You searched for praxis passing scores. Maybe you're trying to figure out exactly what number you need to hit. Maybe you just got your score report and you're trying to make sense of it. Either way - here's the answer, all in one place.
Every state sets its own praxis passing score. Every exam has its own range. And honestly? most of the official ETS pages make this way more confusing than it needs to be. So we built this guide. One page, every cut score, every state, zero fluff.
We'll cover the praxis passing scores by state and exam, how Praxis scoring actually works, when you get your scores, and the part nobody talks about - how to actually hit your target score on the first try. Let's go.
What Is a Passing Score on the Praxis?
Here's the thing nobody tells you up front: there's no single passing score on the Praxis. The Praxis is a family of more than 90 different exams, each with its own score range. And states - not ETS - decide what counts as passing.
That's why your friend in Texas might pass with a 148 and you fail in New Jersey with a 154. Same exam. Different cut score. Different outcome. Frustrating? Absolutely. But once you know how the system works, it's actually pretty straightforward.
Three things that determine your passing score
- The exam itself. Praxis Core Math (5733), Praxis SLP (5331), and Praxis 5354 all have different score ranges and expectations.
- Your state. NJDOE, BESE, USBE, NYSED, TDOE - each one publishes its own cut scores.
- Your certification area. Some states set different cuts for the same exam depending on which license you're pursuing.
How Praxis Scoring Actually Works
Praxis uses scaled scoring. Not a percentage. Not "X out of Y." Scaled. That distinction matters because it means two test-takers can answer the same number of questions correctly and walk away with different scores.
Why? Different test forms have different difficulty levels. ETS adjusts the raw-to-scaled conversion so that a 152 on one form means the same level of mastery as a 152 on a harder or easier version. Your raw score (number correct) gets converted into a scaled score on the 100-200 range. That scaled score is what your state compares to its cut score.
The praxis raw score conversion in plain English
- • Raw score = number of questions you answered correctly
- • Scaled score = raw score adjusted for form difficulty
- • Cut score = the minimum scaled score your state requires
- • You don't see the raw score on your report. Only scaled.
- • There's no penalty for guessing, so never leave a question blank
What Is the Highest Score on the Praxis?
The praxis maximum score is 200 for nearly every Praxis exam. The minimum is 100. So your scaled score will land somewhere on that 100-200 range, with cut scores typically clustered between 145 and 165.
Here's the good news: you don't need a 200. You don't even need a 180. Hitting your state's cut score - whether that's 150, 156, or 162 - is enough. The score on your transcript doesn't help you get hired faster. Passing does. So aim for your number, not perfection.
Praxis Passing Scores by Exam
Below are the most commonly asked-about praxis passing scores by exam. These are the most widely used cut scores - your state may require slightly higher or lower. Always verify before test day.
| Exam | Code | Typical Cut Score |
|---|---|---|
| Praxis Core Reading | 5713 | 150-156 |
| Praxis Core Writing | 5723 | 156-162 |
| Praxis Core Math | 5733 | 150 |
| Praxis Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects | 5001 | 155-165 per subtest |
| Praxis Elementary Math | 5003 | 155-165 |
| Praxis Special Education | 5354 | 151 |
| Praxis Speech-Language Pathology | 5331 | 162 |
| Praxis Audiology | 5343 | 162 |
| Praxis PLT K-6 | 5622 | 160 |
| Praxis PLT 5-9 | 5623 | 152 |
| Praxis PLT 7-12 | 5624 | 157-160 |
| Praxis Middle School Math | 5164/5165 | 157-165 |
| Praxis English Language Arts | 5038 | 167 |
| Praxis Social Studies (Elementary) | 5004 | 155 |
| Praxis Biology | 5236 | 150 |
| Praxis SLLA | 6990 | 151 |
| Praxis 5025 (Early Childhood) | 5025 | 156 |
| Praxis 5412 (Educational Leadership) | 5412 | 151 |
| Praxis 5901 (Music: Content & Instruction) | 5901 | 162 |
| Praxis 5355 (Special Ed: Mild to Moderate) | 5355 | 153 |
| Praxis 5511 (Fundamental Subjects) | 5511 | 150 |
Notice something? The praxis 5354 passing score is one of the lower cuts in the system, but pass rates on that exam are surprisingly mixed. The praxis plt passing score also varies wildly by grade band. Cut score alone doesn't tell the full story - exam difficulty matters too.
Praxis Passing Scores by State
Here's where it gets interesting. Same exam, different states, different cut scores. Below are the praxis passing scores by state for the markets we serve directly. If your state isn't listed, drop us a line and we'll point you to the right cut score.
New Jersey Praxis Passing Scores
New Jersey praxis passing scores tend to run higher than the national average. NJDOE doesn't mess around. Here are the praxis core passing scores nj candidates need:
- • Praxis Core Reading (5713): 156
- • Praxis Core Writing (5723): 162
- • Praxis Core Math (5733): 150
- • Praxis Elementary Education (5001): 157/157/155/159 per subtest
- • Praxis SLP (5331): 162
- • Praxis Special Education (5354): 151
- • Praxis PLT K-6 (5622): 160
If you're prepping for these exact cut scores, our Praxis New Jersey tutoring program is calibrated to NJDOE requirements. We know exactly what passing praxis scores nj requires - and we get you there.
Tennessee Praxis Passing Scores
TDOE sets Tennessee praxis passing scores that generally align with the national averages, with a few exceptions:
- • Praxis Core Reading (5713): 156
- • Praxis Core Writing (5723): 162
- • Praxis Core Math (5733): 150
- • Praxis Elementary Education (5001): 157/157/155/159
- • Praxis SLP (5331): 162
- • Praxis 5354: 151
Tennessee teachers preparing for state certification can check our Praxis Tennessee tutoring page for full TDOE-aligned prep.
New York Praxis Passing Scores
New York is a little different. NYSED uses NYSTCE for many certifications, but Praxis still applies for SLP, audiology, and a handful of subject areas. The relevant cuts:
- • Praxis SLP (5331): 162 (ASHA standard)
- • Praxis Audiology (5343): 162
- • Praxis Core (when accepted as alternative): aligned with NJDOE-style cuts
For NY-specific guidance, our Praxis New York program covers what you actually need - and skips what you don't.
Louisiana Praxis Passing Scores
Louisiana praxis passing scores are set by BESE and sit at some of the higher cuts in the country, especially for middle school math:
- • Praxis Core Reading (5713): 156
- • Praxis Core Writing (5723): 162
- • Praxis Core Math (5733): 150
- • Praxis Middle School Math (5164): 165
- • Praxis Elementary Education (5001): 157/157/155/159
- • Praxis 5354: 158
The math praxis passing score by state is highest in Louisiana for middle school certification. If that's your exam, our Louisiana Praxis tutoring and Praxis Math program are built for that exact cut score.
Utah Praxis Passing Scores
USBE sets Utah's cut scores, which run reasonably close to the national medians:
- • Praxis Core Reading (5713): 156
- • Praxis Core Writing (5723): 162
- • Praxis Core Math (5733): 150
- • Praxis Elementary Education (5001): 157/157/155/159
- • Praxis SLP (5331): 162
Know Your Score. Now Hit It.
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Get Started NowHow Many Questions Do You Need Right?
The classic question: how many questions correct to pass praxis? Honest answer? It depends. Praxis uses scaled scoring, so there's no fixed percentage. But here's a useful rule of thumb based on past test forms:
- • Praxis Core Reading: ~60-65% correct gets you to 150-156
- • Praxis Core Math: ~60-65% correct gets you to 150
- • Praxis Core Writing: ~65-70% correct + a solid essay gets you to 162
- • Praxis SLP: ~65-70% correct hits the 162 cut
- • Praxis 5354: ~60% correct typically clears 151
- • Praxis Elementary Education subtests: 60-70% correct depending on subject
Notice none of these require you to crush 90% of questions. That's important. You can miss a healthy chunk of the test and still pass - which is exactly why strategy beats trying to memorize everything. Strategically pick up the questions you can win, skip the time sinks, and the math takes care of itself.
When Do You Get Your Praxis Scores?
"Do you get your praxis scores immediately?" We get this question a lot. The answer is yes and no, depending on your exam.
Multiple Choice Only
Unofficial score appears on screen right after you finish. Official scores arrive in 10-16 business days. The unofficial score is almost always identical to the final - so yes, you basically know on the spot.
Constructed Response
Tests with essays or video analysis (Core Writing, SLP, PLT) take longer because human scorers grade the open-ended portions. Expect to wait the full 10-16 business days. No on-screen score.
Want to check my praxis scores? Log into your ETS account at ets.org/praxis. Once your scores release, they'll appear in your dashboard. You can also send official score reports to state agencies and certification programs from there.
One more thing: your scores stay in your ETS account for 10 years. So if you take the Praxis now and apply for licensure in another state down the road, you can still send those reports without retaking. Useful if you ever move.
How to Actually Hit Your Target Score
Knowing your praxis passing score is step one. Hitting it is step two - and that's where most candidates run into trouble. Praxis pass rate hovers around 70-75% nationally. That's not because the content is impossibly hard. It's because most people prep wrong.
Here's the reality. You don't need to learn more content. You finished a degree program. You know the material. What you need is a system for applying that knowledge under ETS's specific question format - and a way to manage time and anxiety so the score doesn't slip away in the last 20 minutes.
How our students hit their cut score in 48 hours
- We start with your specific state and exam - so we calibrate to your exact cut score from hour one
- We teach the elimination patterns ETS reuses across every Praxis test
- We drill scenario decoding - the skill that separates 158s from 162s on SLP and PLT
- We build a time-management system so you never run out of clock on the last section
- We handle test anxiety directly - because anxiety is the silent reason most retakers keep retaking
Whether you're chasing the 162 on Praxis SLP, the 150 on Praxis Core Math, or the 165 Louisiana wants on Middle School Math, the same principle applies. Strategy. Targeting. Confidence under pressure. That's the game.
If you've already failed and you're staring at a score report wondering what to do next - read our guide on how to pass the Praxis. And if you're just trying to nail the first attempt, reach out. We'll get you to your cut score - guaranteed.
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