Praxis Score Calculator with Passing Scores by State

How Praxis Scores Are Calculated

ETS converts your raw correct-answer count to a scaled score on the 100-200 range through a process called equating. Equating compensates for minor difficulty differences between test forms: if the form you took was slightly harder than the reference form, your scaled score is adjusted upward so that equal ability always produces the same result. You never see your raw score on an official Praxis report, only the scaled score.

For Core Writing (5723), the conversion is more complex. The 40 selected-response questions and the two 30-minute essays are scored separately, then combined before the equating function produces the final 100-200 scaled score. Each essay is rated 1-6 by two trained raters; the four ratings are summed and contribute roughly 30% of the Writing scaled score. This is why the Raw to Scaled tab in the calculator above shows estimates only for Writing: the essay component requires human scoring that is not captured in raw correct-answer count.

Praxis Core Passing Scores by State

States set their own passing thresholds, not ETS. The majority of Praxis states require 156 for Reading, 162 for Writing, and 150 for Math. Several states deviate, and a handful offer alternative combined-score paths.

California and Texas do not use Praxis Core for initial teacher certification. California uses the CBEST; Texas uses the TExES. Candidates seeking reciprocal licensure in those states should check whether out-of-state Praxis scores are accepted in lieu of the state-specific exams. ETS maintains the authoritative interactive score table at ets.org/praxis/states.

Combined-Score Paths: Maine and North Dakota

Two states allow candidates to pass without meeting every individual subtest cutoff. Both options recognize that a very strong performance on two of the three Core tests can compensate for a marginal result on the third.

Maine requires a combined total of 468 across Reading, Writing, and Math, with no single score more than 3 points below its individual cutoff. A candidate who scores 156/168/144 (total 468, Math 3 points below the 147 cutoff) satisfies the Maine requirement. A score of 156/168/143 would not, because Math is 4 points below the cutoff.

North Dakota requires a combined total of 466, with passing scores on at least two of the three tests individually. The third test can fall short as long as the combined total is met.

Praxis Core vs. Praxis Subject Assessments

Praxis tests fall into two distinct categories that serve different purposes in the teacher certification process.

Many candidates need both categories: Core to get into or complete a preparation program, and one or more Subject Assessments to qualify for their specific teaching endorsement. Some states allow Core waivers based on SAT, ACT, or other scores; check your state DOE directly to confirm whether those waivers apply before paying for a Core test you may not need.

Selected Praxis Subject Assessment Passing Scores

Subject Assessment cutoffs vary more widely than Core cutoffs because content knowledge requirements differ across disciplines. The table below shows passing ranges for commonly taken subject tests across Praxis states.

The Speech-Language Pathology test (5362) is notable: ASHA requires a minimum of 162 for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP), and nearly all states follow this national standard. Candidates targeting SLP certification should treat 162 as a hard floor regardless of their state's listed minimum.

Understanding Your Praxis Score Report

Your official score report shows the scaled score for each test, whether you met the passing score for states where you requested scores, and a percentile rank comparing your performance to all candidates who tested in the previous three years. The percentile rank is informational. States do not use it for pass/fail decisions; they compare your scaled score directly against their cutoff.

For computer-based Core Reading and Core Math, an unofficial score appears on screen the moment you finish. That number is accurate because no human scoring is involved. Core Writing shows only the selected-response portion of your unofficial score at the test center; the complete official score arrives within 10 to 16 business days once essay scoring is complete.

If you retake a test, ETS reports all valid scores within the 10-year window unless a state accepts only your highest or most recent score. Check your state's score-selection policy before deciding whether to retake. Some states average multiple attempts, which means retaking a test you narrowly failed could lower your on-record average if the second attempt goes worse.

How to Improve Your Praxis Core Scores

Core Math (5733) produces the widest spread of passing cutoffs across states (130 in Mississippi to 163 in Connecticut) and is the most common reason candidates take longer to complete the Core battery. The 56 questions cover number and quantity, algebra and functions, geometry, and statistics and probability. A four-function on-screen calculator is available for some questions but not all, so fluency in pencil-and-paper arithmetic and algebra matters.

Core Reading (5713) tests inference, evidence evaluation, and vocabulary in context across academic texts. The 56 questions in 85 minutes leave about 90 seconds per question. Candidates who score below 156 typically struggle with dense informational passages rather than simple vocabulary. Timed reading practice on JSTOR-style academic texts closes that gap faster than vocabulary drills alone.

Core Writing (5723) combines 40 grammar and usage questions with two 30-minute essays. Most candidates who fail Writing do so because of essay scores rather than selected-response performance. The essays are rated on a 1-6 scale by two raters each; essays that score mostly 2s and 3s pull down an otherwise competent selected-response result. Practicing timed argumentative writing with feedback closes that gap faster than additional grammar study.

Last verified: May 2026. Passing scores are set by each state's Department of Education and change periodically. Always confirm your state's current requirements at ets.org/praxis/states before scheduling your test. Score data sourced from ETS Praxis Minimum Score Requirements and individual state DOE passing score tables. This calculator is an estimator; official ETS score reports are the authoritative source.