Praxis II
Overview
The Praxis II is required of everyone before they begin the Mississippi Teacher Corps (MTC) Master of Arts in Teaching program. It is also a requirement for teacher licensure through the Mississippi Department of Education. For MTC we typically place teachers in the subjects of English, math, science (biology/chemistry), social studies, Spanish, or French. There are some special cases in which other subjects are possible. This document has a list of the possible Praxis II tests you can take to receive initial teacher certification in Mississippi through a University of Mississippi alternate-route program.
*Please note that not all Praxis II tests will allow you to receive initial licensure through an alternate-route program. Please ensure you are signing up for the right test. If you have any questions, feel free to ask us here.
Signing up for the Praxis II
The Praxis II test is administered by ETS. This website provides helpful information about signing up for the test. You will need to plan in advance when signing up so that you give yourself time to prepare and also time to find an open testing time. To see which test you should sign up for that will allow you to receive your initial Mississippi teaching license, you can refer to this list.
Test locations and formats
There are testing centers throughout the world that administer the Praxis II. There is also the option to take it at home. There are benefits and drawbacks to each option so be sure to figure out which format works best for you. The at-home test option involves computer requirements as well as the need to install proctoring software.
Study Resources
There are numerous study resources available online and in print format. ETS also provides study companions and study resources. We have gathered testing resources and included them below.
Social Studies Praxis II (Test 5081)
Overview
The Social Studies test requires the understanding and application of social studies knowledge, concepts, methodologies, and skills across the fields of United States history; world history; government/civics/political science; geography; economics; and the behavioral science fields of sociology, anthropology, and psychology. For those interested in taking the Social Studies Praxis II, it is advisable to study with the Social Studies Study Companion. The study companion includes a list of topics on the test and sample questions.
study resources
Practice Tests:
https://www.240tutoring.com/ (Free practice test for 5081, free basic diagnostics [Refresh page upon results to view diagnostics without entering email]. Full resource access is paid)
https://study.com/praxis/praxis-courses.html (Free brief test for 5081, full resource access is paid)
https://careeremployer.com/test-prep/practice-tests/praxis-social-studies-practice-test/ (Free full-length practice test for 5081, no account required)
https://www.mometrix.com/academy/praxis-ii/social-studies-content/ (Free test, requires free account registration for complete test. Full resource access is paid)
Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/@MometrixTestPrep (Search channel for “5081”)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKp13uNv0Y57IWdhZSFjUq3AHChqxfi-0 (Playlist from Praxis Test Prep)
Flashcards:
https://quizlet.com/ (Search by test code “5081”. Requires free account for full resource access)
For a description of the Social Studies Praxis II content and study tips, check out this document.
Content Overview