Skip navigation

News About Praxis II

This page of the SOE Newsletter contains information on Praxis II Test Dates, Registration Deadlines, Test Prep, Test requirements, and Score Reporting.

Urgent Praxis II Changes for French, German and Spanish

If you are planning on pursuing a teaching major or teaching minor in French, German, or Spanish, please read this carefully and print a copy to put in School of Education Handbook: 

Important Change to your Content Testing Requirement for Licensure (currently Praxis II)!  

If you take Praxis II for French, German or Spanish July 23, 2011 or earlier, and pass the test using the Wisconsin Standards (see your School of Education Handbook), you will meet the state Content Test Requirement to apply to student teach and for teacher licensure.   

Beginning in September 2011, the Praxis II content tests will no longer be accepted if taken after July 23, 2011 to complete the content testing requirement in French, German, or Spanish.  The testing requirement will change to the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview and Writing Proficiency Test.  Passing at the Intermediate High level will be required. 

Why is the testing requirement changing?  Every five years, the Educational Testing Service, provider of the Praxis tests, updates content tests.  The updates to the language tests were substantial, with proficiency levels in the new tests at the Advanced Low level based on the ACTFL proficiency guidelines.  Wisconsin content guidelines require proficiency at the Intermediate High level.  Consequently, the state superintendent did not adopt the updated Praxis II tests and appointed a work group consisting of Pre-K-16 language faculty to research and recommend a content exam which matched Wisconsin's content guidelines.  The work group recommended the Oral Proficiency Interview and Writing Proficiency Test available from ACTFL-Language Testing International. 

On March 21, 2011, the State Superintendent adopted the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview and Writing Proficiency assessments.  Candidates will need to complete and pass, at the Intermediate High level, one of the following options:  (1) ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (live-telephonic interview) and ACTFL Writing Proficiency test; (2) ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview-Computer to Advanced (with a virtual avatar) and ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test.  To clarify, candidates will be required to complete and pass at the Intermediate High level, an oral proficiency interview (either format) and a written proficiency test. 

If you plan to student teach during the spring 2012 semester, your last opportunity to take and pass the Praxis II Spanish or German content tests is June 11, 2011; the registration deadline is May 12, 2011.  The last opportunity to take and pass the Praxis II French content test is July 23, 2011; the registration deadline is June 23, 2011.  The ACTFL tests will be offered beginning Fall 2011.  Because the mechanics of testing have not been determined on our campus, I do NOT recommended waiting to take the ACTFL tests during the fall semester to fulfill your content testing requirement. 

Additional information about the ACTFL tests will be sent to you via email as soon as we receive it from the DPI.  If you have specific questions about the above information, please stop in during open advising or call for an appointment.  This information is too confusing to try to “discuss” specific questions via email. 

Sincerely,

John Gaffney and Maggie Beeber

 05/06/11 

English as a Second Language Test Code Change

ETS has changed the test code and passing score requirement for the English to Speakers of Other Languages test.  A passing score on either test is acceptable.

Test Code if taken prior to Sept. 2010 is 20360 with a passing score of 530.

Test Code starting in September 2010 is 20361 with a passing score of 143.

ESL minors should make this change in their SOE Handbook.

Elementary Education: Content Knowledge Test

ETS has released a computer version of the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge Praxis II test.  The Computer Test Code is 5014. 

Students who are required to complete the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge Test now have a paper and computer version to choose from.  A passing score of 147 is required for both the computer and paper version of the test.  Registration is available online for both tests at www.ets.org/praxis.

This test is required for Early Childhood Education majors and add-ons.  Students should make this update in their SOE Handbook.

 

Test Dates and Registration

    Praxis II Test Dates and Deadlines

    Test Date

    Registration Deadlines

     

     

     

    Regular

    Late

    Emergency

    9/17/11 *

    8/18/11

    8/25/11

    9/9/11

    11/12/11

    10/13/11

    10/20/11

    11/4/11

    1/14/12

    12/15/11

    12/22/11

    1/6/12

    3/10/12

    2/9/12

    2/16/12

    3/2/12

    4/28/12

    3/29/12

    4/5/12

    4/20/12

    6/9/12 *

    5/10/12

    5/17/12

    6/1/12

    7/21/12

    6/21/12

    6/28/12

    7/13/12
  1. Most tests are offered on these dates. Not all test centers are open on all test dates.
  2. UWSP Testing Services will not offer the Praxis II on the following dates: 9/17/11 and 6/9/12
  3. Accommodations for test takers whose primary language is not English are only offered on 9/17/11, 1/14/12, 4/28/12, and 6/9/12.
  4. Registrations must be received by ETS by the deadlines listed above
    • Late Registration fee: $45
    • Emergency Registration deadline fee: $75
    • Emergency Registration is only available with online registration
    • Outside U.S. deadlines also apply to test takers in U.S. Territories (except U.S. Virgin Islands)
  5. Scores are available via phone and online
    • Login to your Praxis Profile to view your score report
    • Test takers can get test scores early by utilizing the Scores by Phone service for an additional $30 fee

Test Prep

Praxis II Study Guides - Study guides designed by ETS have been purchased for each of the subject areas and are available at the Reserve Desk of the University Library.  Study Guides can be checked out for a 3-day period.

 

SOE Group Study Sessions - The School of Education is offering an organized, 4  hour, group study session  for Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education majors and minors.  At the study session,  students answer sample test questions and discuss, as a group, the information being covered.  The cost of the SOE Group Study Session for 2009-2010 is $15 per student.  Students who are interested in attending a Group Study Session are encouraged to attend the session one-year prior to taking the actual test (Students should be taking this test the spring of their junior year, so the spring of the Sophomore year is recommended for the study session.). We have found the passing rate to be about 80% for those who do not attend and about 95% for those who do attend. Please bring payment of $15 to the SOE Undergraduate Advising Office, CPS 469, to sign up for a study session.

 

Upcoming Praxis II Group Study Sessions:

 

Sunday, September 24, 2011 from 4:00-8:30pm

 

You are welcome to bring something to eat and/or drink. There will be a 1/2 hour break at 6:00.  Students should bring a calculator!

 

Test Requirements

We strongly recommend referring to your Professional Education Program Undergraduate Handbook BEFORE registering online for the Praxis II test to ensure you are registering for the appropriate test(s).  Approximately 10 students took the wrong Praxis II test last year and were required to retake the Praxis II.

Score Reporting

  • Use 1919 as the “recipient code” when registering for the test.
  • Students are responsible for checking their Degree Progress Report to make sure SOE Advising has the scores. If the scores are not found on the DPR within one week of a student receiving his/her scores, UWSP has not received the scores and the student must bring the original score report to 469 CPS.

 

NOTE: ETS is no longer mailing Praxis II scores if you register via the web. Students have a 30 day window in which to download scores from the ETS website. After that, ETS charges a pretty hefty fee to retrieve scores. We recommend downloading your score report to your computer, a back-up system and print a few copies with colored ink. Also, please be aware that the ETS company only keeps Praxis II scores for 10 years.

Praxis II Preparation Flashcards

The School of Education Advising, Recruitment & Retention Office has Praxis II preparation flashcards available for ECE, Elementary and Special Education majors/minors. Flashcards are available for a free, one-week check out. Due to the limited number of flashcard sets, they are reserved for students who have failed the Praxis II at least once. To reserve a set of flashcards, please contact Maggie Beeber or John Gaffney at the SOE Advising, Recruitment & Retention Office at 715-346-2040.