Praxis Core Writing (5723) Practice Tests

Usage

Each question consists of a sentence that contains four underlined portions. Read each sentence and decide whether any of the underlined parts contains a grammatical construction, a word use, or an instance of incorrect or omitted punctuation or capitalization that would be inappropriate in carefully written English. If so, select the underlined portion that must be revised to produce a correct sentence. If there are no errors in the sentence as written, select “No error.” No sentence has more than one error.

1. Although the museum closes^A at five o’clock on weekdays, the schedule of guided tours that^B run on Saturdays allow^C visitors to stay until^D seven. (E) No error
2. Her and^A her brother spent most of the summer restoring^B an old canoe that their grandfather had built^C by hand decades^D earlier. (E) No error
3. Because the bridge was closed^A for repairs, commuters from the northern suburbs had to take^B a slower ferry route that^C added nearly^D forty minutes to their trip. (E) No error
4. The new volunteers at the animal shelter were^A nervous at first, but after a week of training they handled^B the larger dogs with confidence^C and spoke to them calm^D. (E) No error
5. Critics were quick^A to praise the novel’s vivid setting, but several reviewers objected at^B the author’s decision to end the story abruptly^C, without^D resolving the central mystery. (E) No error
6. The long-term affects^A of the drought were^B most visible in the orchards, where many older trees had stopped^C producing fruit altogether^D. (E) No error
7. The job posting asked for candidates who could speak^A Spanish, were comfortable^B with spreadsheets, and the ability to lift^C boxes weighing^D up to fifty pounds. (E) No error
8. When the transcontinental railroad was completed^A in 1869, travel between^B the coasts, which had once taken^C months, could be accomplished^D in about a week. (E) No error
9. Since the clinic began^A sending text reminders, less^B patients have missed appointments, and the receptionists no longer spend^C their mornings rescheduling^D visits. (E) No error
10. Over the summer, the school repainted^A the gymnasium, installed^B new lights in the library, and replaced^C the broken doors on all of the students^D lockers. (E) No error
11. My aunt, who teaches Biology^A at a community college in Ohio^B, spends^C every July leading student trips to the Rocky Mountains^D. (E) No error
12. After years of rehearsing in a garage, the three friends finally^A recorded an album, and by^B the following spring they had all become a professional musician^C, touring cities across^D the Midwest. (E) No error
13. By the time the rescue team reached^A the ridge, the stranded hikers had went^B nearly two days without food, though^C they had managed^D to find water. (E) No error
14. Neither the coach nor the players were^A surprised when the game was postponed^B, since the forecast had predicted^C heavy rain throughout^D the afternoon. (E) No error

Sentence Correction

In each of the following sentences, some part of the sentence or the entire sentence is underlined. Beneath each sentence you will find five ways of writing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original, but the other four are all different. If you think the original sentence is better than any of the suggested changes, select the first answer choice; otherwise select one of the other choices. Choose the answer that expresses most effectively what is presented in the original sentence; this answer should be clear and exact, without awkwardness, ambiguity, or redundancy.

15. Walking into the kitchen, the smell of fresh bread greeted Laura. (A) the smell of fresh bread greeted Laura (B) Laura was greeted by the smell of fresh bread (C) the smell of fresh bread was what greeted Laura (D) Laura, being greeted by the smell of fresh bread (E) there was the smell of fresh bread greeting Laura
16. Although the documentary is nearly three hours long, most viewers find it so engaging that they hardly notice the time passing. (A) most viewers find it so engaging that they hardly notice the time passing (B) most viewers find it so engaging that they don’t hardly notice the time passing (C) it is so engaging to most viewers, they hardly notice the time passing (D) most viewers finding it so engaging that they hardly notice the time passing (E) most viewers find it engaging, so that the time passing is hardly noticed by them
17. The storm knocked down power lines across the county, many families were without electricity for three days. (A) , many families were without electricity (B) , and so many families being without electricity (C) ; as a result, many families being without electricity (D) , and many families were left without electricity (E) many families were without electricity
18. The new manager promised to reduce overtime, hiring more staff, and that she would update the equipment. (A) to reduce overtime, hiring more staff, and that she would update the equipment (B) reducing overtime, to hire more staff, and updating the equipment (C) to reduce overtime, hire more staff, and update the equipment (D) that overtime would be reduced, hiring more staff, and to update the equipment (E) to reduce overtime, hire more staff, and she would update the equipment
19. If a student wants to join the debate team, you have to attend two practice sessions before you can compete. (A) you have to attend two practice sessions before you can compete (B) they have to attend two practice sessions before you can compete (C) one has to attend two practice sessions before you can compete (D) attending two practice sessions is required before competing by them (E) he or she must attend two practice sessions before competing
20. The two authors collaborated together jointly on a book that was about the history of jazz. (A) collaborated together jointly on a book that was about the history of jazz (B) collaborated on a book about the history of jazz (C) collaborated together on a book about jazz history, which was its topic (D) jointly collaborated together on a book about the history of jazz (E) were collaborating on a book, and it was about the history of jazz, together
21. Unlike most of the other apartments in the building, ours has a balcony that overlooks the river. (A) ours has a balcony that overlooks the river (B) our apartment, it has a balcony that overlooks the river (C) we have a balcony that overlooks the river (D) there is a balcony overlooking the river in ours (E) ours having a balcony that overlooks the river
22. The museum displayed a dress in its main gallery that had belonged to a famous opera singer. (A) a dress in its main gallery that had belonged to a famous opera singer (B) in its main gallery a dress, that had belonged to a famous opera singer (C) in its main gallery a dress that had belonged to a famous opera singer (D) a dress in its main gallery, it had belonged to a famous opera singer (E) a dress that had belonged in its main gallery to a famous opera singer
23. Because the library extended its hours during exam week. Many students studied there until midnight. (A) Because the library extended its hours during exam week. Many students (B) The library extended its hours during exam week, many students (C) Because the library extended its hours during exam week, so many students (D) The library having extended its hours during exam week, therefore many students (E) Because the library extended its hours during exam week, many students
24. By the time the firefighters arrived, the fire already spreads to the neighboring barn. (A) already spreads to the neighboring barn (B) has already spread to the neighboring barn (C) already spreading to the neighboring barn (D) had already spread to the neighboring barn (E) had already spreaded to the neighboring barn

Revision in Context

The following passage is a draft of an essay. Some portions of the passage need to be strengthened through editing and revision. Read the passage and choose the best answers for the questions that follow. Some questions ask you to improve particular sentences or portions of sentences. In some cases, the indicated portion of the passage will be most effective as it is already expressed and thus will require no changes. In choosing answers, consider development, organization, word choice, style, and tone, and follow the requirements of standard written English.

From Empty Lot to Community Garden

(1) Last spring, the empty lot at the corner of Fifth Street and Maple Avenue was covered in broken glass, weeds, and old tires. (2) Today it is one of the busiest and most cheerful places in our neighborhood. (3) The change happened because a bunch of folks got together and decided to turn the lot into a community garden. (4) Starting a garden like this one takes more work than most people expect, but the rewards are worth the effort.

(5) The first step, and in some ways the hardest, was getting official permission to use the land. (6) Because the lot belonged to the city, we had to attend three council meetings, fill out a long application, and buy a small insurance policy. (7) Then came the cleanup. (8) More than forty volunteers showed up on a cold Saturday in April. (9) They hauled away trash, pulled weeds, and they built twelve raised beds out of donated lumber. (10) My cousin lives in Denver, where the growing season is much shorter. (11) Once the beds were finished, each family that signed up received its own plot, and a few shared beds were set aside for the food pantry.

(12) The garden has done much more than produce fresh vegetables for the families who tend it. (13) Neighbors who had never spoken to each other now trade tomatoes, recipes, and advice over the fence on summer evenings. (14) However, students from the nearby elementary school visit on Fridays to learn how plants grow. (15) Last August, the gardeners donated more than three hundred pounds of produce to the local food pantry, which was a lot.

25. In context, which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 3 (reproduced below)? The change happened because a bunch of folks got together and decided to turn the lot into a community garden. (A) (As it is now) (B) a group of residents decided (C) some people, like a bunch of neighbors, decided (D) a few guys from around here decided (E) residents, they decided
26. In context, which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 11 (reproduced below)? Once the beds were finished, each family that signed up received its own plot, and a few shared beds were set aside for the food pantry. (A) (As it is now) (B) each family that signed up received their own plots (C) each family that signed up received there own plot (D) every family who signed up receiving its own plot (E) each families that signed up received its own plot
27. Which is the best way to revise and combine sentences 7 and 8 (reproduced below) at the underlined portion? Then came the cleanup. More than forty volunteers showed up on a cold Saturday in April. (A) cleanup, more than (B) cleanup, and so more than (C) cleanup, for which more than (D) cleanup; because more than (E) cleanup, it was more than
28. In context, which revision to sentence 9 (reproduced below) is most needed? They hauled away trash, pulled weeds, and they built twelve raised beds out of donated lumber. (A) Change “hauled” to “haul.” (B) Change “They” to “The volunteers they.” (C) Change “pulled” to “pulling.” (D) Change “out of” to “from out of.” (E) Delete “they” before “built.”
29. Which sentence is least relevant to the passage and should be deleted? (A) Sentence 2 (B) Sentence 6 (C) Sentence 8 (D) Sentence 10 (E) Sentence 13
30. In context, which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 15 (reproduced below)? Last August, the gardeners donated more than three hundred pounds of produce to the local food pantry, which was a lot. (A) (As it is now) (B) to the local food pantry (C) to the local food pantry, and this was a lot (D) to the local food pantry, which it was a lot (E) to the local food pantry, being a lot
31. In context, which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 14 (reproduced below)? However, students from the nearby elementary school visit on Fridays to learn how plants grow. (A) (As it is now) (B) Nevertheless, students (C) In addition, students (D) Instead, students (E) In contrast, students
32. In context, which sentence provides the best conclusion to the last paragraph? (A) Gardens in Denver, however, face very different challenges. (B) Tomatoes are often the easiest vegetable for beginners to grow. (C) In conclusion, the city council meetings were long and tiring. (D) Some people think gardens attract pests, but that is not always true. (E) A lot that once held only trash now helps feed and connect an entire neighborhood.

Research Skills

The following questions test your familiarity with basic research skills. Choose the best answer to each question.

33. A student is writing a report on the health effects of energy drinks on teenagers. Which of the following sources is likely to be the most credible? (A) A review article in a peer-reviewed nutrition journal written by researchers at a university medical school (B) A blog post by a popular fitness influencer who is paid by a leading energy-drink brand to promote its products (C) A page on an energy-drink company’s website that summarizes positive customer reviews (D) An anonymous comment on an online forum from a user who says she is a nurse (E) A magazine article from fifteen years ago about the drinks that college students prefer
34. Whitcombe, Laura. “Tidal Marshes and Coastal Flooding.” Journal of Shoreline Studies, vol. 18, no. 3, 2021, pp. 44–61. In the MLA citation above, what does the number 18 identify? (A) The issue number of the journal (B) The first page of the article (C) The number of years the journal has been published (D) The volume number of the journal (E) The number of sources the article cites
35. A student has been assigned a five-page research paper and has chosen the general topic “music.” Which of the following is the most appropriately narrowed topic for the assignment? (A) The history of music in every region of the world from ancient times to the present (B) The effects of recent budget cuts on one state’s high school music programs (C) The lives and careers of famous musicians (D) The relationship between music and culture across different societies and time periods (E) Why music is important to everyone
36. A student is writing a paper about the experiences of women who worked in American factories during the Second World War. Which of the following would be a primary source for this paper? (A) A textbook chapter on the wartime economy published in 2015 (B) A documentary film made in 2005 that summarizes historians’ views (C) An encyclopedia entry about life on the home front (D) A biography of a wartime labor leader written by a historian (E) A letter written in 1943 by a woman who worked in an aircraft factory
37. Original passage (Delaney, 2019): “Urban trees lower summer temperatures on nearby streets by shading pavement and releasing water vapor through their leaves.” Which of the following is the most appropriate way for a student to use the information in the passage above without plagiarizing? (A) Urban trees lower summer temperatures on nearby streets by shading pavement and releasing water vapor through their leaves. (B) City trees reduce summer heat on streets by shading the pavement and releasing water vapor. (C) According to Delaney (2019), trees in cities help cool nearby streets in summer because they block sunlight from the pavement and give off moisture through their leaves. (D) As Delaney explains in her 2019 study, urban trees lower summer temperatures on nearby streets by shading pavement and releasing water vapor through their leaves. (E) Trees make cities cooler in the summer, which everyone already knows and no one has ever disputed (Delaney, 2019).
38. Research question: How does the amount of daily recess time affect elementary school students’ ability to focus in class? Which of the following notes is most relevant to the research question above? (A) In one study, third graders with twenty minutes of recess paid more attention in afternoon lessons than those with none. (B) Recess became a common part of the school day in American public schools during the 1800s. (C) Many high school students report feeling stressed and sleeping poorly during final exam season. (D) Playground equipment makers recommend rubber surfaces under swings and slides to reduce injuries from falls. (E) Some parents would prefer that schools offer more art classes.
39. A student wants to find articles about how using social media affects the sleep of teenagers. Which of the following database searches is most likely to produce relevant results? (A) social media (B) “social media” AND sleep AND adolescents (C) sleep OR teenagers OR phones OR “social media” (D) “social media” NOT sleep (E) teens and why they do things online
40. Source: Vaccines for Your Child: A Parent’s Guide. Pamphlet. State Department of Public Health, 1996. A student is writing a report on the childhood vaccination schedule that pediatricians recommend today. What is the most significant limitation of the source above for this purpose? (A) It was published by a government agency. (B) It was written for parents rather than for doctors and other medical professionals. (C) It does not name an individual author. (D) It is decades old, so its recommendations may be out of date. (E) It is a pamphlet rather than a book.

Argumentative Essay: Replacing letter grades with written feedback

You will have 30 minutes to plan and write an argumentative essay on the topic presented below. The essay will be based on your own reading, experience, or observations. Read the topic carefully. You will probably find it best to spend a little time considering the topic and organizing your thoughts before you begin writing. Do not write on a topic other than the one specified. Essays on topics of your own choice will not be accepted. Your response must be in English.The essay questions are included in this test to give you an opportunity to demonstrate how well you can write. You should, therefore, take care to write clearly and effectively, using specific examples where appropriate. Remember that how well you write is much more important than how much you write, but to cover the topic adequately, you will probably need to write more than one paragraph.

“Schools should stop giving letter grades and replace them with written feedback. A grade tells students how they did; only comments can tell them how to get better.”

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with this opinion. Support your views with specific reasons and examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

Informative/Explanatory Essay (Source-Based): Year-round school calendars

You will have 30 minutes to read two short passages on a topic and then plan and write an essay on that topic. The essay will be an informative essay based on the two sources that are provided. Read the topic and sources carefully. You will probably find it best to spend a little time considering the topic and organizing your thoughts before you begin writing. Do not write on a topic other than the one specified. Your response must be in English.The essay questions are included in this test to give you an opportunity to demonstrate how well you can write. You should, therefore, take care to write clearly and effectively, using specific examples where appropriate. Remember that how well you write is much more important than how much you write, but to cover the topic adequately, you will probably need to write more than one paragraph.

Most public schools in the United States follow a traditional calendar with a summer vacation of about ten to twelve weeks. Some districts have adopted year-round calendars instead. These calendars usually keep about the same number of school days but spread them across the year with shorter, more frequent breaks; one common model alternates roughly nine weeks of classes with three-week breaks. Educators, parents, and community members disagree about whether the change is worth making, and districts that consider it must weigh academic, financial, and family concerns. The following sources discuss some of these concerns.

Read the two passages carefully and then write an essay in which you identify the most important concerns regarding the issue and explain why they are important. Your essay must draw on information from BOTH of the sources. In addition, you may draw on your own experiences, observations, or reading. Be sure to CITE the sources whether you are paraphrasing or directly quoting.

Source 1 Adapted from: Pryor, Denise. “Rethinking the Long Summer Break.” Education Forward Quarterly, 2022. (Written for 7ESL practice.)

Every September, teachers across the country spend the first weeks of school reteaching material their students learned the previous spring. Researchers call this pattern “summer learning loss,” and while estimates of its size vary, many studies have found that students, especially in math, return in the fall knowing less than they did in June. The loss is not the same for everyone. Children whose families can afford camps, trips, and tutoring often hold steady or even gain ground over the summer, while children from low-income families are more likely to fall behind. Over several years, those summers can widen the achievement gap.

A year-round calendar does not add school days, but it shortens the longest break. When the Carver Valley district switched to a nine-weeks-on, three-weeks-off schedule, teachers reported that fall review shrank from about four weeks to less than two. The district also used part of each break for optional “intersession” classes, where students who were struggling could get small-group help right away instead of waiting until summer school—or until they had already failed a course.

Teachers in Carver Valley mentioned another benefit: fewer exhausted students and staff. Instead of pushing through a long stretch from January to June, everyone gets a real rest every few months. Several teachers said they returned from breaks with more energy and fresh plans.

None of this happens automatically. Intersession programs cost money, and a district that changes the calendar without using the breaks well may see little difference. But for students who lose the most over the summer, a calendar with shorter breaks may be one of the simplest ways to protect what they have learned.

Source 2 Adapted from: Maddox, Glen. “The Hidden Costs of Year-Round Calendars.” The Midland Courier, 2023. (Written for 7ESL practice.)

When the school board in Brookfield announced a plan to move to a year-round calendar, board members expected debate about test scores. What they heard instead, at meeting after meeting, was about daily life.

Parents with children in more than one school were the first to object. Because the district planned to start with its elementary schools, some families would have had younger children on the new calendar and teenagers on the traditional one—meaning that, for part of the year, someone in the house was almost always on break. Working parents worried about finding child care for several three-week breaks each year instead of arranging it once for the summer. Local day camps and recreation programs, built around a long summer, said they could not easily reorganize.

Older students raised their own concerns. Many high school students depend on summer jobs to save money for college or to help their families, and employers such as pools, farms, and summer camps need workers for continuous stretches. Coaches and band directors worried about scheduling seasons and competitions against schools on traditional calendars.

The costs to the district were also larger than expected. Running buildings in July and August meant higher air-conditioning bills, and several older schools lacked adequate cooling at all. Custodial staff pointed out that major cleaning and repair projects, which are usually completed during the long summer break, would have to be squeezed into three-week windows.

Finally, residents asked whether the change would really improve learning. Research on year-round calendars has produced mixed results, and some studies have found only small differences in achievement. After a year of discussion, Brookfield postponed the plan.