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100+ Free Praxis Earth and Space Sciences Practice Questions

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The most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere by volume is:

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Praxis Earth and Space Sciences Exam

125

Selected-Response Questions (official)

ETS Praxis Earth and Space Sciences (5572)

150 min

Testing Time

ETS Praxis Earth and Space Sciences (5572)

$130

Subject Assessment Fee

ETS Praxis Information Bulletin

~45%

Geology Category Weight

ETS Praxis 5572 content categories

~154

Common State Passing Score

State Praxis score requirements

100

Free Practice Questions Here

OpenExamPrep Praxis 5572 bank

ETS lists Earth and Space Sciences (5572) as a 125-question, 150-minute computer-delivered Praxis Subject Assessment for secondary earth science licensure. Content emphasizes Earth's processes and materials (geology) at roughly 45%, with the hydrosphere and atmosphere near 22%, astronomy and space science near 18%, and the nature and impact of science and engineering near 15%. Passing scores are set by individual states or agencies rather than by ETS, with a common required score near 154.

Sample Praxis Earth and Space Sciences Practice Questions

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

1In a controlled experiment testing how soil type affects water infiltration rate, which factor should be the independent variable?
A.The type of soil used in each trial
B.The volume of water that drains through
C.The temperature of the laboratory
D.The time required for all water to drain
Explanation: The independent variable is the factor the experimenter deliberately changes. Here the researcher selects different soil types, so soil type is independent while infiltration rate is the dependent (measured) outcome.
2A scientist proposes that increased atmospheric CO2 raises global average temperature. For this idea to be a scientific hypothesis, it must primarily be:
A.Accepted by a majority of the public
B.Testable and falsifiable through observation or experiment
C.Consistent with personal intuition
D.Permanent and never subject to revision
Explanation: A scientific hypothesis must be testable and capable of being proven false through empirical evidence. This criterion of falsifiability distinguishes science from non-scientific claims.
3Which statement best describes a scientific theory such as plate tectonics?
A.An untested guess about how something works
B.A fact that can never be questioned
C.A well-substantiated explanation supported by a large body of evidence
D.A mathematical proof with absolute certainty
Explanation: In science, a theory is a comprehensive, well-tested explanation that unifies many observations and experiments. Plate tectonics integrates evidence from seafloor spreading, paleomagnetism, earthquakes, and fossils.
4A graph shows global sea level rising steadily from 1900 to 2020. The best supported conclusion is that over this period sea level has:
A.Remained essentially unchanged
B.Decreased then leveled off
C.Fluctuated randomly with no pattern
D.Shown a long-term upward trend
Explanation: Reading trends from data is a core science practice. A graph showing steady increase across more than a century supports a clear long-term rising trend, consistent with thermal expansion and ice melt.
5An engineering team designs a levee to protect a city from river flooding. Which step best represents defining the problem in the engineering design process?
A.Identifying flood frequency, water height, and protection criteria
B.Building the final concrete structure
C.Selling the project to investors
D.Celebrating completion of the levee
Explanation: Engineering design begins by defining the problem and its criteria and constraints. Quantifying flood frequency and required protection height establishes measurable design requirements.
6Which is the most appropriate tool for measuring the mass of a small rock sample in a classroom lab?
A.A graduated cylinder
B.A triple-beam balance
C.A barometer
D.A seismograph
Explanation: A triple-beam balance measures mass by comparing the sample against known sliding weights. The other instruments measure volume, air pressure, and ground motion respectively.
7A student measures a rock's density five times and gets values clustered tightly around 2.65 g/cm3, but the true value is 3.10 g/cm3. The measurements are best described as:
A.Accurate but not precise
B.Both accurate and precise
C.Precise but not accurate
D.Neither accurate nor precise
Explanation: Precision refers to reproducibility of repeated measurements, while accuracy refers to closeness to the true value. Tightly clustered results far from the true value are precise but inaccurate.
8Which practice most strengthens the reliability of an experimental result?
A.Running the experiment only once
B.Discarding data that disagree with the hypothesis
C.Using a single subject without comparison
D.Repeating trials and using a control group
Explanation: Replication and the use of controls reduce the influence of random error and confounding variables, strengthening the validity and reliability of conclusions. A single trial cannot distinguish a true effect from chance, which is why scientists report repeated, controlled measurements.
9Burning fossil fuels for electricity is an example of a human activity that primarily affects Earth systems by:
A.Adding greenhouse gases that alter the atmosphere and climate
B.Increasing the rate of plate tectonic motion
C.Changing the Moon's orbital period
D.Reversing Earth's magnetic field
Explanation: Combustion of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, enhancing the greenhouse effect and contributing to climate change. Plate motion, lunar orbits, and the geomagnetic field are not driven by combustion.
10A model of the water cycle is most useful in science because it:
A.Reproduces every detail of the real system exactly
B.Simplifies a complex system to show key processes and relationships
C.Eliminates the need for any observation
D.Proves the system can never change
Explanation: Scientific models simplify complex systems to highlight important components and interactions, enabling prediction and explanation. They are intentionally incomplete representations, not exact replicas.

About the Praxis Earth and Space Sciences Exam

Praxis Earth and Space Sciences (5572) is the ETS subject assessment used by many states for secondary earth and space science teacher licensure. The current official structure is 125 selected-response questions in 150 minutes, weighted most heavily toward Earth's processes and materials (geology), with additional coverage of the hydrosphere and atmosphere, astronomy and space science, and the nature and impact of science and engineering.

Assessment

125 selected-response (official ETS); this practice bank is 100 selected-response items

Time Limit

150 minutes

Passing Score

Varies by state (common ~154)

Exam Fee

$130 (ETS (Educational Testing Service))

Praxis Earth and Space Sciences Exam Content Outline

15%

Nature and Impact of Science and Engineering

Scientific practices, experimental and engineering design, measurement, accuracy versus precision, data analysis and graph interpretation, scientific theory versus hypothesis, peer review, and the relationship of science to society and the environment.

45%

Earth's Processes and Materials (Geology)

Minerals and rocks, the rock cycle, plate tectonics, volcanoes and earthquakes, weathering and erosion, landforms, Earth's layered interior, geologic time and relative dating, fossils, and radiometric dating.

22%

Earth's Hydrosphere and Atmosphere

Oceans, surface and thermohaline currents, the water cycle, atmospheric structure and composition, weather systems and fronts, climate and climate change, and severe weather such as hurricanes and tornadoes.

18%

Astronomy and Space Science

The Earth-Moon-Sun system, seasons, eclipses, tides, the structure of the solar system, stars and stellar evolution, the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, galaxies, and Big Bang cosmology.

How to Pass the Praxis Earth and Space Sciences Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Varies by state (common ~154)
  • Assessment: 125 selected-response (official ETS); this practice bank is 100 selected-response items
  • Time limit: 150 minutes
  • Exam fee: $130

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 Earth and Space Sciences Study Tips from Top Performers

1Weight your study time by the blueprint: geology is nearly half the exam, so prioritize minerals, rocks, plate tectonics, earthquakes, and geologic time.
2Build a one-page cheat sheet of Earth-system processes (rock cycle, water cycle, plate boundaries) and quiz yourself on the direction and cause of each process.
3Practice reading graphs and data sets, because the nature-of-science category tests trend interpretation, correlation versus causation, and accuracy versus precision.
4For astronomy, draw and label Earth-Moon-Sun geometry yourself to lock in seasons, eclipses, phases, and the spring-versus-neap tide distinction.
5When reviewing missed questions, sort them by category and by error type so you can target the weakest blueprint area before test day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on Praxis Earth and Space Sciences (5572)?

ETS lists the official Praxis Earth and Space Sciences test as 125 selected-response questions delivered by computer. This OpenExamPrep practice bank provides 100 selected-response questions modeled on the official content categories with full answer explanations.

How much time do I get on Praxis 5572?

The official ETS structure allows 150 minutes of testing time for the 125 selected-response questions. That works out to a little over a minute per question, so pacing and accurate concept recall both matter.

What passing score do I need on Praxis 5572?

Praxis passing scores are set by each state or licensing agency, not by ETS. A commonly required qualifying score is around 154, but you should confirm the exact cut score for Earth and Space Sciences (5572) with your state before registering.

What content matters most on Praxis 5572?

Earth's processes and materials (geology) is the largest category at roughly 45% of the test, so minerals, rocks, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, and geologic time deserve the most study time. The hydrosphere and atmosphere is about 22%, astronomy and space science about 18%, and the nature and impact of science and engineering about 15%.

How much does Praxis 5572 cost?

The current ETS fee for the Earth and Space Sciences (5572) Praxis Subject Assessment is $130. Your final checkout total can vary slightly with optional services or taxes, so confirm the amount in your ETS account before payment.

Are there any 2026 changes for Praxis 5572?

As of May 2026, ETS continues to list Earth and Space Sciences (5572) with 125 selected-response questions in 150 minutes for secondary earth science licensure. Always confirm the live ETS 5572 materials page for any blueprint or scheduling updates before your test date.