A 6–8 week study plan for the Praxis Core

Eight weeks is enough time to prepare well for the Praxis Core — if you use those weeks deliberately. This plan gives you a realistic structure, week by week, for all three subtests: Reading (5713), Writing (5723), and Math (5733). Adjust the pace to your schedule, but don’t skip the diagnostic step at the start.

Before you begin: take a diagnostic test

The single most important thing you can do before opening a study guide is to sit a full-length practice test under timed conditions. Why? Because your weakest area is almost always not what you expect it to be. A diagnostic tells you where your time is best spent. If you score comfortably on Reading but struggle with Math, that’s where your plan should lean.

You can take a free Praxis Core diagnostic at SN Academy to get a score and a personalised gap report before you start.

The 6–8 week framework

Week 1 — Diagnose and plan

Sit a timed practice test for each subtest (or take the SN Academy diagnostic).
Score each section and note your weakest question types.
Block your study sessions in your calendar for the coming weeks. Treat them like shifts.
Gather your materials: ETS Study Companions for 5713, 5723, and 5733 are free on the ETS website and are your primary source of truth for format and content.

Weeks 2–3 — Foundation: one subtest per focus block

Spend these two weeks working systematically through each subtest’s core content. Don’t try to cover all three at once — pick the one you find hardest and front-load it.

Reading (5713): 56 questions in 85 minutes. Practice reading dense informational passages quickly. Focus on main idea, inference, author’s purpose, and vocabulary in context.
Writing (5723): Two essays plus a 40-question selected-response section. Start with the grammar/usage section — it’s rule-based and learnable. Then outline both essay types (argumentative and source-based informative/explanatory). You have 30 minutes per essay.
Math (5733): 56 questions in 90 minutes, with an on-screen calculator. Cover number and quantity, algebra, geometry, statistics and probability. Identify which of these you haven’t used since high school — those are your priority.

Weeks 4–5 — Deep practice on weak areas

This is the heart of your preparation. Use your Week 1 diagnostic to guide you. If you dropped marks on inference questions in Reading, do 15–20 targeted practice questions every session. If algebra is shaky, work through the Math content methodically before drilling questions.

Aim for at least 30–45 minutes of focused practice per session, four to five days a week.
Do timed question sets — the on-test time pressure is real, especially in Reading.
Write at least one practice essay per week. Read it back critically: is the argument clear? Is it supported? Is it structured?

Week 6 — Full practice tests

Sit at least one full-length timed practice test for each subtest. If you’re sitting the Combined (5752), simulate the full session in one sitting. This builds stamina as much as knowledge.

Review every wrong answer — not just what the right answer was, but why it was right.
Note any recurring error patterns. A mistake you make twice is a pattern; a mistake you make three times is a gap to close before test day.

Weeks 7–8 (if you have them) — Fine-tuning and confidence

Continue targeted practice on any remaining weak spots.
Take a second full practice test mid-week 7. Compare your scores to Week 1 — most people see a meaningful lift.
In the final week, ease back on volume. Focus on reviewing notes, not cramming new content.
Confirm your test-day logistics: test center location or home-testing setup, valid ID, what’s permitted on screen.

Know your target score

Praxis Core cut scores are set by each state, not by ETS. Common benchmarks you’ll see are Reading 156, Writing 162, and Math 150 — but check your specific state’s requirements before test day. Some states set the bar higher or lower. Look up your state on the ETS website or your state’s teacher certification board.

A note on pacing

Six weeks is achievable for most candidates who put in consistent effort. Eight weeks is more comfortable if you’re working full-time, caring for family, or returning to formal study after a break. Don’t compress the plan into three weeks — distributed practice across days and weeks is how memory sticks.

You’ve got this. A clear plan, consistent practice, and honest self-assessment will get you there.

Start with the free SN Academy diagnostic →

— The people of SN Academy