Praxis® Core Academic Skills
for Educators Combined (5752)
Practice Test & Study Guide
One combined session for all three core subtests: Reading (5713), Writing (5723), and Mathematics (5733). Measures the academic skills needed to prepare successfully for a career in education.
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Get Free Access →See Premium PlansThe Combined (5752) at $150 saves $120 vs. taking all three subtests separately ($270).If you need all three subtests and are prepared for all of them, the Combined is significantly more economical. If you pass only some subtests in a combined session, you can retake just the failed subtest(s) individually — you won't need to repeat the entire combined test.
Source: All exam details are drawn from the official ETS Praxis Core Combined (5752) test page and official Study Companions for subtests 5713, 5723, and 5733. Passing scores vary by state — always confirm at ets.org/praxis/states.
Three Subtests — One Session
The Combined (5752) schedules all three subtests back-to-back in one appointment. Each subtest is separately scored and can also be taken independently.
Combined Test at a Glance
Key facts — color-coded green for Reading, purple for Writing, and blue for Mathematics.
About the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (5752)
What you need to know before you register.
The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators tests are designed to assess the general reading, writing, and mathematics skills of prospective teachers. Unlike Praxis Subject Assessments (which test content knowledge in a specific field), the Core tests measure academic skills needed for any teaching career regardless of subject area or grade level.
The Core tests are widely used: many colleges and universities require them as part of admission to teacher preparation programs, and a majority of states require them as part of the teacher licensure and certification process. All three subtests align to the Common Core State Standards for Reading and Writing, and to fundamental mathematics competencies expected of college-educated professionals.
The Combined (5752) allows all three subtests to be completed in one testing session. If you take the combined test and fail one or more subtests, you can retake only the failed subtest(s) individually — you do not need to repeat the entire combined test. Each subtest is scored independently and scores are reported separately.
The Mathematics subtest (5733) includes an on-screen calculator provided by ETS — no personal calculators are permitted. The Writing subtest (5723) has three separately timed sections (40-minute SR section + two 30-minute essays). The Reading subtest (5713) uses entirely passage-based selected-response questions.
Reading Subtest (5713) — Official Blueprint
56 passage-based selected-response questions in 85 minutes. All questions can be answered using only information in the passage — no outside knowledge required.
Writing Subtest (5723) — Official Blueprint
Three separately timed sections totaling 100 minutes. Two content categories spanning the SR and essay sections.
Mathematics Subtest (5733) — Official Blueprint
56 questions (selected-response and numeric entry) in 90 minutes. An on-screen calculator is provided — no personal calculators are permitted.
Key Topics by Subtest
Specific skills and competencies drawn directly from the official ETS content specifications for all three subtests.
States That Require the Praxis Core
Many states require the Praxis Core for teacher licensure or teacher preparation program admission. Always verify current requirements at ets.org/praxis/states.
Many colleges and universities also require Praxis Core for admission to teacher preparation programs independent of state requirements. Always verify your institution's requirements directly. Some states use passing scores set differently from the general ETS recommended levels.
Registration, Test Day & Scoring
Everything you need to know before and on exam day for the combined session.
Passing Score Requirements by State
Scores are reported separately for each subtest and states set requirements independently.
There is no penalty for wrong answers on any selected-response question — always answer every question. Writing SR points are reported separately from essay points on the Writing score report. If you take the Combined (5752) and do not pass all three subtests, you can retake only the failed subtest(s) individually — you will not need to repeat the entire combined test.
How to Prepare for the Praxis Core Combined Exam
Strategies for all three subtests and for managing the ~275-minute combined session.
- The Combined (5752) runs approximately 4.5 hours — build stamina before test day. You'll take Reading (85 min), Writing (100 min), and Mathematics (90 min) back to back with only short breaks between. Mental fatigue in the third subtest is a real performance risk. Simulate full-length combined sessions in practice to build the concentration and pacing needed to stay sharp through all three. Order of subtests is fixed — plan your energy accordingly.
- The Writing subtest has three separately timed sections — you cannot go back between them. The 40-minute SR section, 30-minute Argumentative essay, and 30-minute Informative/Explanatory essay are each independently timed. Once you start an essay section, you cannot return to the SR questions. Budget 3–5 minutes to plan each essay before writing; spend 20–22 minutes writing; and use the remaining time to re-read and correct.
- For the Informative/Explanatory essay, you must draw from both provided sources — using only one source will cost you points. This essay's scoring rubric explicitly evaluates "ability to synthesize information from both provided sources and cite this information." Always identify at least one key point from each source, integrate both into your essay, and attribute them clearly before time runs out.
- Use the on-screen calculator strategically for the Math subtest — don't rely on it for simple arithmetic. An on-screen calculator is provided for the Mathematics (5733) subtest, but using it for every single calculation will cost you time. Know your basic multiplication facts, fraction-decimal-percent conversions, and percent calculation shortcuts mentally. Reserve the calculator for multi-step problems and when precision matters most.
- Mathematics Category I (Number and Quantity, 36%) and Category III (Data/Statistics/Probability, 34%) together are 70% of the Math subtest. Word problems involving ratios, percentages, and fractions (Category I) and questions requiring you to interpret data displays and calculate mean/median/mode (Category III) are the highest-yield areas. Master these two categories first before focusing on Algebra and Functions (30%).
- For Reading, always answer from the passage — never use outside knowledge. The ETS instructions explicitly state that all questions can be answered from the passage alone and no question requires outside knowledge. This is also the most common trap: choosing an answer because it sounds true based on general knowledge, when the passage actually says something different or more specific. Read carefully and answer based only on what is stated or implied in the text.
- Take the ETS free Praxis Core resources before test day. ETS offers free official prep resources for Core tests, including a Khan Academy partnership with personalized practice. Each subtest also has an official interactive practice test available for purchase from ETS — these contain authentic questions written by the same team that creates the real exam and are the closest preparation available. Download the free Study Companions for 5713, 5723, and 5733 from praxis.ets.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers sourced from official ETS Praxis Core test pages and Study Companions.
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Adaptive practice questions for all three Praxis Core subtests — Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. Domain-level analytics so you know exactly where to focus before test day.
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