Praxisยฎ Braille Proficiency (0633)
Practice Test & Study Guide
Comprehensive preparation for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) โ covering Unified English Braille (UEB) and Nemeth Code reading and production. The only Praxis test not delivered on computer.
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Get Free Access โSee Premium PlansYou MUST bring your own braillewriter and slate and stylus to the test center. If you do not bring an appropriate manual (nonelectric) braillewriter and a traditional 27- to 28-cell, 4-line slate and stylus, you will not be permitted to test. All equipment is inspected before entering the testing room. Braille paper is provided; do not bring your own.
This is the only Praxis test NOT delivered on computer. The Braille Proficiency (0633) is a paper-delivered test administered only in states where it is currently required for certification. It cannot be taken remotely at home. Registration is also separate โ visit praxis.ets.org/test-takers/register-braille.html for braille-specific registration instructions.
Source: All exam details are drawn from the official ETS Praxis Braille Proficiency (0633) Study Companion and the official ETS Braille Proficiency test page. Passing scores vary by state โ always confirm at ets.org/praxis/states.
Free Praxis Braille Proficiency (0633) Sample Quiz
1 / 2A UEB transcription of literary prose must include which element at the beginning of the first volume?
Praxis Braille Proficiency (0633) โ Test at a Glance
Key facts directly from the official ETS test specifications โ including what makes this exam unlike any other Praxis test.
About the Praxis Braille Proficiency (0633) Exam
What you must understand before you register โ particularly the ways this exam differs from every other Praxis test.
The Praxis Braille Proficiency (0633) measures the braille knowledge and skills required for an entry-level Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) or an entry-level teacher of braille. The braille rules tested are those established by the Braille Authority of North America (BANA).
This is the only Praxis test that is not delivered on computer. It is a paper test administered only in states where it is currently required for certification, and it cannot be taken remotely. The registration process is also different from other Praxis tests โ see praxis.ets.org/test-takers/register-braille.html for specific braille test registration instructions.
The test consists of two booklets. Booklet 1 contains 40 multiple-choice questions (reading braille) and 1 transcription assignment using a slate and stylus. Booklet 2 contains 3 transcription assignments using a manual braillewriter. You have 4 hours total โ the sections are not individually timed. Once you begin Booklet 2, you cannot return to Booklet 1.
Candidates must bring their own manual braillewriter and slate and stylus to the test center. Failure to bring the required equipment means you will not be permitted to test. The braillewriter must be in proper working order โ malfunctions such as ghost/shadow dots may negatively affect scoring of your transcriptions.
Required Equipment โ Bring to the Test Center
Unlike every other Praxis exam, this test requires you to bring physical equipment.
Manual (nonelectric) braillewriter โ REQUIRED
Must accommodate standard 11ยฝ-by-11-inch braille paper. The Classic Perkins is the standard braillewriter used in all three Booklet 2 transcription assignments. Inspect and test your braillewriter well before test day โ ghost or shadow dots from a malfunctioning machine will negatively affect your score. Braille paper is provided at the test center; do not bring your own.
โ If you do not bring this, you will NOT be permitted to test.
Traditional (not direct) 27- to 28-cell, 4-line slate and stylus โ REQUIRED
Must accommodate 8ยฝ-by-11-inch braille paper. The slate must be the traditional right-to-left type โ not a direct (left-to-right) slate. This is used for the Booklet 1 transcription assignment. Braille paper (8ยฝ-by-11-inch) is provided by the test center for this assignment.
โ If you do not bring this, you will NOT be permitted to test.
Several No. 2 pencils and an eraser
Used for the multiple-choice questions in Booklet 1 and for marking notes in the test booklet during transcription assignments.
Braille eraser (recommended)
Regular erasures that are detectable by touch count as transcription errors. A braille eraser helps minimize this risk. After erasing, always check by touch that the correction is not detectable.
Valid photo identification
Must match the exact name used during registration. ID must be valid (not expired), bear a recent photo, name, and signature. International test-takers must present a valid passport as their primary ID document.
Exam Structure: Two Booklets
The 4-hour exam is divided into two booklets. Complete Booklet 1 before starting Booklet 2 โ once you begin Booklet 2 you cannot return to Booklet 1.
Given a sentence in print, select the correct UEB transcription from four answer choices. Tests knowledge of contractions, groupsigns, wordsigns, shortforms, punctuation, capitalization, and typeforms.
Given a math expression or problem, select the correct UEB transcription. Tests UEB math signs, numbers, grouping symbols, superscripts, subscripts, and algebraic expressions.
Given a math expression or problem, select the correct Nemeth Code transcription. Requires knowing the difference between Nemeth Code and UEB Math for the same expression.
Given a UEB transcription of a sentence, identify and describe the error (if any). Tests rule knowledge including contraction preference rules, aspirated h rule, syllable bridging, and compound word rules.
Read passages presented entirely in UEB (passage, questions, and answer choices are all in braille). Two questions per passage.
Transcribe three short selections (name/address/contact info, shopping list, brief note) into UEB using a traditional right-to-left slate and stylus on 8ยฝ-by-11-inch braille paper. All three selections must fit on the same piece of paper with one skipped line between each.
Transcribe an 80โ100 word passage into UEB using a manual braillewriter. Scored on contractions, character accuracy, spacing, formatting, and touch-free erasures.
Transcribe six math problems and statements (including some word problems) into UEB using the braillewriter. Content does not exceed beginning algebra and basic geometry. You do not need to solve the problems.
Transcribe six math problems and statements into Nemeth Code using the braillewriter. None are word problems. Uses Nemeth Code indicators, composition signs, and punctuation marks.
Key Content Topics: UEB and Nemeth Code
The specific UEB and Nemeth Code elements tested throughout both the reading and production sections.
How Transcriptions Are Scored
Each of the 4 transcription assignments is scored independently based on the number of errors.
Errors Counted on All Assignments
Zero Score Situations
Registration, Test Day & Scoring
The registration process for Braille Proficiency is different from all other Praxis tests.
Registration (Different Process)
Scoring
Test Day Checklist
What ETS Provides
Passing Score and State Requirements
The Praxis Braille Proficiency (0633) is only administered in states where it is required for TVI certification.
Your score is based on the combined performance across both the multiple-choice section (reading braille) and the four transcription assignments (producing braille). There is no penalty for incorrect answers on the multiple-choice section. For transcription assignments, each error reduces your score โ so accuracy is essential, and you should proofread every transcription after completing it.
How to Prepare for the Praxis Braille Proficiency Exam
Strategies drawn from the official ETS Study Companion โ tailored to the unique production-based demands of this exam.
- Test your braillewriter well before exam day โ mechanical issues will cost you points. Ghost or shadow dots from a malfunctioning braillewriter are counted as errors in your transcription. Pervasive dot problems can result in a score of zero for an assignment. Check your machine weeks before the test, have it serviced if needed, and do full test runs at exam speed to confirm it's producing clean, well-formed dots.
- Memorize all 75 shortforms and their rules for use within longer words. Shortforms are a major source of errors on both the multiple-choice section and transcription assignments. Know all 75 shortforms as standalone words, and know the 10 special rules for using shortforms within longer words (braille, great, children, blind, first, friend, good, letter, little, quick).
- Know the difference between UEB Math and Nemeth Code for the same expression. The exam tests both systems and the multiple-choice section specifically requires you to identify which code you're being asked about. Number indicators, punctuation indicators, grouping symbols, and composition signs differ between UEB and Nemeth Code โ confusion between the two codes is the most common source of errors on math questions.
- Practice with the Reference Guide before test day. A Reference Guide containing UEB and Nemeth Code symbols is provided in your test booklet. Familiarize yourself with its layout in advance so you can look up symbols quickly during the exam. Under time pressure, being unfamiliar with the guide's organization will slow you down significantly on complex math transcriptions.
- Practice slate and stylus until right-to-left production is automatic. The slate produces braille from right to left โ the opposite direction from reading. Many candidates lose points on Assignment 1 because right-to-left production under time pressure leads to character reversals and spacing errors. Practice extensively with the same type of slate (traditional 27- to 28-cell, 4-line) you will bring to the test.
- Avoid erasures โ redo rather than erase when possible. Erasures detectable by touch count as errors. Rather than risk a detectable erasure, consider restarting the assignment on fresh paper if you make an early error. If you do erase, always use a braille eraser and verify by touch that the correction is undetectable before submitting.
- Proofread every transcription before moving on. You can write notes in the test booklet โ use the print copy to mark contractions and indicators you need to include, then verify your braille against those marks before moving to the next assignment. Check that all dots are well-formed, lines are evenly spaced, and margins are correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers sourced from the official ETS Praxis Braille Proficiency (0633) Study Companion.
What equipment do I need to bring to the Praxis Braille Proficiency test?
Is the Praxis Braille Proficiency test computer-based?
How many questions and assignments are on the exam?
What happens if I use the wrong device for a transcription assignment?
What braille codes are tested?
Do erasures count as errors?
Is a Reference Guide provided during the exam?
Can I take the Braille Proficiency test at home remotely?
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Adaptive practice questions aligned to UEB reading, Nemeth Code, and braille transcription content. Build your knowledge of contractions, shortforms, and braille rules before test day.
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