Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 (5624)

The Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 (5624) assesses the professional knowledge prospective secondary teachers use to support adolescent learning. It is commonly required for teacher licensure or certification, but whether you must take it—and when—depends on the state and your educator preparation pathway. The exam focuses on teaching practice rather than mastery of a particular academic subject. Candidates should be ready to apply educational principles to classroom situations involving students, instruction, assessment, and professional responsibilities.

The test includes selected-response and constructed-response questions, so preparation calls for both recognizing sound teaching decisions and explaining how you would respond to a classroom situation. Review adolescent cognitive and social development, learning theories, motivation, individual differences, inclusive instruction, classroom management, assessment, and instructional planning. Use scenario-based study to connect these topics instead of memorizing definitions in isolation. Before test day, confirm the current format and your state’s certification requirements through official ETS Praxis materials and your state licensing agency.