100+ Free Praxis Middle School Social Studies Practice Questions
Pass your Praxis Middle School Social Studies (5089) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
The concept of "popular sovereignty" in American government means what?
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Key Facts: Praxis Middle School Social Studies Exam
90 SR + 3 CR
Official Test Questions
ETS Praxis 5089 materials
2 hours
Testing Time
ETS Praxis 5089 materials
$156
Test Fee
ETS Praxis fee schedule
~150
Common State Cut Score
ETS state score requirements
5
Content Categories
ETS Praxis 5089 materials
100
Free Practice Questions
OpenExamPrep question bank
ETS lists Praxis Middle School Social Studies (5089) as a 2-hour test with 90 selected-response questions and 3 constructed-response (short content essay) questions. Content spans United States history, world history, government/civics/political science, geography, and economics. The fee is $156, and passing scores are set by states or licensing agencies, not by ETS, with a commonly used cut score around 150. This free practice bank provides 100 selected-response items with full explanations to build content knowledge.
Sample Praxis Middle School Social Studies Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your Praxis Middle School Social Studies exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Which document, adopted in 1620, established a self-governing compact among the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony?
2The system of mercantilism, which shaped Britain's relationship with its American colonies, was primarily designed to do what?
3The phrase "no taxation without representation" expressed colonial opposition to which British policy?
4Which 1776 pamphlet by Thomas Paine argued in plain language for American independence from Britain?
5The Declaration of Independence drew heavily on the political philosophy of which Enlightenment thinker regarding natural rights?
6A major weakness of the Articles of Confederation was that the national government could not do what?
7The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise) at the 1787 Constitutional Convention resolved disagreement over what?
8The Three-Fifths Compromise in the U.S. Constitution dealt with how to count which group for purposes of representation and taxation?
9The Louisiana Purchase of 1803, made under President Thomas Jefferson, was acquired from which country?
10The Missouri Compromise of 1820 attempted to maintain sectional balance by doing what?
About the Praxis Middle School Social Studies Exam
Praxis Middle School Social Studies (5089) is the ETS subject assessment used by many states to license middle-grades social studies teachers. The official test contains 90 selected-response questions and 3 constructed-response questions (short content essays) in a 2-hour appointment, covering five categories: United States history, world history, government/civics/political science, geography, and economics. Passing scores are set by individual states or licensing agencies rather than by ETS.
Assessment
90 selected-response + 3 constructed-response (official ETS); this practice bank is 100 selected-response items
Time Limit
2 hours
Passing Score
Varies by state (common ~150)
Exam Fee
$156 (ETS (Educational Testing Service))
Praxis Middle School Social Studies Exam Content Outline
United States History
Colonial era and mercantilism, causes of the Revolution, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, the antebellum era and the Civil War, Reconstruction amendments, the Gilded Age and industrialization, the Progressive Era, the World Wars, the Great Depression and New Deal, and the Cold War and Civil Rights movement.
World History
The Neolithic Revolution and early civilizations, classical Greece and Rome, the Silk Road, the Middle Ages and feudalism, the Renaissance and Reformation, the Age of Exploration and the Columbian Exchange, the French and Industrial Revolutions, the World Wars and the Holocaust, the Cold War, and globalization.
Government / Civics / Political Science
The US Constitution, separation of powers and checks and balances, federalism and reserved powers, the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment, the legislative process and judicial review, citizenship and naturalization, civic responsibility, political parties and the Electoral College, the amendment process, and comparative government.
Geography
Latitude and longitude, map elements, scale, and GIS, the five themes of geography, physical versus human geography, types of regions, landforms and climate factors, migration push and pull factors, urbanization, and human-environment interaction.
Economics
Scarcity and opportunity cost, the laws of supply and demand, market equilibrium and surpluses, functions of money and central banking, inflation and GDP, taxation and budget deficits, tariffs and comparative advantage, economic systems, and personal finance including budgeting and compound interest.
How to Pass the Praxis Middle School Social Studies Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Varies by state (common ~150)
- Assessment: 90 selected-response + 3 constructed-response (official ETS); this practice bank is 100 selected-response items
- Time limit: 2 hours
- Exam fee: $156
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 Middle School Social Studies Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Praxis Middle School Social Studies (5089) exam?
Praxis 5089 is the ETS subject assessment many states use to license middle-grades social studies teachers. ETS lists it as a 2-hour test with 90 selected-response questions and 3 constructed-response questions covering US history, world history, government and civics, geography, and economics.
How is the Praxis 5089 test structured?
The official test has two parts: 90 selected-response questions and 3 constructed-response questions that ask for short content essays applying social studies knowledge. The full appointment is about 2 hours. This practice bank provides 100 selected-response items so you can drill content quickly.
What passing score do I need on Praxis 5089?
ETS does not set one universal passing score for Praxis 5089. States and licensing agencies set their own qualifying scores, and a commonly used cut score is around 150. Confirm the exact requirement for your state before registering.
How much does the Praxis 5089 exam cost?
ETS lists the Praxis Middle School Social Studies (5089) test fee as $156. Optional services or additional score reports beyond those included at registration can change your final total, so verify the amount in your ETS account before payment.
Which content categories are most important for Praxis 5089?
The exam draws fairly evenly from five categories: United States history, world history, government/civics/political science, geography, and economics. US and world history together make up the largest share, but government, geography, and economics are each substantial, so study all five.
How should I prepare for the constructed-response section?
Practice writing brief, well-organized content essays that make a clear claim, support it with accurate historical, civic, geographic, or economic evidence, and stay directly on the prompt. Time yourself so the 3 constructed-response items fit comfortably within the 2-hour appointment.