135
Solving equations versus determining what must be solved 136
Using estimation and approximation 137
Using the calculator 137
Identifying calculations you can make in your head 137
The art of guessing as a last resort 138
Working backward 139
Narrowing Down Answer Choices 139
How to eliminate obviously wrong answer choices 139
Avoiding the most common wrong answers 141
Tackling the Constructed Response 142
Tips for preparing responses and answering questions 142
Some proper ways of representing answers 143
Understanding the importance of avoiding careless errors 143
Part 3: Refining Your Reading Comprehension Skills 145
Chapter 9: Reading Comprehension: Finding Meaning and Identifying Purpose 147
Previewing the Praxis Reading Test 147
Knowing what the test contains 148
Applying a general strategy 148
Mastering Short-Passage Questions 149
Ferreting out the main idea 149
Discerning the author’s tone and intent 151
Putting vocabulary in context 152
Looking at Long-Passage Questions 153
Purpose and paraphrase 153
Arguments and support 154
Getting the hang of “If” questions 154
Sample questions for long passages 156
Visual- and Quantitative-Information Questions 158
Rethinking charts and graphs 159
Getting graphs 159
Practice Reading-Comprehension Questions 162
Answers and Explanations 165
Chapter 10: Test-Taking Strategies for Core Reading 169
Figuring Out Which to Read First: The Passage or the Question 169
Examining Strategies for the Various Passages 171
Approaching long and short passages 171
Approaching the paired passages 172
Approaching Questions about Charts and Graphs 173
Eliminating Wrong Answers 174
Tips for Slow Readers 174
Part 4: Fine-Tuning Your Writing Skills 177
Chapter 11: Acing the Essay 179
Perusing the Types of Prompts: “Picking a Side” versus “Exploring an Idea” 179
Writing persuasively 180
Sticking to the facts 180
Creating a Solid Essay 180
Making an outline: Essential or overrated? 181
Looking at the sections of your essay 181
Don’t box yourself in: Theses aren’t set in stone 182
Citing the sources 182
Checking out some additional writing pointers 182
Turning a Good Essay into a Great One 183
Adding interesting anecdotes 183
Painting a picture with words 183
Anticipating objections against your position 184
Understanding How the Essay Is Scored 184
Checking Out Some Practice Prompts 185
Prompts for argumentative essays 185
Prompts for informative/explanatory essays 185
Reviewing a Sample Essay 187
Evaluating Your Essay 188
Chapter 12: Giving Grammar a Glance 191
Getting a Grip on the Parts of Speech 191
Finding nouns as subjects and objects 192
Putting verbs to work 192
Using adjectives to describe people, places, and things 195
Calling on adverbs to describe actions and conditions 196
Getting the lowdown on pronouns 197
Considering conjunctions 201
Perusing prepositions 201
Making Sense of Sentence Structure 203
Independent clauses versus everything else 203
The sentence skeleton: Identifying the main subject and verb 204
Run-ons and comma splices 205
Pondering Punctuation 206
Commas 206
Semicolons 208
Apostrophes 209
Misplaced Modifiers 209
Redundancy and Double Negatives 210
Homophones: “They’re in there with their bear” 211
Which one has the apostrophe? 211
Spelled and used differently, but sound the same 212
Capitalization: What You Need to Know 213
Practice Questions about Grammar 214
Answers and Explanations 217
Chapter 13: Test-Taking Strategies for Core Writing 221
Knowing the Types of Selected-Response Writing Questions 221
Type 1: Answering usage questions 222
Type 2: Showing your research skills 223
Type 3: Making sentence corrections 224
Type 4: Regarding revision-in-context questions 225
Identifying and Correcting Errors in Selected-Response Items 226
Eliminating the obviously wrong choices 226
Don’t be afraid to say it’s right the way it is 226
The art of guessing as a last resort 227
A word of advice about “trusting your ear” 227
Mastering the Essay 227
Outlining your thoughts and managing your time 228
Arm yourself with versatile examples 228
Practicing ahead of time 229
Part 5: Tackling Praxis Core Practice Tests 231
Chapter 14: Practice Exam 1 233
Answer Sheet for Practice Exam 1 235
Part 1: Reading 237
Part 2: Writing 253
Argumentative Essay 260
Source-Based Essay 261
Part 3: Mathematics 263
Chapter 15: Practice Exam 1: Answers and Explanations 273
Part 1: Reading 273
Part 2: Writing 289
Argumentative Essay 299
Source-Based Essay 301
Part 3: Mathematics 302
Answer Key 322
Chapter 16: Practice Exam 2 325
Answer Sheet for Practice Exam 2 327
Part 1: Reading 329
Part 2: Writing 343
Argumentative Essay 350
Source-Based Essay 351
Part 3: Mathematics 352
Chapter 17: Practice Exam 2: Answers and Explanations 363
Part 1: Reading 363
Part 2: Writing 380
Argumentative Essay 390
Source-Based Essay 391
Part 3: Mathematics 392
Answer Key 405
Part 6: The Part of Tens 407
Chapter 18: Ten Common Math Errors to Avoid 409
Misusing Negative Signs 409
Confusing Perimeter and Area 410
Incorrectly Combining Like Terms 410
Messing Up When Moving Decimals 410
Not Solving for the Actual Variable 410
Misrepresenting “Less Than” in Word Problems 411
Mixing Up Supplementary and Complementary Angles 411
Finding the Wrong Median 411
Fearing Fractions 411
Forgetting about Fractions in Formulas 412
Chapter 19: Ten Mistakes to Avoid on the Praxis Reading and Writing Exams 413
Avoiding Mistakes Common to the Writing and Reading Tests 413
Don’t look for patterns in the answers 413
Don’t change answers merely for the sake of changing them 414
Sidestepping Mistakes on the Writing Test 415
Don’t equate different with wrong 415
Don’t assume something must be correct just because it sounds fancier or more complex 415
Don’t turn the essay into a thesaurus explosion 416
Don’t paint yourself into a corner with a rigid thesis 416
Evading Mistakes on the Reading Test 416
Don’t rule out the “too obvious” 417
Don’t word-match 417
Don’t ignore your outside knowledge 417
Don’t try to answer more than the question asks you to 418
Index 419
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