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100+ Free Praxis Sociology Practice Questions

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In sociology, 'power' is most precisely defined as the ability to:

A
B
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to track
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Praxis Sociology Exam

120

Official Selected-Response Questions

ETS Praxis Sociology (5952) test page

2 hours

Testing Time

ETS Praxis Sociology (5952) test page

$130

Subject Assessment Fee

ETS Praxis Information Bulletin

172

ETS Recommended Median Score

ETS Praxis score information

100

Free Practice Questions Here

OpenExamPrep Praxis Sociology bank

6

Official Content Categories

ETS Praxis Sociology (5952) blueprint

Praxis Sociology (5952) is a 120-question, 2-hour selected-response ETS exam that certifies K-12 sociology teachers. The blueprint emphasizes sociological perspectives and methods of inquiry, culture/socialization/social organization, social stratification, deviance and conformity, social institutions, and demography and social change. ETS sets a recommended median score near 172, but each state sets its own official passing score, and the registration fee is $130.

Sample Praxis Sociology Practice Questions

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

1Which theoretical perspective views society as a system of interrelated parts that work together to maintain stability and social order?
A.Conflict theory
B.Symbolic interactionism
C.Structural functionalism
D.Feminist theory
Explanation: Structural functionalism, associated with Durkheim and later Parsons and Merton, treats society as a system of interdependent parts (institutions) that each serve functions contributing to overall stability and equilibrium. Disruption in one part is expected to affect the others.
2Auguste Comte is best known in sociology for which contribution?
A.Developing the concept of the 'looking-glass self'
B.Identifying the Protestant ethic's link to capitalism
C.Coining the term 'sociology' and advocating positivism
D.Formulating the theory of historical materialism
Explanation: Auguste Comte coined the term 'sociology' in the 19th century and championed positivism, the idea that society should be studied using the systematic empirical methods of the natural sciences. He is often called the founder of sociology.
3A researcher wants to determine whether a tutoring program causes higher test scores. In this study, the tutoring program is the:
A.Dependent variable
B.Control group
C.Confounding variable
D.Independent variable
Explanation: The independent variable is the factor the researcher manipulates or treats as the presumed cause. Here the tutoring program is the presumed cause, so it is the independent variable; test scores are the dependent variable (the effect).
4Émile Durkheim's study of suicide is considered a landmark because it:
A.Demonstrated that a seemingly individual act has social causes
B.Used participant observation to study isolated communities
C.Proved that suicide is primarily caused by mental illness
D.Relied entirely on in-depth interviews with survivors
Explanation: In 'Suicide' (1897), Durkheim used statistical data to show that suicide rates vary systematically with levels of social integration and regulation, demonstrating that even a deeply personal act reflects social forces (social facts) rather than purely individual factors.
5Which research method is generally BEST suited for establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables?
A.Survey research
B.Secondary data analysis
C.Controlled experiment
D.Content analysis
Explanation: A controlled experiment, with random assignment to experimental and control groups and manipulation of the independent variable, allows researchers to isolate causal effects by ruling out alternative explanations. Other designs typically show correlation, not causation.
6Max Weber argued that sociologists should use 'Verstehen,' which refers to:
A.Empathetic understanding of the meanings actors attach to action
B.Measuring social behavior with precise statistics
C.The class struggle between bourgeoisie and proletariat
D.The collective conscience that binds a society together
Explanation: Verstehen is Weber's concept of interpretive understanding—the researcher tries to grasp the subjective meanings and motives behind social action. It contrasts with a purely external, positivist measurement of behavior.
7A sociologist secretly observes behavior in a public park without informing those being studied. The PRIMARY ethical concern this raises is:
A.Lack of informed consent
B.Sampling bias
C.Low external validity
D.Operationalization error
Explanation: Covert observation without telling participants raises the ethical issue of informed consent—the principle that subjects should knowingly agree to participate. Codes of ethics (e.g., ASA) require protecting participants' rights, though some public-setting observation is treated differently.
8C. Wright Mills used the term 'sociological imagination' to describe the ability to:
A.Predict future societies using mathematical models
B.Imagine an ideal utopian society free of conflict
C.Conduct laboratory experiments on human groups
D.Connect personal troubles to larger public issues and social structures
Explanation: Mills defined the sociological imagination as the capacity to see the relationship between individual experiences ('personal troubles') and broader social and historical forces ('public issues'), such as understanding unemployment as a structural problem, not just personal failure.
9Conflict theory, rooted in the work of Karl Marx, primarily emphasizes:
A.Shared values that maintain social equilibrium
B.Inequality and competition over power and resources
C.Face-to-face symbolic communication
D.Random variation in individual personality traits
Explanation: Conflict theory sees society as characterized by inequality and ongoing struggle between groups (such as social classes) over scarce resources, power, and wealth. Marx focused on the conflict between owners of the means of production and workers.
10A study finds that ice cream sales and drowning deaths both rise in summer. Concluding that ice cream causes drowning is an example of:
A.A perfect negative correlation
B.A spurious correlation
C.Random sampling error
D.A valid causal inference
Explanation: This is a spurious correlation: two variables appear related but are actually driven by a third variable (hot weather increases both swimming and ice cream consumption). It illustrates that correlation does not equal causation.

About the Praxis Sociology Exam

Praxis Sociology (5952) is the ETS subject assessment used by many states to certify K-12 sociology teachers. It is a professional teaching credential exam, not an academic admissions test. The official format is 120 selected-response questions in 2 hours, covering sociological perspectives and methods, culture and socialization, stratification, deviance, social institutions, and demography and social change.

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 172)

Exam Fee

$130 (ETS (Educational Testing Service))

Praxis Sociology Exam Content Outline

20%

Sociological Perspectives and Methods of Inquiry

Theoretical paradigms (functionalism, conflict, symbolic interactionism, feminist), founders Comte/Durkheim/Marx/Weber/Du Bois, the sociological imagination, research design, variables, sampling, reliability and validity, ethics, and quantitative versus qualitative methods.

25%

Culture, Socialization, and Social Organization

Culture, norms, values, symbols, and language, ethnocentrism versus cultural relativism, subcultures, socialization and its agents, Mead and Cooley on the self, groups, organizations, bureaucracy, social structure, statuses, and roles.

15%

Social Stratification

Class and caste systems, social mobility, poverty, functionalist and conflict theories of stratification, global stratification, and race, ethnic, and gender stratification.

15%

Deviance and Conformity

Definitions of deviance, strain, labeling, differential association, and control theories, types of crime, the criminal justice system, punishment rationales, and formal and informal social control.

15%

Social Institutions

Sociological perspectives on the family and kinship, education, religion, the economy and work, government and politics, and health and medicine.

10%

Demography and Social Change

Population and the demographic transition, Malthusian theory, urbanization and migration, collective behavior, social movements, modernization, globalization, and technology and social change.

How to Pass the Praxis Sociology Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Varies by state (ETS median 172)
  • 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 Sociology Study Tips from Top Performers

1Weight study time by the blueprint: culture/socialization and theory/methods together make up roughly 45% of the exam, so prioritize them.
2Memorize who said what: pair each major concept with its theorist (Durkheim, Marx, Weber, Mead, Cooley, Merton, Sutherland, Hirschi) because the exam frequently tests attribution.
3Learn the three macro/micro paradigms cold and be able to predict what each (functionalism, conflict, symbolic interactionism) would say about any institution.
4Drill methods vocabulary: independent versus dependent variables, reliability versus validity, correlation versus causation, and sampling types appear repeatedly.
5Review classic studies and theory pairs (strain, labeling, differential association, control) so you can match a scenario to the correct theory under time pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Praxis Sociology (5952) exam?

Praxis Sociology (5952) is an ETS subject assessment many states use to certify K-12 sociology teachers. It is a professional teaching-credential exam, not a college admissions test, and ETS lists it as 120 selected-response questions in 2 hours.

How many questions are on Praxis 5952 and how long is it?

The official ETS format is 120 selected-response questions with a 2-hour testing time. This free practice bank provides 100 questions distributed across the six official content categories so you can train under similar conditions.

What passing score do I need on Praxis Sociology 5952?

ETS publishes a recommended median score (around 172, within an approximate 163-182 range), but each state or licensing agency sets its own official qualifying score. Confirm the exact passing score required in your state before registering.

How much does the Praxis Sociology 5952 exam cost?

ETS lists the Praxis Sociology (5952) Subject Assessment fee as $130. Your final checkout total can vary if you add optional services, so confirm the amount in your ETS account before paying.

What content is most heavily tested on Praxis 5952?

Culture, Socialization, and Social Organization is the largest category at about 25%, followed by Sociological Perspectives and Methods of Inquiry at about 20%. Stratification, deviance, and social institutions are each about 15%, and demography and social change is about 10%.