1.1 Current Exam Facts

Why the Logistics Matter

Before you open a textbook, lock in the format, timing, fee, and licensure context for the Praxis Biology Content Knowledge (5236) exam. Test-takers who misjudge any of these — for example, expecting a paper-based exam, budgeting for the wrong fee, or assuming a single national passing score — routinely lose a study cycle to avoidable surprises.

ETS (Educational Testing Service) administers Praxis 5236 as the subject-matter assessment for secondary biology teacher candidates. It is one of several ETS Praxis Subject Assessments used by state education agencies as part of initial teacher certification.

Exam Snapshot

Content Outline (Official ETS Weights)

ETS publishes five content categories on the official Study Companion, each with a published percentage weight. Your study time should approximate these weights:

• I. Nature and Impact of Science and Engineering — approximately 13%
• II. Cell Biology: Cell Structure and Function — approximately 22%
• III. Genetics and Evolution — approximately 26% (largest single category)
• IV. Diversity of Life and Organismal Biology — approximately 20%
• V. Ecology: Organisms and Environments — approximately 19%

ETS also notes that roughly 40% or more of questions integrate biology content with Science and Engineering Practices, and about 25% of questions apply biology knowledge to teaching scenarios or instructional tasks. In plain terms: pure content recall is not enough. Expect data-analysis stems, lab-design vignettes, and classroom-context items.

Eligibility & Prerequisites

The Praxis program itself imposes no standalone age or degree requirement, but Praxis 5236 is almost always taken inside a state-approved teacher preparation pathway. The typical path looks like this:

1. Complete (or be enrolled in) a bachelor's degree with sufficient biology coursework.
2. Be enrolled in or graduating from an educator-preparation program in your state.
3. Register with ETS for the 5236 subject assessment.
4. Submit your passing scaled score to your state licensing agency along with their other licensure requirements (Praxis Core, background check, student teaching, etc.).

State licensing agencies — not ETS — set the passing score, which is why scores are reported as a scaled number (100-200) rather than a percentage. Always confirm the required threshold with your specific state agency through the ETS state requirements page before scheduling.

Fees and Retake Planning

The current ETS fee for Praxis 5236 is $130 USD, billed at registration. ETS may charge additional fees for rescheduling within their published windows and for sending score reports beyond the four recipients included with registration.

If you do not earn your state's required score, you may retake the test, but ETS enforces a minimum 28-day wait between attempts of the same Praxis test. The 28-day rule applies even if you cancelled your scores or were unsatisfied with your performance. Plan your initial test date so that, if a retake is needed, a second attempt fits before your licensure deadline.

Official Resources

• ETS Praxis Biology (5236) Test Page — fee, format, and registration.
• ETS Praxis 5236 Study Companion (PDF) — official content outline and sample questions.
• ETS Praxis State Requirements — state-by-state passing scores and test codes.

With the logistics locked in, the rest of this guide walks you through the five content categories in the same order ETS lists them on the Study Companion.