The Praxis Writing Test has a reputation for catching people off guard. Future teachers walk in thinking "I write emails every day, how hard can it be?" and then get blindsided by questions about dangling modifiers and parallel structure. Sound familiar?
Here's the thing - the Praxis Core Writing test (5723) isn't really measuring whether you're a good writer. It's testing whether you can spot specific grammar errors under time pressure and crank out a structured argumentative essay in 30 minutes. Those are two very different skills, and most prep materials lump them together in ways that aren't helpful.
In this guide, I'm breaking down exactly what you need to know to pass the Praxis Writing Test - from the grammar rules that show up over and over again to Praxis essay tips that can turn a mediocre score into a passing one. Whether you're taking the test for the first time or retaking it after a rough experience, these strategies are built on what actually works.
What Is the Praxis Writing Test, Exactly?
Let's start with the basics, because there's more confusion about the format than you'd expect. The Praxis Writing Test 5723 is one of the three Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators tests. Most states require it (alongside Reading and Math) for teacher certification.
The test has two distinct parts, and they test completely different skills:
Part 1: Selected-Response Questions (40 minutes). You'll face 40 multiple-choice questions about grammar, usage, sentence correction, and research skills. These questions ask you to identify errors in sentences, choose the best revision, or determine which research strategy is most appropriate. It's basically "spot what's wrong with this sentence" for 40 minutes straight.
Part 2: Essay Writing (60 minutes). You'll write two essays. The argumentative essay asks you to take a position on an issue and support it. The source-based essay gives you two passages and asks you to synthesize the information. Each essay gets about 30 minutes, though you can divide your time however you want.
Something a lot of test-takers miss: the multiple-choice section and the essays are weighted roughly equally. So bombing the essays and acing the multiple-choice (or vice versa) isn't a great strategy. You need to be solid on both.
Why the Writing Section Trips People Up
I've helped hundreds of students with Praxis writing test prep, and the patterns are almost always the same. People don't fail because they can't write - they fail because of a few specific traps.
The grammar knowledge gap. Most people haven't formally studied grammar since middle school. You use correct grammar intuitively when you write, but the test asks you to identify and name specific errors. Knowing that a sentence "sounds wrong" isn't enough - you need to know why it's wrong and which answer fixes it correctly.
Essay panic. Thirty minutes per essay feels like plenty until you're actually staring at a blank screen with the clock running. Without a clear template in your head, most people waste 5-10 minutes trying to figure out how to structure their response. That's a third of your time gone before you've written a single sentence.
The "sounds right" trap. English has plenty of constructions that sound correct in casual speech but are technically wrong. "Between you and I" sounds fine in conversation but is grammatically incorrect (it should be "between you and me"). The test loves exploiting these gaps between casual usage and formal grammar rules.
Overthinking the research questions. The selected-response section includes questions about research skills and citation - things like identifying credible sources or choosing appropriate research methods. People spend way too long on these because they feel unfamiliar. In reality, they're usually the most straightforward questions on the test.
Praxis Grammar Review: The Rules That Actually Matter
Here's something that'll save you a lot of study time: the Praxis grammar questions test the same handful of concepts over and over. You don't need to memorize every grammar rule in existence. Focus on these, and you'll handle most of the multiple-choice section.
Subject-Verb Agreement
This is the number one tested concept. The test makes it tricky by putting distance between the subject and verb, or by using compound subjects that are confusing. For example: "The box of chocolates are on the table" - the subject is "box" (singular), not "chocolates," so it should be "is." The test inserts prepositional phrases, relative clauses, and appositives between the subject and verb to throw you off.
Quick rule: mentally strip out everything between the subject and verb. If you can identify the actual subject, the correct verb form becomes obvious.
Pronoun Issues
Pronoun errors are everywhere on this test. Watch for three things: unclear antecedents (what does "they" refer to?), pronoun case errors (who vs. whom, I vs. me), and pronoun-antecedent agreement (everyone... their vs. everyone... his or her). The test particularly loves sentences where "it" or "they" could refer to multiple things.
Parallel Structure
When a sentence lists items or makes comparisons, all parts need to follow the same grammatical pattern. "She likes swimming, biking, and to run" breaks parallel structure because "to run" doesn't match the -ing pattern of the first two items. It should be "swimming, biking, and running." Once you train your eye for this, you'll spot it instantly.
Modifier Placement
Dangling and misplaced modifiers are test favorites. "Walking through the park, the fountain caught my eye" - this sentence says the fountain was walking through the park. The correct version would be "Walking through the park, I noticed the fountain." When a sentence opens with a descriptive phrase, the subject right after the comma should be whatever is being described.
Comma Rules and Sentence Boundaries
You'll see comma splices (joining two independent clauses with just a comma), run-on sentences, and sentence fragments. Know the difference between a comma, a semicolon, a colon, and a period. The test particularly loves testing whether you can distinguish between an independent clause and a dependent one.
Commonly Confused Words
Affect vs. effect. Its vs. it's. Than vs. then. Fewer vs. less. Who vs. whom. These pop up regularly on the Praxis writing questions. If you're fuzzy on any of these, nail them down before test day. They're easy points once you know the rules.
Praxis Essay Tips: Writing Argumentative and Source-Based Essays
The essay section is where a lot of people's scores live or die. And honestly, the Praxis essay tips that matter most aren't about being a brilliant writer. They're about having a system that lets you produce a solid, organized essay in 30 minutes flat.
The Argumentative Essay Template
You'll get a prompt stating a position on an educational or social issue, and you need to argue for or against it. Here's a structure that works every time:
Paragraph 1 - Introduction (3-4 sentences): Hook with a broad statement about the topic, narrow to the specific issue, state your thesis clearly. Don't be wishy-washy - pick a side and commit to it. The graders aren't evaluating your actual opinion, they're evaluating how well you argue it.
Paragraphs 2-3 - Body (5-7 sentences each): Each paragraph needs a clear topic sentence, a specific example or piece of evidence, and an explanation of how that evidence supports your thesis. Don't just state your points - develop them. "Furthermore" and "additionally" are fine transition words, but try mixing in "what's more" or "consider this" to keep things from sounding robotic.
Paragraph 4 - Counterargument (3-4 sentences): This is optional but powerful. Acknowledge the opposing view and explain why your position is still stronger. Graders love seeing this because it shows critical thinking. Something like "Some might argue that..., however, this overlooks the fact that..." goes a long way.
Paragraph 5 - Conclusion (2-3 sentences): Restate your thesis in different words and end with a broader implication. Don't introduce new arguments here. Keep it tight.
The Source-Based Essay Template
This essay gives you two passages on a related topic and asks you to pull information from both. It's testing whether you can synthesize sources, not whether you have personal opinions about the topic.
Key difference from the argumentative essay: You're citing the passages, not making up your own evidence. Reference "Source 1" and "Source 2" directly. Paraphrase rather than quoting huge chunks of text - the graders want to see that you understood the material, not that you can copy it.
Structure tip: Compare and contrast the two sources. Where do they agree? Where do they disagree? What conclusions can you draw from both? This approach naturally produces a well-organized essay without much effort.
Essay Scoring - What Graders Actually Want
Here's what moves the needle on essay scores: clear organization, developed examples, proper grammar and mechanics, and varied sentence structure. You don't need to write like Shakespeare. You need to write clearly, stay organized, and demonstrate that you can support a position with evidence.
One more thing - length matters, but only to a point. A focused four-paragraph essay will outscore a rambling seven-paragraph one every time. Quality over quantity. Aim for 350-500 words per essay.
Crushing the Multiple-Choice Writing Questions
The selected-response questions on the Praxis Core Writing test come in a few distinct flavors. Knowing what to expect changes everything.
Usage Questions
These show you a sentence with underlined portions and ask which part contains an error (or "no error"). The trick is to check each underlined portion systematically rather than reading the whole sentence and going with your gut. Check for: subject-verb agreement, pronoun case, verb tense consistency, and modifier placement. If everything checks out, "no error" is a legitimate answer - don't be afraid to pick it.
Sentence Correction Questions
You're given a sentence (or part of one) and asked to choose the best revision. Start by identifying what's wrong with the original. Then look at the answer choices and eliminate any that introduce new errors or change the meaning. Usually two choices are obviously wrong, one is tempting but introduces a subtle error, and one is correct.
Research Skills Questions
These are often the easiest on the test, but people psych themselves out. You might be asked which source is most credible for a given purpose, or which citation format is correct, or what the best research approach would be for a specific question. Use common sense here - a peer-reviewed journal article is more credible than a blog post, and a recent study is more relevant than one from 30 years ago.
Pro tip: read all four answer choices before picking one. On the Praxis writing questions, the first answer that sounds right often isn't the best answer. There might be a more precise or complete option further down.
Time Management for the Praxis Writing Test
With 100 total minutes and three distinct tasks (40 multiple-choice questions + 2 essays), time management isn't just helpful - it's essential. Here's how to pass the Praxis Writing Test without running out of time.
Multiple-Choice Pacing (40 minutes)
That's one minute per question. Some you'll answer in 20 seconds, others might take 90 seconds. Don't spend more than two minutes on any single question - flag it and come back. Easy questions are worth just as much as hard ones, so make sure you get to all of them.
Pace check: at the 20-minute mark, you should have roughly 20 questions done. If you're behind, pick up the pace on the simpler questions. If you're ahead, great - bank that extra time for the essays.
Essay Pacing (30 minutes each)
This is where most people get into trouble. Here's a breakdown that works:
Minutes 1-3: Plan. Read the prompt, decide your position, jot down 2-3 main points. Don't skip this step. Three minutes of planning saves ten minutes of confused writing.
Minutes 4-25: Write. Follow your outline. Don't second-guess your plan mid-essay - commit to it. Aim for 4-5 paragraphs. If you get stuck on a sentence, move on and come back to it.
Minutes 26-30: Review. Read through your essay once for obvious errors. Fix typos, check that your thesis is clear, make sure each paragraph has a topic sentence. Don't try to rewrite anything at this point - just clean up.
Practice Resources That Actually Prepare You
Not all Praxis writing practice tests are created equal. Some third-party materials are so far off from the real test that practicing with them can actually build bad habits. Here's what to use.
Start with Official ETS Materials
The ETS Praxis Store offers the most accurate Praxis core writing practice test materials available. The questions are calibrated to match real test difficulty, and the essay prompts reflect what you'll actually see. The free Study Companion for the Praxis Core Writing test is a solid starting point - it includes sample questions with explanations and scored essay examples.
Pay attention to the scored essay samples. They show you exactly what a 6-scoring essay looks like versus a 3 or a 4. The difference is usually about organization and development, not vocabulary or creativity. Understanding the scoring rubric will change how you approach your own essays.
Free Practice Options
If you're looking for a free Praxis writing test practice, ETS offers sample questions in their study companions. Khan Academy's Praxis Core writing practice resources can also be helpful for grammar review, though they don't always match the exact test format perfectly.
Here's my honest take: free resources get you started, but they have limits. They don't tell you which specific areas are holding your score back. You might spend hours practicing comma rules when your real problem is pronoun agreement. That's where targeted preparation makes a massive difference.
When Self-Study Isn't Cutting It
Some people can work through a study guide and pass just fine. Others study for weeks and still feel lost. If that second description fits you, there's no shame in getting help. The Praxis writing test has some genuinely tricky content, and having someone who can identify your specific weak spots changes the game entirely.
The problem with self-study for writing is that you often can't see your own blind spots. You might not realize that you consistently miss parallel structure questions, or that your essays lack developed examples. An experienced tutor spots these patterns in minutes.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Praxis Writing Test
How long is the Praxis Writing Test?
The Praxis Writing Test (5723) is 100 minutes total. You'll spend 40 minutes on 40 selected-response (multiple-choice) questions and 60 minutes on two essays - one argumentative and one source-based. You can divide the essay time however you want, but budgeting 30 minutes per essay is the safest approach.
What is the Praxis Writing passing score?
The Praxis writing passing score varies by state, typically falling between 158 and 172 on a 100-200 scale. Check your specific state requirements on the ETS website - assuming the wrong target score is one of the most common (and avoidable) mistakes test-takers make.
How many questions are on the Praxis Writing Test?
The selected-response portion has 40 multiple-choice questions covering grammar, usage, sentence correction, and research skills. You'll also write two essays. So technically, 42 "items" total - 40 questions plus 2 essay prompts.
What is the Praxis Writing Test like?
The test feels like two separate exams in one. The first half is a rapid-fire grammar quiz where you identify errors and choose best revisions. The second half is timed essay writing under pressure. The multiple-choice questions aren't conceptually hard, but they require you to know specific grammar rules. The essays aren't asking for brilliant prose - they want organized, well-supported arguments with clean mechanics.
Can you take the Praxis Writing Test online?
Yes, ETS offers at-home testing for the Praxis Core tests including Writing. You'll need a quiet private room, a computer meeting their technical requirements, and a stable internet connection. The test is proctored via webcam. It's the exact same test as the in-person version - same questions, same timing, same scoring.
How is the Praxis Writing Test scored?
The Praxis writing test scores combine your performance on both sections. The multiple-choice questions are scored by computer. The essays are scored by trained human raters on a scale of 1-6, with two raters per essay. Your raw scores are converted to a scaled score on the 100-200 range. Both sections contribute roughly equally to your final score, so you can't afford to neglect either one.
What topics appear on the Praxis Writing essays?
The argumentative essay prompts cover broad educational and social topics - things like technology in classrooms, standardized testing policies, or the value of extracurricular activities. You don't need specialized knowledge. The source-based essay provides all the information you need in the passages. Topics vary but are always accessible to a general audience.
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The Praxis Writing Test is beatable. Plenty of people pass it every testing window, and they're not all English majors or grammar nerds. They've just learned the specific rules the test cares about and developed a reliable system for the essays.
Here's your game plan: first, nail the core grammar concepts - subject-verb agreement, pronouns, parallel structure, modifiers, and comma rules. These account for the vast majority of multiple-choice questions. Second, memorize an essay template so you never waste time figuring out structure on test day. Third, practice under timed conditions so the pressure doesn't throw you.
If you've been struggling with the writing section, or if grammar has always been a weak spot, targeted preparation makes all the difference. Self-study with official ETS materials is a solid start. But if you want someone to diagnose exactly where your score is getting held back and fix those specific issues, our 1-hour guaranteed Praxis tutoring is built for exactly that.
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All our Praxis prep services come with expert guidance and proven methodologies. Whether you need help with writing, reading, math, or content-specific tests, we've got the tools to get you there.