How many questions are on the Praxis, and what score do you need?

Questions and time on the Core tests

Each test can include a few trial questions that don’t count toward your score. You can’t tell which ones they are, so treat every question as real. Subject Assessments each have their own length, listed on the test’s page and in its Study Companion.

Who sets the passing score

Your state does. ETS says passing scores “vary by state or agency; they are not set by ETS.” The state also decides which Praxis tests you need for each kind of license, and many states use Core to decide who can enter a teacher preparation program.

To find your numbers, open ETS’s state requirements page, choose your state, and look at the tests and qualifying scores listed for your license area. ETS’s Passing Scores by State tool lets you compare states side by side. Your state’s education department has the final word, and scores can change.

One state’s Core scores, as an example

As of October 2026, North Dakota’s licensing board lists these Core qualifying scores. They’re here to show how it works. Your state may ask for something different.

• North Dakota also accepts a combined total of 466 across the three tests, as long as no single score is below its minimum (149 Reading, 153 Writing, 143 Math). Not every state has a rule like this.

Speech-language pathology (SLP) Praxis

The Speech-Language Pathology test (5331) is a Subject Assessment. For ASHA certification, the passing score is 162 on the 100 to 200 scale. ASHA notes that most states use the same score for licensure, but some states set it higher or lower, so check your state too.

What scores look like nationally

ETS publishes the median score on each test. For 2025-2026, the middle score was 170 in Core Reading, 162 in Core Writing and 166 in Core Math. That tells you how others did, not what you need. Only your state’s number decides whether you pass.