PRAXISCode: 5724Communication & Literacy📚 Common Core Aligned✍ Includes 2 Timed Essays📖 Part of 5753 Combined
Praxis® Communication and Literacy:
Writing (5724)
Practice Test & Study Guide
3 separately timed sections — a 40-minute selected-response section covering usage, sentence correction, revision, and research skills, plus two 30-minute essay sections (Argumentative and Informative/Explanatory). Once you leave a section, you cannot return.
40 + 2
SR + Essays
100 min
Time limit
Varies
Passing score*
3
Timed sections
$130
Exam fee
4.9 · 12,400
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The live page incorrectly shows this as a 40-question / 40-minute exam — it is NOT. The Praxis Writing (5724) is a 100-minute exam with 3 separately timed sections: 40 min selected-response + 30 min Argumentative essay + 30 min Informative/Explanatory essay. You cannot go back between sections. Candidates who prepare only for a 40-minute SR test will be unprepared for the timed essay component.
✍
Both essays are required and holistically scored by experienced teachers (scale 1–6). The Argumentative essay asks you to support a position using personal experience, observation, or reading. The Informative/Explanatory essay provides two short source passages — you must synthesize information from both and cite each source. Drawing from only one source is a scoring criterion failure that caps your essay score at 3 or below.
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Source: All exam details are drawn from the official ETS Praxis Communication and Literacy: Writing (5724) Study Companion. The exam is aligned to Common Core State Standards for Writing. Passing scores vary by state — always confirm at ets.org/praxis/states.
Praxis Communication and Literacy: Writing (5724) — Test at a Glance
Key facts directly from the official ETS test specifications. Note: the time limit is 100 minutes total, not 40 minutes.
TEST NAME
Comm & Literacy: Writing
Praxis Subject Assessment
TEST CODE
5724
Computer-delivered
TOTAL QUESTIONS
40 + 2
SR questions + 2 essays
TOTAL TIME
100 min
3 separately timed sections
SECTION 1
40 min
40 selected-response
SECTION 2
30 min
Argumentative essay
SECTION 3
30 min
Info/Explanatory essay
REGISTRATION FEE
$130
Paid to ETS
PASSING SCORE
Varies
By state/agency
SCORE REPORTING
~5 wks
After test date
About the Praxis Communication and Literacy: Writing (5724) Exam
What you need to know before you register.
The Communication and Literacy in Writing test measures academic skills in writing needed to prepare successfully for a career in education. All skills assessed have been identified as needed for college and career readiness, in alignment with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Writing.
The test is 100 minutes in length and has three separately timed sections: a 40-minute selected-response section containing 40 questions and two 30-minute essay sections that each require a response based on an essay topic. This is fundamentally different from a standard multiple-choice exam — the essay component is a core part of the assessment, not optional.
The selected-response section is divided into four parts: Usage (identify grammatical, structural, or punctuation errors — or “No Error”), Sentence Correction (select the best restatement), Revision in Context (improve a draft passage), and Research Skills (recognize effective research strategies, citation elements, and credible sources). Examinees are not required to know formal grammatical terminology.
The two essay sections assess the ability to write effectively under time pressure. The Argumentative essay invites examinees to draw from personal experience, observation, or reading to support a position. The Informative/Explanatory essay provides two short source passages — examinees extract relevant information, synthesize it, and cite both sources in their response. Experienced teachers score each essay holistically on a 1–6 scale. On the score report, points from the selected-response section are reported separately from points earned on the essay sections.
Three Separately Timed Sections
The exam proceeds section by section — you cannot return to a previous section once you have moved on. Each section has its own independent time limit.
Section 1
40 minutes
Selected-Response
Questions40 SR
Part 1Usage
Part 2Sentence Correction
Part 3Revision in Context
Part 4Research Skills
No penaltyWrong answers
Section 2
30 minutes
Argumentative Essay
TypeOpinion + support
SourcesOwn exp / reading
CitationsNot required
Score scale1–6 holistic
Scored byExperienced teachers
Section 3
30 minutes
Informative/Explanatory Essay
TypeSource-based
Sources2 provided passages
CitationsRequired (both)
Score scale1–6 holistic
Scored byExperienced teachers
Official Exam Blueprint: 2 Content Categories
The official ETS blueprint defines 2 content categories. Category I (60%) encompasses both the essay tasks and 6–12 SR questions on revision. Category II (40%) covers 28–34 SR questions on language skills and research.
Category I
Text Types, Purposes, and Production
Encompasses both timed essay tasks (Argumentative and Informative/Explanatory) and 6–12 SR revision-in-context questions. Tests production of effective writing, development and organization of ideas, synthesis across sources, revision and editing for clarity and style.
60%
6–12 SR + 2 essays
Category II
Language and Research Skills for Writing
Covers 28–34 SR questions on command of standard English grammar, usage, capitalization, and punctuation; and on recognizing effective research strategies, citation elements, and credible sources. Tests Usage, Sentence Correction, and Research Skills questions.
40%
28–34 SR questions
Content Topics by Category
All testable content topics drawn directly from the ETS Study Companion for 5724.
Cat. I-AText Production: Writing Arguments (Argumentative Essay)30 min · Essay 1
Produce an argumentative essay to support a claim using relevant and sufficient evidence from personal experience, observation, or reading
Address the assigned task appropriately for an audience of educated adults — not a specialized or academic audience
Organize and develop ideas logically, making coherent connections between them
Provide and sustain a clear focus or thesis throughout the essay
Use supporting reasons, examples, and details to develop ideas clearly and logically
Demonstrate facility in the use of language and the ability to use a variety of sentence structures
Construct effective sentences that are generally free of errors in standard written English
Write clearly and coherently — how well you write matters more than how much you write
Cat. I-BText Production: Informative/Explanatory Essays (Source-Based)30 min · Essay 2
Produce an informative essay to examine and convey complex ideas clearly and accurately through effective selection, organization, and analysis of content
Draw evidence from both provided informational texts — using only one source is a scoring failure criterion
Synthesize information from multiple sources on a subject
Integrate and attribute information from both sources, avoiding plagiarism — cite both when paraphrasing or quoting
Organize and develop ideas logically, making coherent connections between them
Provide and sustain a clear focus or thesis throughout the essay
Construct effective sentences generally free of errors in standard written English
Address all the points presented in the topic — do not write on a different topic; essays on your own choice will not be scored
Cat. I-CText Production: Revision in Context (SR Questions)Part of 40-min SR section
Recognize how a passage can be strengthened through editing and revision — in some cases the indicated portion is already correct
Apply knowledge of language to make effective choices for meaning or style
Choose words and phrases for effect and to convey ideas precisely
Maintain consistency in style and tone throughout a passage
Consider development, organization, word choice, style, and tone — not just grammar
Recognize when a passage portion is most effective as already written (“No change” is often the correct answer)
Cat. II-ALanguage Skills — Usage and Sentence CorrectionPart of 40-min SR section
Grammatical relationships: pronoun-antecedent agreement, pronoun case, pronoun number/person, vague pronouns, subject-verb agreement, inappropriate verb tense shifts, adjective/adverb errors
Structural relationships: misplaced/dangling modifiers, coordinating and subordinating conjunctions, fragments and run-ons, correlative conjunctions, parallel structure
Word choice: idiomatic expressions, frequently confused words (affect/effect, it's/its, etc.), wrong word use, redundancy
No Error: Recognize sentences that are already free of grammatical, structural, or word-choice errors — a significant percentage of Usage questions use “No error” as the correct answer
Mechanics: capitalization errors; comma use (introductory elements, serial commas); semicolons (linking independent clauses); apostrophes (contractions, possessives)
Sentence Correction: Select the best restatement of an underlined phrase — sometimes the original is already correct and most effective
Cat. II-BResearch SkillsPart of 40-min SR section
Assess the credibility and relevance of sources appropriate to a particular research task
Recognize the different elements of a citation (author, title, publisher, date, URL, etc.) and how they are formatted
Recognize effective research strategies appropriate to a particular research task
Recognize information relevant to a particular research task — identifying which sources or details serve the research question
Essay Scoring: The 1–6 Holistic Scale
Both essays are scored holistically on the same 1–6 scale by experienced teachers. Scores reflect overall quality — readers are trained to judge total quality, not count errors.
6
High Competence
Insightful connections, well-chosen examples, effective sentence variety, generally error-free
5
Clear Competence
Clear organization, relevant examples, some sentence variety, facility with language
4
Competence
States thesis, adequate support, controlled organization, some errors acceptable
3
Some Competence
Limited or unclear thesis, limited organization, inadequate examples, accumulated errors
2
Seriously Flawed
No clear thesis, weak/no development, few relevant details, frequent serious errors
1
Fundamental Deficiencies
Serious persistent writing errors, incoherent, or undeveloped
What scorers evaluate across both essays:
Quality of insight or central idea — depth of thinking and the sophistication of the position or analysis presented
Clarity and consistency of point of view — does the essay maintain a clear, focused perspective throughout?
Cohesiveness — do the ideas flow logically and connect to each other?
Strength and logic of supporting information — are examples, reasons, and details well-chosen, specific, and genuinely supportive?
Rhetorical force — is the writing persuasive or informative in a way that achieves the essay's stated purpose?
Appropriateness of diction and syntax — does word choice and sentence construction serve the audience and purpose?
Correctness of mechanics and usage — grammar, punctuation, spelling (errors are noticed but holistic scoring doesn't count individual errors)
Source synthesis and citation (Informative/Explanatory essay only) — is information drawn from both provided sources? Are both sources cited when paraphrasing or quoting?
Registration, Test Day & Scoring
Everything you need to know before and on test day.
Registration
Where to registerpraxis.ets.org
Exam fee$130
Testing formatsIn-person or remote
ID required2 forms of valid ID
Arrive (in-person)30 min early
Scoring
SR scoreReported separately
Essay scoreReported separately
Essay scale1–6 holistic
Passing scoreVaries by state
Results available~5 weeks post-test
In-Person Testing
Test centersPrometric locations
Personal itemsStored in locker
Scratch paperProvided at station
Admission ticketPrint from ETS account
Remote Testing
DeviceLaptop/desktop only
No touchscreensTablets not allowed
Browser requiredETS Secure Test Browser
Equipment neededWebcam, mic, speakers
Passing Score Requirements by State
Passing scores are set independently by each state — and the SR and essay sections are scored and reported separately.
Important: Passing score requirements for the Communication and Literacy: Writing (5724) are set individually by each state or licensing agency. A score that meets requirements in one state may not meet requirements in another. Always verify the exact passing score for your state at ets.org/praxis/states before registering.
On your score report, points earned on the selected-response section are reported separately from points earned on the essay sections.Your state may have different passing thresholds for each component. There is no penalty for wrong answers on the selected-response section — always answer every question. Some SR questions may be unscored pretest items; treat every question equally. When taken as part of the Combined (5753), Writing scores are independent from Reading (5714) scores — each must separately meet your state's requirements.
On your score report, points earned on the selected-response section are reported separately from points earned on the essay sections.Your state may have different passing thresholds for each component. There is no penalty for wrong answers on the selected-response section — always answer every question. Some SR questions may be unscored pretest items; treat every question equally. When taken as part of the Combined (5753), Writing scores are independent from Reading (5714) scores — each must separately meet your state's requirements.
How to Prepare for the Praxis Communication and Literacy: Writing Exam
Strategies for all three sections — including the unique challenges of timed essays, revision-in-context questions, and the “No Error” trap.
- The three sections are separately timed and cannot be revisited — build your own time management plan for each. Section 1 (40 min SR): aim to complete all 40 questions in 35 minutes and use the final 5 minutes to review flagged questions. Section 2 (30 min Argumentative): spend 3–5 minutes planning and outlining, 20–22 minutes writing, and 3–5 minutes re-reading and correcting. Section 3 (30 min Informative/Explanatory): spend 5–7 minutes reading both sources and noting key points, 20 minutes writing, and 3–5 minutes checking citations and mechanics. Practice all three sections back-to-back to build stamina for the full 100-minute experience.
- The Informative/Explanatory essay requires information from BOTH provided sources — citing only one caps your score at 3 or below. The scoring rubric for the source-based essay explicitly evaluates “ability to synthesize information from both provided sources and cite this information in the essay.” Practice reading two short texts quickly, identifying the most useful information from each, and incorporating and attributing both in a coherent essay within 30 minutes. When you cite, name the source clearly — “According to [Source 1/Author Name]...” is sufficient.
- Never assume every sentence has an error on Usage questions — “No error” is frequently the correct answer. A significant percentage of Usage questions use “No error” (choice E) as the correct answer. Do not force a change when you cannot find a genuine grammatical, structural, or punctuation error. Read the entire sentence first, then examine each underlined portion. If the sentence is already correct and meets the conventions of standard written English, select “No error” confidently.
- Revision in Context questions test cohesion and logic, not just grammar. Unlike Usage questions (identify the error), Revision in Context questions present draft passages and ask how to improve them. Focus on transitions, sentence combining, pronoun reference clarity, eliminating redundancy, and maintaining consistent style and tone. Read the question stem carefully — it tells you which aspect of revision to consider (development, organization, word choice, style, or tone) before you look at the passage.
- For Sentence Correction, “the original is correct” (option A) is a valid answer — don't improve for its own sake. If an underlined portion is already the clearest, most grammatically correct, and most effective expression of the intended meaning, option A (as it is now) is correct. Incorrect improvements often introduce pronoun agreement errors, redundancy, awkward constructions, or change the intended meaning. Only choose a different option if you can clearly identify a problem with the original and confirm the replacement fixes it without creating new errors.
- For the Argumentative essay, a specific personal example beats a generic statement every time. The difference between a score of 5 and 6 is often the depth and specificity of supporting evidence. “Some people find that minimum wage jobs teach useful skills” scores lower than “When I worked as a cashier, I learned that [specific lesson] because [specific experience].” The more concrete and specific your example, the more effectively it supports your thesis. The essay topic presents situations familiar to all educated people — you do not need specialized knowledge, only the ability to think and write effectively.
- Practice grammar rules for the specific error types that appear most on Usage questions. The Study Companion explicitly lists all tested grammar topics: pronoun-antecedent agreement (especially with collective nouns and indefinite pronouns), subject-verb agreement (especially with intervening phrases), parallel structure (especially in lists and comparisons), dangling modifiers (especially with opening participial phrases), misuse of “who” vs. “whom,” and frequently confused words (affect/effect, it's/its, their/there/they're, lie/lay). A targeted grammar review of these specific topics is more efficient than a general grammar course.
- Download the official ETS Study Companion and work through all sample questions and both sample essay responses with scorer commentary. The ETS Study Companion for 5724 contains 12 sample SR questions with full explanations, three scored sample Argumentative essays (scores 6, 5, and 2) with detailed scorer commentary explaining why each received its score, and three scored sample Informative/Explanatory essays (scores 5, 4, and 2). Reading the scorer commentary is more valuable than just reading the essays — it makes the scoring criteria concrete and actionable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers sourced directly from the official ETS Praxis Communication and Literacy: Writing (5724) Study Companion.
How many questions are on the Praxis Communication and Literacy: Writing (5724)?+
The exam has 40 selected-response questions plus 2 essay questions, for a total testing time of 100 minutes divided into 3 separately timed sections: a 40-minute SR section, a 30-minute Argumentative essay section, and a 30-minute Informative/Explanatory essay section. You cannot return to a previous section once you move on. Some SR questions may be unscored pretest items.
Does the Praxis Writing (5724) include essays?+
Yes — this is one of the most important facts about this exam. The Writing (5724) has two separately timed 30-minute essay sections in addition to the 40-minute selected-response section. Essay 1 is Argumentative: support a position using personal experience, observation, or reading. Essay 2 is Informative/Explanatory (source-based): extract information from two provided sources and synthesize it into an essay, citing both sources. Essays are scored holistically (1–6 scale) by experienced teachers. The live page incorrectly shows this as a 40-question/40-minute exam — the total is 100 minutes.
What are the four parts of the selected-response section?+
The 40-minute SR section has four parts: (1) Usage — identify grammatical, structural, or punctuation errors in underlined portions, or select "No error" (no sentence has more than one error); (2) Sentence Correction — select the best restatement of an underlined phrase or sentence (original may already be correct); (3) Revision in Context — improve a draft passage through editing and revision considering development, organization, word choice, style, and tone; and (4) Research Skills — recognize credible sources, citation elements, and effective research strategies. Examinees are not required to know formal grammatical terminology.
What is the passing score for the Praxis Communication and Literacy: Writing (5724)?+
There is no single universal passing score. Each state or licensing agency sets its own minimum scaled score requirement. On your score report, points from the SR section are reported separately from essay section points — your state may evaluate each component independently. Always verify the exact requirement for your state at ets.org/praxis/states before registering.
What content categories are on the Praxis Writing (5724)?+
The exam covers 2 official content categories: (I) Text Types, Purposes, and Production — 60%, including 6–12 SR revision questions plus both essay tasks; and (II) Language and Research Skills for Writing — 40%, including 28–34 SR questions covering usage, sentence correction, and research skills.
How are the essays scored on the Praxis Writing (5724)?+
Experienced teachers read and score each essay holistically (a single score for overall quality, 1–6 scale) under controlled conditions. Scoring considers: quality of insight or central idea, clarity, consistency of point of view, cohesiveness, strength and logic of supporting information, rhetorical force, appropriateness of diction and syntax, and correctness of mechanics. For the Informative/Explanatory essay, scorers also evaluate the ability to synthesize information from both provided sources and cite them.
Can I take the three sections in any order?+
No. The three sections are separately timed and must be taken in sequence. Once you move from the 40-minute SR section to Essay 1, you cannot return to the SR section. Once you complete Essay 1 and move to Essay 2, you cannot return to Essay 1. This is a critical planning consideration — do not spend so much time on the SR section that you rush the essays.
Is there a penalty for wrong answers on the selected-response section?+
No. Your score on the SR section is based solely on correct answers. There is no penalty for incorrect responses. Always answer every selected-response question — never leave one blank, even if you need to guess. Remember, "No error" is a valid and frequently correct answer for Usage questions — do not force a change when the sentence is already correct.
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Adaptive questions aligned to all 4 parts of the SR section — usage, sentence correction, revision in context, and research skills — plus essay writing practice. Domain-level analytics so you know exactly where to focus.
Get Free Access — No Credit Card NeededSources: ETS Praxis Communication and Literacy: Writing (5724) Study Companion (official PDF, praxis.ets.org); ETS official test page for 5724; ETS Praxis Test Schedule 2025–26. Praxis® is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service (ETS). This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by ETS. Passing score requirements vary by state — always verify at ets.org/praxis/states. Last updated: April 2026.
Last Updated: May 22, 2026