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100+ Free Praxis Core Reading Practice Questions

Pass your Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading (5713) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Praxis Core Reading Exam

56 items

Selected-Response Questions

ETS test page (5713)

85 min

Time Limit

ETS test page (5713)

$90

Subtest Fee

ETS fee table

State-set

Passing Score

Teacher licensing agencies

ETS lists Praxis Core Reading (5713) as 56 selected-response questions in 85 minutes, organized into Key Ideas and Details (~35%), Craft, Structure, and Language Skills (~30%), and Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (~35%). The subtest fee is $90, or $150 when combined with Writing and Mathematics as the 5752 session, and passing scores are set by each state (commonly around 156).

Sample Praxis Core Reading Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Praxis Core Reading exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Read the passage: The humble potato, often dismissed as a simple staple, transformed European history. When it arrived from the Andes in the sixteenth century, farmers found it could thrive in poor soil and cold climates where grain failed. Within two centuries, populations across northern Europe had grown dramatically, fueled by the calories this single crop provided. Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?
A.European populations grew between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries.
B.Grain crops often failed in cold European climates.
C.The potato had a far greater historical impact than its modest reputation suggests.
D.Potatoes originally came from the Andes mountains.
Explanation: The passage opens by calling the potato 'humble' and 'often dismissed' but then describes how it 'transformed European history' and fueled dramatic population growth. The main idea ties these together: the potato's impact greatly exceeded its modest reputation.
2Read the passage: Maria had rehearsed her presentation a dozen times, yet as she approached the podium her hands trembled and her notes seemed to blur. She took a slow breath, reminded herself that she knew the material better than anyone in the room, and began to speak. By the third slide, her voice had steadied. It can be inferred from the passage that Maria
A.had not prepared adequately for her presentation
B.overcame her initial nervousness as she continued
C.was the least knowledgeable person in the room
D.forgot the material she had rehearsed
Explanation: The passage shows Maria starting with trembling hands and blurred notes (nervousness) but then steadying her voice by the third slide. This progression supports the inference that she overcame her initial nervousness.
3Read the passage: The city council voted to install protected bike lanes along Main Street. Supporters argued the lanes would reduce accidents and encourage commuting by bicycle. Critics countered that removing a lane of car traffic would worsen congestion during rush hour. The author's primary purpose in this passage is to
A.explain how to commute safely by bicycle
B.criticize the city council for its vote
C.persuade readers that bike lanes are beneficial
D.describe a decision and the differing views surrounding it
Explanation: The passage neutrally reports the council's decision and then presents both supporters' and critics' positions without endorsing either. Its purpose is to describe the decision and the differing viewpoints.
4Read the passage: Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, yet they shelter roughly a quarter of all marine species. These dense ecosystems provide nurseries for fish, protect coastlines from storm surges, and support the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on reef fisheries. Which detail from the passage best supports the idea that coral reefs are ecologically important despite their small size?
A.They cover less than one percent of the ocean floor.
B.They shelter roughly a quarter of all marine species.
C.They are found in warm tropical waters.
D.They are threatened by rising ocean temperatures.
Explanation: The contrast between reefs' tiny area and the large share of marine species they shelter directly supports their outsized ecological importance. The 'quarter of all marine species' detail is the key evidence.
5Read the passage: Although the experiment's results were promising, the lead researcher cautioned that the sample size was small and the findings would need to be replicated before any firm conclusions could be drawn. The researcher's statement suggests that she
A.believes the experiment was a complete failure
B.wants further studies before accepting the results
C.disagrees with the experiment's promising results
D.is confident the findings are already conclusive
Explanation: By cautioning that the sample was small and the findings 'would need to be replicated,' the researcher signals she wants additional studies before drawing firm conclusions. This is a measured, scientifically cautious stance.
6Read the passage: The Great Library of Alexandria was not merely a collection of scrolls but a center of scholarship where mathematicians, astronomers, and physicians gathered to share ideas. Its destruction over centuries represented a loss not only of texts but of an entire intellectual community. Which of the following best summarizes the passage?
A.The Library of Alexandria contained countless scrolls.
B.Mathematicians and astronomers worked in ancient Egypt.
C.The library was an intellectual community whose loss went beyond its books.
D.Scholars in the ancient world studied astronomy and medicine.
Explanation: A good summary captures both halves of the passage: the library was a scholarly community, and its destruction lost more than texts. Option C combines these central points accurately.
7Read the passage: When the river flooded each spring, farmers in the valley did not despair. The receding waters left behind a layer of fertile silt that enriched the soil and guaranteed bountiful harvests in the months that followed. It can be inferred that the farmers viewed the annual flooding as
A.a destructive event to be feared
B.a beneficial part of their farming cycle
C.an unpredictable and rare occurrence
D.a reason to abandon the valley
Explanation: The phrase 'did not despair' and the description of fertile silt guaranteeing 'bountiful harvests' indicate the farmers saw the flooding as helpful. They depended on it for soil fertility.
8Read the passage: Many people assume that the tongue has separate zones dedicated to tasting sweet, sour, salty, and bitter flavors. In fact, taste receptors for all these flavors are distributed across the entire surface of the tongue, and the famous 'tongue map' taught in schools is a misinterpretation of older research. The primary purpose of this passage is to
A.argue that schools should stop teaching biology
B.describe the history of taste research in detail
C.correct a common misconception about taste perception
D.explain how the four basic tastes differ from one another
Explanation: The passage states what 'many people assume' and then says 'in fact' the assumption is wrong, calling the tongue map a 'misinterpretation.' Its purpose is to correct a widespread misconception.
9Read the passage: The novelist spent three decades on a single book, revising it obsessively. She discarded thousands of pages, rewrote the opening chapter forty times, and once told a friend that she would rather publish nothing than publish something flawed. Which of the following statements about the novelist is best supported by the passage?
A.She disliked writing fiction.
B.She finished books quickly and easily.
C.She published many books over her career.
D.She was a perfectionist about her work.
Explanation: Spending three decades on one book, discarding thousands of pages, and refusing to publish anything 'flawed' all point to perfectionism. The details consistently support this characterization.
10Read the passage: The documentary follows a year in the life of a beekeeper as she tends her hives through the seasons. Rather than focusing on the dangers of stings or the economics of honey, the film lingers on quiet moments: the hum of the colony, the slow drip of comb, the careful inspection of each frame. The main idea of the passage is that the documentary
A.focuses on the financial side of beekeeping
B.warns viewers about the dangers of bee stings
C.emphasizes the calm, observational details of beekeeping
D.teaches viewers how to start their own hives
Explanation: The passage explicitly contrasts the film with treatments of stings or economics, saying it instead 'lingers on quiet moments.' The main idea is its calm, observational focus.

About the Praxis Core Reading Exam

Praxis Core Reading (5713) is an ETS teacher-certification subtest measuring reading comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills across literary, informational, and quantitative passages.

Questions

56 scored questions

Time Limit

85 minutes

Passing Score

Set by state (commonly 156 on a 100-200 scale)

Exam Fee

$90 (or $150 combined as 5752) (ETS)

Praxis Core Reading Exam Content Outline

~35%

Key Ideas and Details

Main idea, supporting details, inferences, author's purpose, and summarizing

~30%

Craft, Structure, and Language Skills

Vocabulary in context, text structure, tone, and fact vs. opinion

~35%

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Comparing texts, evaluating arguments, and interpreting quantitative information

How to Pass the Praxis Core Reading Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Set by state (commonly 156 on a 100-200 scale)
  • Exam length: 56 questions
  • Time limit: 85 minutes
  • Exam fee: $90 (or $150 combined as 5752)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Praxis Core Reading Study Tips from Top Performers

1Prove every answer choice with explicit evidence from the passage before selecting
2For vocabulary-in-context items, substitute each option back into the sentence
3Identify the author's purpose and tone early — it frames many questions
4Practice interpreting tables and graphs described in passages
5Build pacing with timed 56-question sets (about 90 seconds per item)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on Praxis Core Reading (5713)?

ETS lists 56 selected-response questions with an 85-minute time limit.

What passing score do I need on Praxis Core Reading?

Passing scores are set by each state agency or educator-prep program, not one national cutoff; many states require about 156 on the 100-200 scale. Confirm your jurisdiction's requirement before scheduling.

How much does the Praxis Core Reading subtest cost?

ETS lists $90 for the individual Reading subtest, or $150 for the combined 5752 session with Writing and Mathematics.

How should I study for Praxis Core Reading?

Practice proving every answer with explicit passage evidence, drill vocabulary-in-context and author's-purpose items, and finish with full-length 85-minute timed sets for pacing.