Praxis Core For Dummies, with Online Practice Tests E-Book

Carla C. Kirkland

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Bildung
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 803

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

Get the ultimate guide to the Praxis® Core AcademicSkills for Educators, complete with practice tests The Praxis® Core Academic Skills for Educators test hasreplaced the Praxis (PPST) as the pre-certification exam foreducators, and plenty has changed. The new exam still testscompetency in reading, writing, and mathematics, but the bar hasbeen raised and the focus is more on critical thinking to providestates and agencies better candidate qualification indicators. Thenew test is aligned with the College and Career Readiness Standardsand the Common Core State Standards, with expanded testing thatmore accurately reflects the nation's changing educationalstandards. Praxis® For Dummies, with online practice tests isthe ultimate study guide for the exam. As an educator, you know howthorough preparation can effect performance, and this is one examthat requires your very best. The book contains a detailed overviewso you know what to expect on test day, and three full-lengthpractice exams that allow you to work out the kinks in advance.Completely geared toward the new test, Praxis® CoreFor Dummies, with online practice tests features the mostupdated information on the market. * Learn which topics you know well by answering hundreds of testquestions * Understand how to prepare for the required essays * Hone your test-taking skills with strategies that will help youace the exam The book also includes access to practice tests online as wellas detailed answer explanations that helps you discover your weakareas in time to improve them. While outdated study guides are sureto leave you unprepared, Praxis® Core For Dummies,with online practice tests is your ultimate study guide to oneof the most important tests you'll ever take.

Leseprobe

Praxis® Core For Dummies®

Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.111 River StreetHoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

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Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2014933459

ISBN 978-1-118-53280-5 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-118-61257-6 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-61266-8 (ebk)

Manufactured in the United States of America

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Praxis® Core For Dummies®

Table of Contents

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Icons Used in This Book

Beyond the Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I: Getting Started with the Praxis Core

Chapter 1: Previewing the Praxis

Why Take the Praxis?

Breaking Down the Praxis

Knowing what topics are covered

Seeing what types of questions you’ll face

Understanding How the Test Is Scored

Chapter 2: Getting Ready for Test Day

Registering for the Test

Using Your Time Wisely

Budgeting your study time leading up to test day

Budgeting your time while taking the test

When Test Day Has Arrived

Knowing what to bring and what to leave at home

Getting familiar with computer testing

If You Are Retaking the Test

Chapter 3: Practicing the Praxis: Trying Out Some Practice Questions

Going through the Preassessment Questions

Reading practice questions

Writing practice questions

Mathematics practice questions

Looking at the Preassessment Answers

Reading answers and explanations

Writing answers and explanations

Math answers and explanations

Assessing Your Results

Identifying categories where you struggled

Understanding where you went wrong specifically

Part II: Mastering Math Concepts

Chapter 4: Count on It: Number and Quantity

Working with Integers: Whole Numbers and Their Opposites

Doing basic operations with integers

Finding factors of whole numbers

Employing some helpful divisibility rules

Finding multiples of integers

Determining the greatest common factor and least common multiple

Exponents and square roots

Computing with Fractions and Mixed Numbers

Simplifying fractions

Converting between fractions and mixed numbers

Performing basic operations with fractions and mixed numbers

Working with Decimals and Percents

Converting between decimals and percents

Performing basic operations with decimals

Understanding the Number Line

Interpreting numeration and place values

Knowing the basics of order

Finding orders of magnitude

Finding numbers in sequences

Following Orders: The Order of Operations

Remembering “GEMDAS”

Using the order of operations within itself

Reasoning with Quantities

Using the two major systems of measurement

Converting units of measurement

Basic word problems

Practice Questions about Number and Quantity

Answers and Explanations

Chapter 5: Introducing Letters: Algebra and Functions

Variables: When Letters Represent Numbers

Laying out the terms: Variable terms and expressions

Let’s get together: Combining like terms

Multiplying and dividing with terms and expressions

When variable values are given

Working with Equations

Solving for x and other variables

Undoing addition and subtraction

Undoing multiplication and division

Multistep equations

Proportions

Systems of equations

Solving Inequalities

Following two more rules when solving inequalities

Graphing inequalities

Factoring in Algebra

Factoring terms out of bigger terms

Using reverse FOIL

Decoding Algebra Word Problems

Translating English into mathematical language

Algebraic word problems

Figuring Out Functions

Identifying functions

Working with functions

Thinking Outside the Algebra Box

Recognizing relational patterns

Algebraic reasoning

Practice Questions about Algebra

Answers and Explanations

Chapter 6: Grasping Geometry Concepts

Understanding the Building Blocks of Geometry

Getting to the point

Defining lines and parts of lines

Moving along planes in space

Getting the right angles on angles

Recognizing congruence

Understanding Angle Measures and Relationships

Distinguishing degrees of angle measure and naming angles

Working with angle relationships

Knowing Common Shapes and Their Basic Properties

Defining polygons in general

Analyzing triangles: Three-sided polygons

Identifying facts about quadrilaterals

Working with other types of polygons

Knowing the basic facts about circles

Working with Shapes that Are Alike

Forming conclusions about congruent shapes

Working with similar shapes

Figuring out Geometric Formulas

Finding the perimeter

Circling the circumference

Getting into the area

Calculating on the surface: surface area

Finding the right volume

Combining Shapes

Coming together: Shapes that have joined without an invasion

Preparing for invasion: When one shape invades another

Knowing the Ways of the XY Coordinate Plane

Naming coordinate pairs

Identifying linear equations and their graphs

Using the distance and midpoint formulas

Finding meaning in intersecting graphs

Transforming coordinate plane figures

Touching on Right Triangles

Knowing what Pythagoras discovered

Working with special right triangles

Practice Questions about Geometry

Answers and Explanations

Chapter 7: Pinning Down Statistics and Probability

Representing Data

Tables

Bar graphs and line graphs

Pie charts

Stem-and-leaf plots

Box-and-whisker plots

Venn diagrams

Scrambling around scatter plots

Loitering around line plots

Analyzing Data

Combing through comparisons

Homing in on the range

Measuring arithmetic mean, median, or mode

Variably affecting data

Scrutinizing samples for data analysis

Interpreting linear models

Calculating Probability

Determining the likelihood of an event

Using complements

Pointing Out Scientific Notation Facts

Practice Questions about Probability and Statistics

Answers and Explanations

Chapter 8: Test-Taking Strategies for Core Math

Using Helpful Shortcuts

Solving equations versus determining what must be solved

Using estimation and approximation

Using the calculator

Identifying calculations you can make in your head

The art of guessing as a last resort

Working backward

Narrowing Down Answer Choices

How to eliminate obviously wrong answer choices

Avoiding the most common wrong answers

Tackling the Constructed Response

Tips for preparing responses and answering questions

Understanding the importance of avoiding careless errors

Some proper ways of representing answers

Part III: Refining Your Reading Comprehension Skills

Chapter 9: Reading Comprehension: Finding Meaning and Identifying Purpose

Previewing the Praxis Reading Test

Knowing what the test contains

Applying a general strategy

Mastering Short-Passage Questions

Ferreting out the main idea

Discerning the author’s tone and intent

Putting vocabulary in context

Looking at Long-Passage Questions

Purpose and paraphrase

Arguments and support

Getting the hang of “If” questions

Sample questions for long passages

Visual-Information Questions

Rethinking charts and graphs

Getting graphs

Practice Reading Comprehension Questions

Answers and Explanations

Chapter 10: Test-Taking Strategies for Core Reading

Figuring Out Which to Read First: The Passage or the Question

Examining Strategies for the Various Passages

Approaching long and short passages

Approaching the paired passages

Approaching Questions about Charts and Graphs

Eliminating Wrong Answers

Tips for Slow Readers

Part IV: Fine-Tuning Your Writing Skills

Chapter 11: Acing the Essay

Perusing the Types of Prompts: “Picking a Side” versus “Exploring an Idea”

Writing persuasively

Sticking to the facts

Creating a Solid Essay

Making an outline: Essential or overrated?

Looking at the sections of your essay

Don’t box yourself in: Theses aren’t set in stone

Citing the sources

Checking out some additional writing pointers

Turning a Good Essay into a Great One

Adding interesting anecdotes

Painting a picture with words

Anticipating objections against your position

Understanding How the Essay Is Scored

Checking Out Some Practice Prompts

Prompts for argumentative essays

Prompts for informative/explanatory essays

Reviewing a Sample Essay

Evaluating Your Essay

Chapter 12: Giving Grammar a Glance

Getting a Grip on the Parts of Speech

Finding nouns as subjects and objects

Putting verbs to work

Using adjectives to describe people, places, and things

Calling on adverbs to describe actions and conditions

Getting the lowdown on pronouns

Considering conjunctions

Perusing prepositions

Making Sense of Sentence Structure

Independent clauses versus everything else

The sentence skeleton: Identifying the main subject and verb

Run-ons and comma splices

Appositives: Interruptions to the independent clause

Pondering Punctuation

Commas

Semicolons

Apostrophes

Misplaced Modifiers

Redundancy and Double Negatives

Homophones: “They’re in there with their bear”

Which one has the apostrophe?

Spelled and used differently, but sound the same

Capitalization: What You Need to Know

Practice Questions about Grammar

Answers and Explanations

Chapter 13: Test-Taking Strategies for Core Writing

Knowing the Types of Multiple-Choice Writing Questions

Type 1: Answering usage questions

Type 2: Showing your research skills

Type 3: Making sentence corrections

Type 4: Regarding revision-in-context questions

Identifying and Correcting Errors in Multiple-Choice Items

Eliminating the obviously wrong choices

Don’t be afraid to say it’s right the way it is

The art of guessing as a last resort

A word of advice about “trusting your ear”

Mastering the Essay

Outlining your thoughts and managing your time

Arm yourself with versatile examples

Practicing ahead of time

Part V: Tackling Praxis Core Practice Tests

Chapter 14: Practice Exam 1

Part 1: Reading

Part 2: Writing

Argumentative Essay

Source-Based Essay

Part 3: Mathematics

Chapter 15: Practice Exam 1: Answers and Explanations

Part 1: Reading

Part 2: Writing

Argumentative Essay

Source-Based Essay

Part 3: Mathematics

Answer Key

Chapter 16: Practice Exam 2

Part 1: Reading

Part 2: Writing

Argumentative Essay

Source-Based Essay

Part 3: Mathematics

Chapter 17: Practice Exam 2: Answers and Explanations

Part 1: Reading

Part 2: Writing

Argumentative Essay

Source-Based Essay

Part 3: Mathematics

Answer Key

Part VI: The Part of Tens

Chapter 18: Ten Common Math Errors to Avoid

Misusing Negative Signs

Confusing Perimeter and Area

Incorrectly Combining Like Terms

Messing Up when Moving Decimals

Not Solving for the Actual Variable

Misrepresenting “Less Than” in Word Problems

Mixing Up Supplementary and Complementary Angles

Finding the Wrong Median

Fearing Fractions

Forgetting about Fractions in Formulas

Chapter 19: Ten Mistakes to Avoid on the Praxis Reading and Writing Exams

Avoiding Mistakes Common to the Writing and Reading Tests

Don’t look for patterns in the answers

Don’t change answers merely for the sake of changing them

Sidestepping Mistakes on the Writing Test

Don’t equate different with wrong

Don’t assume something must be correct just because it sounds fancier or more complex

Don’t turn the essay into a thesaurus explosion

Don’t paint yourself into a corner with a rigid thesis

Evading Mistakes on the Reading Test

Don’t rule out the “too obvious”

Don’t word-match

Don’t ignore your outside knowledge

Don’t try to answer more than the question asks you to

About the Authors

End User License Agreement

Guide

Table of Contents

Begin Reading

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Introduction

If you want to be a teacher, you generally have to take the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators at least once. “What?! What do you mean by ‘at least once’?” Yes, it’s true that you may have to take the Praxis twice in your quest to shape the minds of future generations. Many colleges and universities require that students who want to enroll in an education major take the exam. And if that isn’t bad enough, most states and some U.S. territories require that you pass the Praxis in order to be licensed to teach. But don’t panic. You’ve come to the right place for help in acing the exam.

The goal of this book is to help you brush up on what you need to know to pass the Praxis with flying colors. We don’t cover every topic that will be tested in detail; instead we offer an overview of those topics. The overview allows you to review a topic and say to yourself either, “Yep, got it! I can move onto the next topic.” or “I don’t get it. I’d better focus on my statistics knowledge.” (If you decide you need more review on a topic, check out the many For Dummies books that relate to the chapters in this book.)

You can also use the two practice tests in this book and the additional three practice tests online to test yourself in a lifelike testing situation. You may want to take one test before you read any chapters to see where your strengths and weaknesses are; then you’ll know where to focus your attention. After you’ve studied your weak areas and reviewed the topics you’re better at, you can take another practice test to see how much you’ve improved and where you still may need more work.

So we have you covered when it comes to studying for and passing the Praxis. Take a couple of tests, review the chapters, and get the confidence you need to score well on the test when it really counts.

About This Book

Praxis Core For Dummies breaks down the exam’s main objectives into understandable sections. This book is organized into parts that align with the test’s subsections so you can find the answers to your most challenging areas quickly. If you’re struggling with math, you can find all those topics grouped together. If writing makes you want to pull your hair out, you can get a comprehensive overview in Part IV.

In addition to reviewing Praxis topics, we offer strategies that you can practice and keep in mind so you don’t fall for the booby traps that others seem to. We outline the different types of questions so you know where to expect the hurdles you’ll see on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exam. (Okay, this is the last time we will spell out the official title of the test. From now on it will be referred to as the Praxis or the Praxis Core.)

A test-prep book wouldn’t be a test-prep book without a couple of practice tests. This book offers two tests in the book, those same two tests online, and then another three tests online to help you become familiar with the content and question types you’ll encounter when you take the exam. They say practice makes perfect. With these practice tests, you can put that theory to the “test.”

Foolish Assumptions

In writing this book, we’ve made some assumptions about you. The biggest assumption we’ve made applies to all readers: You have decided to teach, which is one of the most rewarding professions known to man. Beyond that, you fall into one of the following categories:

You are a first-time test-taker who wants to pass the test on your first try.You are a retester who has taken the test and failed based on your state cut score requirement. You can still successfully reach the passing score goal. You’re actually in a better situation than the first-time test-taker because you possess a detailed report that outlines your strengths and weaknesses. That way you can truly attack the sections that challenge you the most.You are a traditional teacher candidate in college who is currently enrolled or trying to enroll as an education major in an undergraduate program, and you need to pass this test to start taking your specialized courses.You are an alternative route teacher candidate who possesses a four-year degree and you need to pass this test as one of your first steps toward certification.

Regardless of your category, we have written this book to fit your specific needs.

Icons Used in This Book

Icons are the drawings in the margins of this book, and we use several icons to call out special kinds of information.

Examples are sample test questions that appear at the ends of sections and that highlight particular ideas that you should be familiar with. We provide an answer and explanation immediately after the question. (And there’s more — at the end of a chapter, you usually find a handful of numbered sample questions, which we don’t mark with the icon because they’re in their own practice-questions section.)

The Remember icon points out something you should keep in mind while you’re taking the exam.

A Tip is a suggestion that usually points out a trick for remembering information for the test.

The Warning icon flags traps and tricks that the creators of the Praxis often employ to trip you up when it comes to choosing the correct answer. Pay special heed to these paragraphs.

Beyond the Book

In addition to the material in the print or e-book you’re reading right now, this product also comes with some access-anywhere goodies on the web. Check out these features:

Cheat Sheet: (www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/praxiscore): When you’re down to the last few days before the test, not only do you have to remember everything you’ve studied for the test, but you have to remember what to take with you to the testing site. Check out the online Cheat Sheet for a handy list of what to take with you. You’ll also find some general tips for succeeding on the Praxis. Review this a week or so before you’re scheduled to take the test so you can make sure you’re as prepared as you can be.Dummies.com articles (www.dummies.com/extras/praxiscore): Each part in this book is supplemented by a relevant online article that provides additional tips and techniques related to the subject of that part. Read helpful articles that reveal even more test-taking tips and hints for each subtest of the exam.Online practice and study aids: In addition to the two complete practice exams contained in this book, your book purchase also comes with a free one-year subscription to additional practice questions that appear online — enough to fill three more exams. You can access the content whenever you want. Create your own question sets and view personalized reports that show what you need to study most.

To gain access to the online practice, all you have to do is register. Just follow these simple steps:

Find your PIN access code.Print book users: If you purchased a hard copy of this book, turn to the front of this book to find your access code.E-book users: If you purchased this book as an e-book, you can get your access code by registering your e-book at www.dummies.com/go/getaccess. Go to this website, find your book and click it, and answer the security question to verify your purchase. Then you’ll receive an e-mail with your access code.Go tohttp://learn.dummies.com.Enter your access code.Follow the instructions to create an account and establish your personal login information.

That’s all there is to it! You can come back to the online program again and again — simply log in with the username and password you chose during your initial login. No need to use the access code a second time. If you have trouble with the access code or can’t find it, please contact Wiley Product Technical Support at 877-762-2974 or http://support.wiley.com. Your registration is good for one year from the day you activate your access code. After that time frame has passed, you can renew your registration for a fee. The website gives you all the important details about how to do so.

Where to Go from Here

Use this book as a reference. You don’t need to read this book from front to back. Feel free to skip around to the sections that you find most useful. If you can’t decide, begin with Chapter 1 — it includes an overview of the Praxis, and you’ll probably need to read it at some point. If you know that geometry (Chapter 6) is your Achilles heel or that reading comprehension questions (Chapter 9) make your eyes cross, go straight to the corresponding chapter. We give you an index, too, at the back of the book to help you find specific information. Or, if you like, you can take one of the tests to see how well you do and determine what you need to brush up on.

Part I

Getting Started with the Praxis Core

Visit www.dummies.com for free access to great Dummies content online.

In this part …

Get the details about who takes the Praxis, what’s on the test, and how your score is calculated.Figure out how to schedule your study time in advance of test day, find out what to expect on test day, and get some pointers if you’re retaking the test.Try out some practice Praxis questions to discover the areas in which you’re strong and the areas where you need more review. Then develop a plan to strengthen the areas in which you’re weak.

Chapter 1

Previewing the Praxis

In This Chapter

Knowing why you’re taking the Praxis

Finding out what’s on the Praxis

Seeing how the Praxis is scored

For decades teacher candidates have been taking assessments in order to meet certification requirements. Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators is the latest version of these tests that measure core skills in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics for potential teacher candidates. This chapter gives you an overview of what you need to know about the exam.

Why Take the Praxis?

If you want to become a teacher, you may face the Praxis at some point on the road to certification. You may take it to get into a teaching program at college, or you may take it to get your teaching license before starting a second career. If you’re lucky, you may only take it once, but our bet is that you’ll take it twice before you’re fully qualified to work in a classroom.