If you need help studying for the Praxis Middle School Social Studies test or just want some more information about what the test is like, you’ve come to the right place!
Click below to take a free Praxis Middle School Social Studies practice test!
What’s on the Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the Praxis Middle School Social Studies test. There are 93 questions in total, with most being selected-response and some being constructed-response.
90 questions
Selected-response questions require you to select the correct answer from a list of options. Multiple-choice questions are the most common example, but you may also see true-or-false questions and “matching” questions, which ask you to match terms or concepts with their definitions.
Constructed-Response (CR)
3 questions
The constructed-response questions require you to write your answer instead of selecting from a list of choices. Your response to these questions is generally expected to be at least a few sentences, but you’ll be given specific details and instructions before you take the test.
The time limit for the test is 2 hours. There aren’t any scheduled breaks, but you’re free to take restroom breaks as needed!
Let’s take a closer look at the different sections of the test:
1. United States History
22 questions
- Basic North American geography
- The founding of European colonies
- The interactions among peoples in North America during the colonial period
- The origins of the American Revolution
- The writing and adoption of the Constitution and Bill of Rights
- Causes and effects of territorial expansion in the 19th century
- Causes and effects of sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction
- Industrialization, urbanization, and immigration
- Developments from the Progressive Era through the New Deal
- US participation in WWI and WWII
- The origins and effects of the Cold War
- Changes in the US from 1940 to 1979
- The impact of changes in the latter half of the 20th century
- Ongoing impacts of racial, ethnic, and gender divisions throughout US history
- The emergence of the US as a world power
- Major economic transformations
2. World History
18 questions
- The formation and organization of early civilizations from 8000 BCE to 1000 BCE
- The formation and organization of the classical civilizations of Greece, Rome, Persia, India, and China from 1000 BCE to 500 CE
- Causes and effects of the Renaissance, Reformation, and Enlightenment
- Causes and effects of growing global interactions from 1200 CE to 1750 CE
- Causes and effects of modern revolutions, nationalism, and imperialism
- Causes and effects of WWI and WWII
- Developments after the Cold War
- The impact of scientific inquiry and technology on world societies
- The role of major world religions in shaping societies
- The role of trade within and between societies
- The roles of conflict and cooperation in shaping societies
- Major demographic trends and their effects
- The effect of exploration on human societies
3. Government/Civics
17 questions
- Key concepts and ideas on which the US government is based
- Federalism and the basic relationship between the states and the national government
- The US Constitution
- The origin and roles of the three branches of federal government
- The development of civil rights and civil liberties
- The election process in the US
- The role of political parties, interest groups, and the media in the political process
- The rights, responsibilities, and duties of citizens
- Major characteristics of different political systems
- The relationships between political systems and economic conditions
4. Geography
17 questions
- Geographic literacy
- Map skills
- Physical geography
- Human geography
5. Economics
16 questions
- Concepts of scarcity, choice, and opportunity costs
- Market, command, and mixed economies
- Types of market structure
- Factor markets and the determination of income distributions
- GDP and its components
- Understanding of how unemployment is measured
- Supply and demand
- The effects of government intervention on the economy
- Basic personal finance principles
- The effect of production factors on economic activity
- Different measures of economic performance
- Basic functions of money
- The interdependence of the global economy
6. Short Content Essays
3 questions
How to Register
To register for the test, you’ll need to create an account on the ETS website. Once your account has been created, you can submit your application to take the test.
When you submit your registration, you will need to pay the $156 testing fee.
Praxis Middle School Social Studies (5089) Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Praxis Scores
The Praxis Middle School Social Studies test is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
For every question you answer correctly, you get one point added to your raw score. At the end of the test, your final raw score will be converted to a scaled score. This scaled score will range somewhere between 100 and 200. The passing score varies from state to state.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone that takes the test is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Receiving Your Score
When you receive your skill report, it will tell you how many questions you missed in each section and generally whether you passed or not.
Your scores will become available on your Praxis account on the score reporting date. When you get the score back depends on the testing date.
FAQs
How many questions are on the Praxis Middle School Social Studies exam?
The exam contains 93 questions.
What is the time limit for the Praxis Middle School Social Studies exam?
The exam is timed at 2 hours.
What is the passing score for the Praxis Middle School Social Studies exam?
The passing score varies from state to state.
How much does the Praxis Middle School Social Studies exam cost?
The testing fee is $156.