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PRAXISCode: 5018📚 All Four Elementary Subjects🖩 Scientific Calculator ProvidedCCSS + NCSS + NSES + NSTA

Praxis® Elementary Education:
Content Knowledge (5018)
Practice Test & Study Guide

Comprehensive preparation covering all four elementary content areas in a single 140-question exam — Reading and Language Arts (35%), Mathematics (29%), Social Studies (18%), and Science (18%). Aligned to Common Core State Standards, NCSS, NSES, and NSTA. On-screen scientific calculator provided for math and science questions.

80
Questions
2h
Time limit
157
Pass score
4
Content areas
35%
Reading & ELA (largest)
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An on-screen scientific calculator is provided throughout the full 150-minute exam. Per ETS: “You are expected to know how and when to use the scientific calculator since it will be helpful for some questions.” The calculator may be used to perform calculations such as exponents, roots, and percents. No personal calculators are permitted. Become familiar with the ETS scientific calculator's interface before test day — download the 30-day trial version and view tutorials on the ETS website. Many questions, including concept-based math and science questions, do not require the calculator at all.

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Reading and Language Arts is the largest category at 35% (49 questions) — it spans five major subcategories from foundational phonics through speaking and listening. Reading: Foundational Skills (phonological awareness, phonics, fluency); Reading: Literature and Informational Text (key ideas, text structures, point of view, multimedia, text complexity); Writing (types of writing, effective writing, developmental stages, research process); Language (grammar, vocabulary, tiered vocabulary); and Speaking and Listening. Strong performance in Reading and Language Arts has the largest single impact on your total score.

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Source: All exam details are drawn from the official ETS Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) Study Companion. The test is aligned with CCSS for ELA and Mathematics, Social Studies content standards, NSES, and NSTA standards. Passing scores vary by state — always confirm at ets.org/praxis/states.

Free Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) Sample Quiz

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Which phonics skill helps a student read "chain" by recognizing "ch" and "ai" patterns?

Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) — Test at a Glance

Key facts directly from the official ETS Study Companion.

Test code
5018
Computer-delivered
Total questions
140
SR + numeric-entry
Time limit
150 min
2 hours 30 minutes
Reading & Language Arts
35% · 49 questions
Largest category
Mathematics
29% · 41 questions
Second largest
Social Studies
18% · 25 questions
Equal with Science
Science
18% · 25 questions
Equal with Social Studies
Calculator
Scientific (on-screen)
Provided throughout

About the Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018)

What you need to know before you register.

The Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) is designed for candidates who are preparing to enter the field of elementary education. The test measures the knowledge, skills, and abilities judged by a national advisory committee and a survey of education experts to be necessary for safe and effective practice. Test takers are typically completing an undergraduate degree program in elementary education or have a degree in a content area and are seeking an additional endorsement.

The 140 test questions focus on knowledge in four major content areas: reading and language arts (49 questions, 35%), mathematics (41 questions, 29%), social studies (25 questions, 18%), and science (25 questions, 18%). Test takers are asked to show knowledge in multiple ways: conceptual understanding, procedural awareness, interpretation, integration, and application.

The test is aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts and Mathematics, as well as Social Studies content standards (NCSS), the National Science Education Standards (NSES), and the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) standards. An on-screen scientific calculator is provided for the computer-delivered test. Some questions may not count toward the score.

Four Content Areas at a Glance

Reading and Language Arts dominates at 35% (49 questions). Mathematics follows at 29% (41 questions). Social Studies and Science are each 18% (25 questions each).

Category I
Reading and Language Arts
49q · 35%
Subcategories5 major areas
StandardsCCSS ELA
Key topicsPhonics, comprehension, writing, language, speaking/listening
Category II
Mathematics
41q · 29%
Subcategories4 major areas
Calculatoron-screen scientific ✓
StandardsCCSS Mathematics
Category III
Social Studies
25q · 18%
Subcategories6 strands
StandardsNCSS
Key topicsGeography, World History, U.S. History, Government, Economics, Inquiry
Category IV
Science
25q · 18%
Subcategories3 domains
StandardsNSES + NSTA
Key topicsEarth/Space Science, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences

Official Exam Blueprint: 4 Content Categories

All content categories and question counts confirmed from the official ETS 5018 Study Companion. Reading and Language Arts accounts for more questions than Social Studies and Science combined.

Category I
Reading and Language Arts
A. Reading: Foundational Skills — phonological awareness (phonemes, syllables, onsets, rimes; blending, segmenting, substituting, deleting); phonics and word analysis (letter-sound correspondences, spelling conventions, high-frequency vs. decodable words, roots and affixes, syllabication patterns, ELL approaches, language acquisition stages); fluency (rate, accuracy, prosody and its impact on comprehension). B. Reading: Literature and Informational Text — key ideas and details; text features and structures across genres; point of view; integrating and comparing written, visual, and oral information; text complexity (quantitative, qualitative, reader and task factors). C. Writing — types of writing (opinion/argument, informative/explanatory, narrative); effective writing; developmental stages of writing; digital tools; research process (primary/secondary sources, plagiarism, citing sources). D. Language — conventions of standard English (grammar, usage, mechanics, spelling, sentence types); word meaning (context, roots/affixes, figurative language, word choice/tone); tiered vocabulary (conversational, academic, domain-specific). E. Speaking and Listening — effective collaboration; active listening; engaging oral presentations.
35%
49 questions
Category II
Mathematics
A. Numbers and Operations — place value system (base-10, multi-digit numbers, powers of 10, rounding); operations and properties of rational numbers (multistep problems, algorithms, fractions and their representations, order of operations, number lines, area models); proportional relationships and percents (ratios, unit rates, proportions); number theory (prime/composite numbers, factors, multiples); reasonableness strategies (estimation, mental math, rounding). B. Algebraic Thinking — algebraic expressions, equations, and formulas (evaluating, manipulating, translating between verbal and algebraic); linear equations and inequalities (multistep solutions, graphs on number lines); patterns (identifying, extending, generalizing). C. Geometry and Measurement — classifying 1D/2D/3D figures (angles, polygons, solids, attributes); perimeter, area, surface area, and volume (including nets of 3D figures, fractional edge lengths); coordinate plane (graphing points, polygons); measurement and unit conversion (elapsed time, money, length, volume, mass; U.S. customary and metric). D. Data, Statistics, and Probability — statistical concepts (mean, median, mode, range, outliers); data representation (box plots, histograms, scatterplots, circle graphs, bar graphs, line graphs, dot plots); probability. Calculator: on-screen scientific provided.
29%
41 questions
Category III
Social Studies
A. Geography, Anthropology, and Sociology — world/regional geography, spatial patterns, physical and political features, geographic literacy (maps, absolute/relative location, cardinal directions); human-environment interaction; people and society. B. World History — classical civilizations (Egypt, Greece, Rome); 20th-century developments (World Wars, Cold War); cross-cultural comparisons. C. United States History — European exploration and colonization, Native Americans; American Revolution and founding; major events (Manifest Destiny, Civil War, industrialization, immigration); 20th-century developments (Great Depression/New Deal, World Wars, Cold War); cause-and-effect connections. D. Government, Citizenship, and Democracy — founding principles (separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism); key documents (Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights); civic participation and citizenship rights. E. Economics — supply and demand, scarcity, opportunity cost, role of money; government's role in the economy, taxation and spending. F. Social Studies as Inquiry — questioning, gathering data, drawing conclusions; primary vs. secondary sources; fact vs. opinion; interpreting different types of information.
18%
25 questions
Category IV
Science
A. Earth and Space Science — physical and historical geology (Earth's structure, rock types, erosion, weathering, plate tectonics, volcanoes, earthquakes, water cycle, geologic history/fossils); hydrosphere and atmosphere (oceans, lakes, rivers, glaciers, atmospheric characteristics, weather, climate factors, seasons); astronomy (solar system — Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets; Earth-Moon-Sun interactions — phases, eclipses, tides; universe features — galaxies, stars, black holes). B. Life Sciences — cell structure and function (organelles, cell division, photosynthesis); genetics and evolution (genes/traits, DNA, genetic disorders, natural selection, mutation); classification of organisms (kingdom to species, characteristics of major groups); plant structures and reproduction; animal anatomy and physiology (respiratory, circulatory, skeletal/muscular, immune, nervous, endocrine systems; homeostasis); ecology (predator-prey, parasitism, ecosystems, biomes, food webs). C. Physical Sciences — structure and properties of matter (solids, liquids, gases; elements, atoms, compounds, molecules; atomic model; periodic table); energy and matter relationships (conservation of energy, kinetic/potential energy, phase changes, heat transfer — convection/radiation/conduction); chemical reactions (covalent/ionic bonding, chemical formulas, acids/bases, pH scale, common reaction types); mechanics (motion: distance, speed, velocity, acceleration; forces, gravity, mass vs. weight, fluid forces); electricity, magnetism, waves, and optics. Standards: NSES and NSTA.
18%
25 questions

Key Topics by Content Category

Specific competencies from the official ETS 5018 Study Companion — at the level of knowledge and application tested on the exam.

Reading & ELA

Reading and Language Arts — All Five Subcategories (Category I)

49 questions · 35%
Phonological awareness: understanding phonological awareness as foundational for literacy; identifying and providing examples of phonemes, syllables, onsets, and rimes; blending, segmenting, substituting, and deleting phonemes/syllables/onsets/rimes — both as definitions and as instructional activities
Phonics and word analysis: importance of phonics in literacy development; common letter-sound correspondences and spelling conventions; distinguishing high-frequency sight words from decodable words by grade; roots and affixes for decoding; syllabication patterns (open, closed, CVCe); ELL considerations in phonics instruction; language acquisition stages (WIDA taxonomy)
Reading fluency: defining fluency and related terms (accuracy, rate, prosody); how fluency impacts reading comprehension; the relationship between automaticity in decoding and comprehension capacity
Literature and informational text — key ideas and details: identifying key details, moral, theme of literary texts with textual evidence; central idea of informational texts; making inferences with evidence; summarizing; analyzing character, setting, plot; analyzing relationships in informational text
Text features and structures: structural elements of literature across genres (drama: cast of characters, stage directions; poetry: rhyme and meter); using text features in informational text (headings, sidebars, hyperlinks); organizational structures of informational text (cause/effect, problem/solution); how structural elements contribute to a whole literary text
Point of view and multimedia: identifying author's point of view across genres with evidence; comparing multiple accounts of the same event; how point of view affects text structure; visual and oral elements enhancing literary meaning; comparing written, oral, staged, and filmed versions of texts; comparing texts addressing the same theme or topic
Text complexity: three factors measuring text complexity (quantitative — word frequency, sentence length; qualitative — levels of meaning, structure, language; reader and task — background knowledge, purpose); features of text-leveling systems
Writing: distinguishing types of writing (opinion/argument, informative/explanatory, narrative) and their purposes, key components, and subgenres; evaluating effectiveness of writing; appropriate revisions; interrelationships among planning, revising, and editing; developmental stages of student writing (picture, scribble through conventional); digital tools for producing and publishing writing
Research process: steps of the research process; primary vs. secondary sources and their uses; reliable vs. unreliable sources; paraphrasing vs. plagiarizing; locating credible print and digital sources; citing sources correctly
Language conventions: parts of speech and their functions; correcting errors in grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling; sentence types (simple, compound, complex, compound-complex); dialects and registers in literature; determining meaning of unknown words (context clues, syntax, roots/affixes); figurative language (types, interpretation); word choice and tone; tiered vocabulary (Tier 1/2/3)
Mathematics

Mathematics — Numbers, Algebra, Geometry, Data (Category II)

41 questions · 29% · Scientific calculator provided
Place value system: writing numbers using base-10 numerals, number names, and expanded form; composing and decomposing multi-digit numbers; digit place identification and value; ten-times relationships between adjacent places extending to both larger and smaller; whole-number exponents for powers of 10; rounding multi-digit numbers to any place
Rational number operations: multistep real-world problems using all four operations with rational numbers; various strategies and algorithms; problem situations for operations; inverse operations; interpreting remainders; composing/decomposing fractions; unit fractions; comparing fractions using the same whole; order of operations with exponents; properties of operations (commutative, associative, distributive)
Rational number representations: concrete models and drawings for all four operations; number line representations; rectangular arrays and area models for multiplication and division; comparing, classifying, and ordering rational numbers; converting between fractions, decimals, and percents
Proportional relationships: ratios and unit rates to describe relationships between quantities; percent as rate per 100; unit-rate problems; using proportional relationships to solve ratio and percent problems
Algebraic expressions and equations: differentiating expressions from equations; adding/subtracting linear expressions; distributive property for equivalent expressions; evaluating simple algebraic expressions; translating between verbal statements and algebraic expressions; using formulas for unknown quantities; dependent vs. independent variables
Linear equations and patterns: solving multistep one-variable linear equations and inequalities; graphing solutions on number lines; using linear relationships (tables, graphs, equations) to solve problems; identifying, extending, and describing number and shape patterns; relationships between corresponding terms of two numerical patterns
Geometry: classifying lines, rays, segments (parallel, perpendicular); classifying angles by measure; composing and decomposing 2D and 3D shapes; classifying polygons and solids by attributes; representing 3D figures with nets; using nets of rectangles and triangles to find surface area; area and perimeter of polygons (including fractional side lengths); volume and surface area of right rectangular prisms
Measurement and data: solving problems involving elapsed time, money, length, volume, and mass; unit conversion within customary and metric systems; coordinate plane (axes, origin, four quadrants, graphing points and polygons); statistical questions; mean, median, mode, range, outliers; reading/constructing all data display types (box plots, histograms, scatterplots, bar/line/circle graphs, dot plots); probability interpretation
Social Studies

Social Studies — Geography, History, Government, Economics, Inquiry (Category III)

25 questions · 18%
Geography: spatial terms and patterns of people, places, and environments; characteristics of places and regions; locating major physical features (mountain ranges, bodies of water); locating major political features (continents, countries, states, cities); geographic literacy (map types — physical, political, thematic; absolute and relative location; cardinal and intermediate directions); human-environment interaction; natural and human resources
World history: major contributions of classical civilizations — Egypt (pharaohs, agriculture, writing), Greece (democracy, philosophy, art), Rome (law, engineering, Latin); how modern civilizations reflect ancient contributions; 20th-century developments (WWI and WWII — causes and effects; Cold War); technological developments (transportation, communication); causes and effects of globalization; cross-cultural comparisons
U.S. history — colonial through founding: Native American peoples and cultures; reasons for colonization and development of the thirteen colonies; interactions between Native Americans, colonists, and European powers; causes and effects of the American Revolution; key figures and events of the Revolution; challenges of the early republic (creating democratic government)
U.S. history — 19th century: territorial expansion (Manifest Destiny, Louisiana Purchase, impact on Native Americans, technological/political/economic factors); causes and effects of the Civil War (sectionalism, abolitionism, Underground Railroad, Confederate secession, Lincoln's role, Reconstruction challenges); industrialization, urbanization, and immigration; social and cultural developments
U.S. history — 20th century: Great Depression causes and effects; New Deal legislation; WWI and WWII causes, U.S. involvement, outcomes; Cold War; major economic developments (assembly line, mass production); technological developments and their influence
Government and citizenship: founding principles (republicanism, separation of powers, checks and balances, popular sovereignty); federalism (division of national/state power); powers of three branches and their interactions; basic characteristics of different political systems; key documents — Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution (structure of government, rights and protections), Bill of Rights; key speeches (Gettysburg Address); civic participation; citizenship rights and responsibilities
Economics and inquiry: supply and demand; scarcity, choice, and opportunity cost; role of money in economic decision-making; how people use resources; economics and technology; federal government's role in regulating the economy; taxing and spending. Inquiry: questioning, data gathering, drawing conclusions; evaluating uses of primary vs. secondary sources; fact vs. opinion; interpreting information; drawing conclusions using tools of the field
Science

Science — Earth/Space, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences (Category IV)

25 questions · 18%
Earth and space science — geology: Earth's basic structure (mantle, core, geographical features, magnetic field); types and characteristics of rocks and minerals; erosion, weathering, and deposition processes; plate tectonics (volcanoes, earthquakes); water cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff); geologic history, rock record, and fossils
Earth and space science — hydrosphere and atmosphere: Earth's oceans and seas; tides and waves; characteristics of lakes, streams, rivers, polar ice, glaciers, groundwater; basic characteristics of Earth's atmosphere; weather concepts (clouds, precipitation, hurricanes); factors affecting climate and seasons (climate zones, proximity to mountains and oceans)
Astronomy: major features of the solar system (Sun, eight planets, moons, asteroids, comets); Earth-Moon-Sun interactions (phases of the Moon, solar and lunar eclipses, seasons caused by axial tilt, tides); major features of the universe (galaxies, stars, black holes)
Life sciences — cells, genetics, evolution: cell organelle structure and function (nucleus, cell membrane, mitochondria, chloroplasts); cell processes (cell division, photosynthesis); levels of organization (cells → tissues → organs → organ systems); basic genetics (genes and traits, DNA structure and heredity, common genetic disorders); species change over time (natural selection, mutation, evolution)
Life sciences — classification, plants, animals: classification schemes (kingdom, genus, species; characteristics of major organism groups — amphibians, reptiles, mammals, plants); plant structure and function (leaves, roots, stems; asexual and sexual reproduction; nutrient and water transport); human body systems (respiratory, circulatory, excretory, digestive, skeletal, muscular, reproductive, immune, nervous, endocrine); homeostasis
Life sciences — ecology: species relationships (territoriality, predator-prey, parasitism, competition, mutualism); ecosystem structure (biomes, energy levels, food webs, food chains); effects of disturbances on ecosystems; biodiversity; human impact on ecosystems
Physical sciences — matter and energy: properties of solids, liquids, and gases; elements, atoms, compounds, molecules, and mixtures; atomic model (electrons, protons, neutrons, atomic number, atomic mass); periodic table; conservation of energy; kinetic and potential energy transformation; physical vs. chemical changes; heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation); phase changes and energy
Physical sciences — reactions, mechanics, waves: chemical bonding (covalent and ionic); interpreting simple chemical formulas; energy changes in reactions; acids/bases and pH scale; common reaction types (neutralization, oxidation, combustion); motion (distance, speed, velocity, acceleration); forces on objects (friction, collisions, pendulums, gravity); mass vs. weight; buoyancy; electricity and magnetism; wave properties; optics

Registration, Test Day & Scoring

Everything you need to know before and on exam day.

Registration

Where to registerpraxis.ets.org
Testing formatsIn-person or remote
ID required2 forms of valid ID
Arrive (in-person)30 min early

Scoring

Score typeScaled score
Wrong answer penaltyNone
Passing scoreVaries by state
Results available~5 weeks post-test
State requirementsets.org/praxis/states

Test Structure

Total questions140 SR + numeric-entry
Time limit150 minutes
CalculatorOn-screen scientific ✓
Personal calculatorNot permitted

Remote Testing

Browser requiredETS Secure Test Browser
DeviceLaptop or desktop only
Equipment neededWebcam, mic, speakers
Proctor typeLive remote proctor

Passing Score Requirements by State

Passing scores are set individually by each state or licensing agency.

Important: Passing score requirements for the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) are set individually by each state or licensing agency. Always verify the exact passing score for your state at ets.org/praxis/states before registering.

Your raw score (number of correct answers) is converted to a scaled score. There is no penalty for incorrect answers — always answer every question. Some questions are unscored pretest items. Always answer every question; never leave a question blank.

How to Prepare for the Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018)

Strategies for a broad, four-subject exam covering 140 questions across Reading/ELA, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science in a single 150-minute sitting.

  • Reading and Language Arts (35%, 49 questions) is the single largest category — strong performance here has the most impact on your total score. The 49 Reading and Language Arts questions span five subcategories, from foundational phonics through speaking and listening. The most heavily tested areas are: Reading Foundational Skills (phonological awareness, phonics, fluency), Reading of Literature and Informational Text (key ideas, text structures, point of view, text complexity), and Writing (types of writing, effective writing characteristics, the research process). Know the three factors of text complexity (quantitative, qualitative, reader and task) — these appear frequently as test items. Know all five types of organizational structures for informational text and their signal words.
  • Mathematics (29%, 41 questions) rewards systematic content review across all four subcategories — no single area dominates. The four math areas — Numbers/Operations, Algebraic Thinking, Geometry/Measurement, Data/Statistics/Probability — are distributed across 41 questions. Know rational number representations deeply: number lines, area models, and rectangular arrays for all four operations. Know the place value system well enough to explain why the decimal point stays fixed while digits move. For Algebra, practice translating verbal statements into algebraic expressions and solving multistep equations. For Geometry, know all formulas (area, perimeter, surface area, volume) and how changes in dimensions affect area and volume. The calculator is provided — use it for multi-step computation but don't let it substitute for conceptual understanding.
  • Social Studies (18%, 25 questions) rewards chronological and thematic organization over isolated fact memorization. Build a mental timeline of U.S. history from pre-Columbian through the 20th century; know the major causes and effects for each era. For Government, know all three branches, their powers, and how they check each other; know the founding principles by name (republicanism, popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism). For Geography, be able to identify major physical and political features on a world map and apply geographic literacy skills. The Economics content is foundational — supply and demand, scarcity, opportunity cost, and government's economic role are the most frequently tested concepts.
  • Science (18%, 25 questions) spans three broad domains — Earth/Space Science, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences — with approximately equal weight across all three. Life Sciences is often the most content-dense: know cell organelle functions, levels of biological organization, basic genetics (genes, DNA, dominant/recessive traits), classification schemes (kingdom through species), and human body systems. Physical Sciences requires knowing the periodic table at the conceptual level (atomic model, elements vs. compounds), energy transformations, heat transfer methods (conduction/convection/radiation), and types of chemical reactions. Earth and Space Science includes understanding the water cycle, rock cycle, plate tectonics, and the Earth-Moon-Sun system (seasons from axial tilt — not distance; Moon phases; types of eclipses).
  • Pace yourself for 140 questions in 150 minutes — that's approximately 64 seconds per question on average. Because all four categories are tested sequentially with no independent time limits, you can allocate your time based on question difficulty. A practical strategy: spend approximately 50 minutes on Reading/ELA (49 questions), 42 minutes on Mathematics (41 questions), 28 minutes on Social Studies (25 questions), and 28 minutes on Science (25 questions) — leaving 2 minutes for review. Never spend more than 2 minutes on a single question; flag it and return. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so always answer every question.
  • Download the official ETS Study Companion for the 5018 and complete all 50 sample questions — including the detailed explanations for both correct and incorrect answers. The Study Companion contains 50 authentic sample questions (approximately 17 Reading/ELA, 14 Mathematics, 9 Social Studies, 10 Science) with full explanations. The explanations for incorrect answer choices are as important as the correct answers — they reveal the precise conceptual distinctions the exam is testing. Also familiarize yourself with the ETS on-screen scientific calculator before test day by downloading the 30-day trial version from the ETS website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers sourced directly from the official ETS Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) Study Companion.

How many questions are on the Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018)?
140 selected-response and numeric-entry questions with a 150-minute time limit. Questions span four categories: Reading and Language Arts (49 questions, 35%), Mathematics (41 questions, 29%), Social Studies (25 questions, 18%), and Science (25 questions, 18%). An on-screen scientific calculator is provided.
Is a calculator provided on the Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018)?
Yes. An on-screen scientific calculator is provided for the computer-delivered test. No personal calculators are permitted. Per ETS: “You are expected to know how and when to use the scientific calculator since it will be helpful for some questions.” The calculator can perform exponents, roots, and percents in addition to basic operations. Familiarize yourself with its interface before test day.
What are the four content categories on the Praxis 5018?
Four categories: I. Reading and Language Arts (49 questions, 35%) — foundational skills, literature/informational text, writing, language, speaking/listening; II. Mathematics (41 questions, 29%) — numbers/operations, algebraic thinking, geometry/measurement, data/statistics/probability; III. Social Studies (25 questions, 18%) — geography, world history, U.S. history, government, economics, inquiry; IV. Science (25 questions, 18%) — Earth/space science, life sciences, physical sciences.
What standards is the Praxis 5018 aligned to?
The test is aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts and Mathematics, Social Studies content standards (NCSS), the National Science Education Standards (NSES), and National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) standards.
What is the difference between the Praxis 5018 and the 5006 Elementary Education Assessment?
The 5018 is a single 140-question, 150-minute test covering all four content areas — primarily a content knowledge assessment. The 5006 is a combined assessment of two subtests (5007 and 5008, 180 total questions, 4.5 hours) with much greater emphasis on Tasks of Teaching (~70% of each subject). Many states require one or the other; some require both. Always check ets.org/praxis/states for your state's specific requirements.
Is there a penalty for wrong answers on the Praxis 5018?
No. Your score is based solely on correct answers — there is no penalty for wrong answers. Always answer every question. Never leave a question blank.
What is the passing score for the Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018)?
Passing scores vary by state or licensing agency. Always verify the specific requirement for your state at ets.org/praxis/states before registering.

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Adaptive practice questions covering all four content areas — Reading and Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science — aligned to the official 5018 content specification. Category-level analytics so you know exactly where to focus your time.

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Sources: ETS Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018) Study Companion (official PDF, praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-ets-praxisLibrary/default/pdfs/5018.pdf); ETS official test page for 5018; Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics; National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) national curriculum standards; National Science Education Standards (NSES); National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) standards. Praxis® is a registered trademark of 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: May 22, 2026