Praxisยฎ Core Academic Skills
for Educators: Mathematics (5733)
Practice Test & Study Guide
Comprehensive preparation for prospective teachers โ covering all 3 official content categories aligned to Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. An on-screen four-function calculator is provided throughout.
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Get Free Access โSee Premium PlansA four-function on-screen calculator is provided for the entire exam. It performs addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division only โ no square roots, exponents, trig functions, or graphing. You must handle more complex computations by hand. The calculator is built into the testing interface; you cannot bring your own. Review the ETS Calculator Use page before test day to familiarize yourself with the interface.
The live page shows 4 domains at NaN% โ this exam has 3 content categories. The correct structure per the ETS Study Companion is: Number and Quantity (36%, ~20 questions), Data Interpretation and Representation, Statistics, and Probability (32%, ~18 questions), and Algebra and Geometry (32%, ~18 questions). Three question formats also appear โ including numeric-entry where you type an exact number, not multiple choice.
Source: All exam details are drawn from the official ETS Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics (5733) Study Companion. The exam is aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. Passing scores vary by state โ always confirm at ets.org/praxis/states.
Praxis Core Mathematics (5733) โ Test at a Glance
Key facts directly from the official ETS test specifications.
About the Praxis Core Academic Skills: Mathematics (5733)
What you need to know before you register.
The Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics (5733) measures academic skills in mathematics 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 for Mathematics. The focus is on key mathematical concepts and the ability to solve problems and to reason in a quantitative context.
The test covers three major content areas: Number and Quantity; Data Interpretation and Representation, Statistics, and Probability; and Algebra and Geometry. Many problems require the integration of multiple skills to achieve a solution โ not just recall of isolated facts. Students are expected to read and solve word problems, interpret data displays, and apply geometric formulas in real-world contexts.
The test uses three question formats: standard selected-response (select one of five choices), selected-response with multiple correct answers (select one or more โ marked with square boxes, not ovals), and numeric-entry (type an integer, decimal, or fraction). An on-screen four-function calculator is provided throughout the 90-minute test. No personal calculators are permitted.
This subtest can be taken independently ($90) or as part of the Core Combined (5752) with Reading and Writing for $150 total. Scores are reported separately for each subtest. Some questions are unscored pretest items that cannot be identified โ treat every question equally.
Three Question Types on This Exam
Understanding all three formats before test day prevents confusion and lost time on non-standard question types.
Official Exam Blueprint: 3 Content Categories
The official ETS blueprint defines 3 content categories. Number and Quantity is the largest at 36%; Data/Statistics/Probability and Algebra/Geometry are each 32%.
Formulas Provided During the Exam
These formulas are given in the test itself โ you do not need to memorize them. You do need to know when and how to apply them correctly.
Official Formulas Reference Sheet (provided in test booklet)
Key Topics by Content Category
Specific competencies drawn directly from the official ETS content specifications and discussion questions.
Registration, Test Day & Scoring
Everything you need to know before and on exam day.
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Scoring
Test Day โ Calculator & Tools
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Passing Score Requirements by State
Passing scores for the Mathematics (5733) subtest are set independently by each state.
Your raw score (number of correct answers across all three question formats) is converted to a scaled score that accounts for minor difficulty differences between test editions. There is no penalty for incorrect answers on selected-response questions โ always answer every question. For numeric-entry questions, enter your best answer even if uncertain; an unanswered numeric-entry question is simply scored as incorrect. Some questions are unscored pretest items that you cannot identify, so treat every question equally.
How to Prepare for the Praxis Core Mathematics Exam
Strategies aligned to the three question formats, the provided four-function calculator, and the exam's emphasis on integrated, real-world reasoning.
- Number and Quantity (36%) is the largest category โ master it first. With approximately 20 questions, Category I covers fractions, decimals, percents, ratios, rates, properties of whole numbers, place value, and unit conversion. These topics require fluency with arithmetic โ even with a calculator provided, knowing how to set up ratio and proportion problems, convert between fraction/decimal/percent forms, and apply percent change formulas correctly is essential. Systematic arithmetic mistakes (not calculator errors) are the most common source of wrong answers in this category.
- Know how to identify and answer โselect one or moreโ questions. These questions are marked with square boxes instead of ovals โ a critical visual distinction. You must select ALL correct answer choices to receive credit; partial answers receive zero points. Before submitting, ask yourself: "Is there any other answer that is also correct?" Sample question 15 in the ETS Study Companion (the parallel streets/angles problem) is a perfect example โ three statements are presented and you must evaluate each independently.
- For numeric-entry questions, enter the exact answer โ donโt round unless told to. The exam explicitly states: โIf a question does not ask you to round your answer, you should be able to enter the exact answer. If you are unable to do so, this may indicate that your answer is incorrect.โ Fraction questions have two separate boxes (numerator and denominator) โ make sure you enter the value in the correct box. Equivalent fractions (1/2 and 6/12) are both accepted.
- The four-function calculator is not a substitute for number sense. While a calculator is provided throughout, it only does basic arithmetic. It will not factor expressions, compute square roots, or tell you which operations to apply. The exam tests whether you can set up problems correctly โ choosing the right operations, interpreting what a word problem asks, and reasoning about whether an answer is plausible. Strong number sense and problem-setup skills matter more than computation speed.
- Category II (Data/Statistics/Probability, 32%) heavily emphasizes interpretation over computation. Questions in this category rarely require complex math โ they test whether you can read a graph accurately, identify a trend in a scatterplot, distinguish correlation from causation, compute a simple probability, or extend a sample statistic to a population. Practice reading all 9+ types of data displays (bar graphs, circle graphs, histograms, scatterplots, boxplots, stem-and-leaf, pictographs, frequency tables, line graphs) quickly and accurately before test day.
- For Geometry, know which formulas are provided and which are not. The exam provides: Circle area and circumference, Rectangle area, Triangle area, and Rectangular box volume. What is NOT provided but may be needed: the Pythagorean theorem (aยฒ + bยฒ = cยฒ), slope formula, distance-rate-time formula (d = rt), and angle relationships (vertical angles, supplementary angles, parallel lines). Know angle relationships for parallel lines cut by a transversal โ corresponding angles are equal, alternate interior angles are equal, co-interior angles are supplementary.
- Work through all 15 sample questions in the official ETS Study Companion with explanations. The companion contains 15 authentic questions spanning all three categories and all three question formats, with detailed answer explanations. Sample questions include a Venn diagram intersection question, a circle geometry proof, a percent reduction word problem, a circle graph interpretation, a place value question, an algebraic equivalence question, a mean calculation, a percent of percent question, a linear equation, a counterexample question, a number ordering question, a fraction of a budget calculation, a numeric-entry parts problem, and a parallel lines geometry multi-select. Each is representative of actual exam difficulty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers sourced directly from the official ETS Praxis Core Mathematics (5733) Study Companion.
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Adaptive practice questions covering all 3 official ETS content categories โ including numeric-entry and select-all-that-apply formats. Domain-level analytics so you know exactly where to focus.
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