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100+ Free Praxis Psychology Practice Questions

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The James-Lange theory of emotion proposes that:

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to track
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Praxis Psychology Exam

120

Official Selected-Response Questions

ETS Praxis Psychology (5391) test page

2 hours

Testing Time

ETS Praxis Psychology (5391) test page

$130

Subject Assessment Fee

ETS Praxis Information Bulletin

168

ETS Median Score (state-set passing)

ETS Praxis score information

23%

Largest Category (Personality and Social)

ETS Praxis Psychology (5391) study companion

100

Free Practice Questions Here

OpenExamPrep practice bank

ETS lists Praxis Psychology (5391) as a 120 selected-response, 2-hour subject assessment that certifies high school psychology teachers, not an academic admissions test. The blueprint weights Personality, Social Psychology, Motivation and Emotion, and Stress at about 23%, with the remaining content split across Methods/Ethics (~17%), Biopsychology (~16%), Learning and Cognition (~16%), Disorders and Treatment (~16%), and Life Span Development (~12%). Passing scores are set by each state; the ETS median is 168 with a typical range of roughly 158-178.

Sample Praxis Psychology Practice Questions

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

1A researcher wants to determine whether a new study technique causes higher test scores. Which research design allows the strongest causal conclusion?
A.A naturalistic observation of students in a library
B.A correlational survey of study habits and grades
C.A randomized true experiment with an experimental and control group
D.A single case study of one high-achieving student
Explanation: Only a true experiment with random assignment and a manipulated independent variable lets a researcher infer cause and effect, because random assignment controls for confounding variables. The other designs can describe or predict relationships but cannot establish causation.
2In an experiment testing a new drug, the group that receives an inactive pill so that expectancy effects can be controlled is called the:
A.Experimental group
B.Confounding group
C.Random sample
D.Placebo control group
Explanation: A placebo control group receives an inert substance so researchers can separate the drug's actual physiological effect from participants' expectations. Comparing this group to the experimental group isolates the treatment effect.
3A correlation coefficient of r = -0.85 between hours of social media use and reported life satisfaction indicates:
A.A weak positive relationship
B.A strong negative relationship
C.No relationship between the variables
D.That social media use causes lower life satisfaction
Explanation: A coefficient near -1 signals a strong inverse relationship: as one variable increases, the other tends to decrease. Correlation does not establish causation, however, so the negative value alone cannot prove that social media use lowers satisfaction.
4Which measure of central tendency is most affected by a single extreme outlier in a data set?
A.The mean
B.The median
C.The mode
D.The range
Explanation: The mean uses the value of every score, so one extreme score can pull it strongly toward the outlier. The median and mode are resistant to outliers because they depend on position or frequency rather than magnitude.
5A psychologist explains a phobia as the result of unconscious conflicts originating in early childhood experiences. This explanation reflects which perspective?
A.Behavioral perspective
B.Biological perspective
C.Psychodynamic perspective
D.Cognitive perspective
Explanation: The psychodynamic perspective, rooted in Freud's theory, emphasizes unconscious processes and unresolved early-childhood conflicts as causes of behavior. The other perspectives focus on learned associations, brain processes, or thought patterns instead.
6Which psychological perspective emphasizes free will, self-actualization, and human potential, as advanced by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow?
A.Behavioral perspective
B.Evolutionary perspective
C.Psychoanalytic perspective
D.Humanistic perspective
Explanation: The humanistic perspective, associated with Rogers and Maslow, stresses personal growth, free will, and the drive toward self-actualization. It arose partly as a reaction against the determinism of behaviorism and psychoanalysis.
7According to APA ethical guidelines, informed consent in research generally requires that participants:
A.Be paid for their time in all studies
B.Never be allowed to withdraw once the study begins
C.Be told enough about the study to make a voluntary decision to participate
D.Receive the full hypothesis before any deception study
Explanation: Informed consent requires giving participants enough information about the procedures, risks, and right to withdraw so they can voluntarily agree to take part. The APA code protects autonomy and welfare while still permitting limited, justified deception with debriefing.
8After a study that used deception, researchers must fully explain the true purpose and procedures to participants. This required step is called:
A.Random assignment
B.Operationalization
C.Debriefing
D.Counterbalancing
Explanation: Debriefing is the post-study disclosure in which researchers reveal the study's true aims, clarify any deception, and address participant concerns. It is an ethical safeguard required whenever deception is used.
9A test that yields very similar scores when the same people take it on two different occasions is said to have high:
A.Reliability
B.Validity
C.Standardization difficulty
D.Predictive bias
Explanation: Reliability refers to the consistency of a measurement; test-retest reliability specifically describes stable scores across repeated administrations. A reliable test may still lack validity if it does not measure what it claims to measure.
10A new depression questionnaire correlates strongly with clinicians' independent diagnoses of depression. This evidence supports the test's:
A.Criterion (concurrent) validity
B.Test-retest reliability
C.Internal consistency
D.Standardization sample size
Explanation: Criterion validity is demonstrated when test scores agree with an established external standard; when the criterion is measured at the same time, it is called concurrent validity. Agreement with clinician diagnoses is exactly this type of evidence.

About the Praxis Psychology Exam

Praxis Psychology (5391) is the ETS subject assessment used by many states to certify high school psychology teachers. The official test is 120 selected-response questions in 2 hours, covering research methods and ethics, biopsychology, life span development, learning and cognition, personality and social psychology, and psychological disorders and treatment.

Assessment

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

Time Limit

2 hours

Passing Score

Varies by state (ETS median 168)

Exam Fee

$130 (ETS (Educational Testing Service))

Praxis Psychology Exam Content Outline

17%

Methods, Approaches, Ethics, and Assessment

Research methods, experimental design, descriptive and inferential statistics, correlation versus causation, the major psychological perspectives, APA ethics, and psychometrics including reliability and validity.

16%

Biopsychology, Sensation and Perception, and States of Consciousness

Neurons and neurotransmitters, brain structures, the endocrine system, sensation and perception, sleep and dreaming, consciousness, and psychoactive drugs.

12%

Life Span Development and Individual Differences

Developmental stages, the theories of Piaget, Erikson, Kohlberg, and Vygotsky, attachment, intelligence and theories of intelligence, and nature versus nurture.

16%

Learning, Memory, and Cognition

Classical and operant conditioning, observational learning, memory models and forgetting, language, thinking and problem solving, and cognitive biases.

23%

Personality, Social Psychology, Motivation and Emotion, and Stress

Psychodynamic, humanistic, trait, and social-cognitive personality theories, social psychology, motivation and emotion theories, and stress and coping.

16%

Psychological Disorders and Treatment

Classification and the DSM-5-TR, anxiety, mood, psychotic, personality, and neurodevelopmental disorders, and the major therapeutic approaches.

How to Pass the Praxis Psychology Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Varies by state (ETS median 168)
  • Assessment: 120 selected-response (official ETS); this practice bank is 100 selected-response items
  • Time limit: 2 hours
  • 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 Psychology Study Tips from Top Performers

1Weight your study time by the blueprint: the 23% personality and social psychology category deserves the most attention, followed by the four mid-weight categories.
2Memorize the major theorists and their signature ideas (Piaget, Erikson, Kohlberg, Vygotsky, Freud, Skinner, Pavlov, Bandura, Milgram, Asch) because the exam frequently tests attribution of concepts.
3Use current DSM-5-TR categories when reviewing disorders, and pair each disorder with its core distinguishing feature and a matching treatment approach.
4Drill classic studies (Milgram obedience, Asch conformity, Harlow attachment, Bandura Bobo doll) so you can quickly identify the phenomenon each demonstrated.
5When reviewing misses, sort them by content category and by error type such as confusing similar terms (negative reinforcement versus punishment, proactive versus retroactive interference).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Praxis Psychology (5391) exam?

ETS lists the official Praxis Psychology (5391) test as 120 selected-response questions completed in 2 hours. This free practice bank provides 100 selected-response questions modeled on the same six content categories so you can rehearse the full blueprint.

What passing score do I need on Praxis 5391?

Passing scores for Praxis Psychology are set by each state or licensing agency rather than by ETS. The ETS median performance is about 168, with state qualifying scores typically falling roughly in the 158-178 range, so confirm the exact requirement with your state before registering.

Is Praxis Psychology an academic admissions test?

No. Praxis Psychology (5391) is a professional teaching-certification exam used to license high school psychology teachers, not a college or graduate admissions test. Passing it is part of qualifying to work as a certified psychology teacher in many states.

What content is weighted most heavily on the exam?

The largest category is Personality, Social Psychology, Motivation and Emotion, and Stress at about 23%. Methods/Ethics, Biopsychology, Learning and Cognition, and Disorders and Treatment each contribute roughly 16-17%, and Life Span Development is about 12%, so weight your study time toward personality and social psychology.

How much does the Praxis Psychology test cost?

ETS lists the Praxis Psychology (5391) subject assessment fee at $130. Your final checkout total can vary if you add optional services, so confirm the amount inside your ETS account before payment.