Praxis® Core For Dummies®

1. Table of Contents
   1. Introduction
      1. About This Book
      2. Foolish Assumptions
      3. Icons Used in This Book
      4. Beyond the Book
      5. Where to Go from Here
   2. Part I: Getting Started with the Praxis Core
      1. Chapter 1: Previewing the Praxis
         1. Why Take the Praxis?
         2. Breaking Down the Praxis
            1. Knowing what topics are covered
            2. Seeing what types of questions you’ll face
         3. Understanding How the Test Is Scored
      2. Chapter 2: Getting Ready for Test Day
         1. Registering for the Test
         2. Using Your Time Wisely
            1. Budgeting your study time leading up to test day
            2. Budgeting your time while taking the test
         3. When Test Day Has Arrived
            1. Knowing what to bring and what to leave at home
            2. Getting familiar with computer testing
         4. If You Are Retaking the Test
      3. Chapter 3: Practicing the Praxis: Trying Out Some Practice Questions
         1. Going through the Preassessment Questions
            1. Reading practice questions
            2. Writing practice questions
            3. Mathematics practice questions
         2. Looking at the Preassessment Answers
            1. Reading answers and explanations
            2. Writing answers and explanations
            3. Math answers and explanations
         3. Assessing Your Results
            1. Identifying categories where you struggled
            2. Understanding where you went wrong specifically
   3. Part II: Mastering Math Concepts
      1. Chapter 4: Count on It: Number and Quantity
         1. Working with Integers: Whole Numbers and Their Opposites
            1. Doing basic operations with integers
            2. Finding factors of whole numbers
            3. Employing some helpful divisibility rules
            4. Finding multiples of integers
            5. Determining the greatest common factor and least common multiple
            6. Exponents and square roots
         2. Computing with Fractions and Mixed Numbers
            1. Simplifying fractions
            2. Converting between fractions and mixed numbers
            3. Performing basic operations with fractions and mixed numbers
         3. Working with Decimals and Percents
            1. Converting between decimals and percents
            2. Performing basic operations with decimals
         4. Understanding the Number Line
            1. Interpreting numeration and place values
            2. Knowing the basics of order
            3. Finding orders of magnitude
            4. Finding numbers in sequences
         5. Following Orders: The Order of Operations
            1. Remembering “GEMDAS”
            2. Using the order of operations within itself
         6. Reasoning with Quantities
            1. Using the two major systems of measurement
            2. Converting units of measurement
            3. Basic word problems
         7. Practice Questions about Number and Quantity
         8. Answers and Explanations
      2. Chapter 5: Introducing Letters: Algebra and Functions
         1. Variables: When Letters Represent Numbers
            1. Laying out the terms: Variable terms and expressions
            2. Let’s get together: Combining like terms
            3. Multiplying and dividing with terms and expressions
            4. When variable values are given
         2. Working with Equations
            1. Solving for x and other variables
            2. Undoing addition and subtraction
            3. Undoing multiplication and division
            4. Multistep equations
            5. Proportions
            6. Systems of equations
         3. Solving Inequalities
            1. Following two more rules when solving inequalities
            2. Graphing inequalities
         4. Factoring in Algebra
            1. Factoring terms out of bigger terms
            2. Using reverse FOIL
         5. Decoding Algebra Word Problems
            1. Translating English into mathematical language
            2. Algebraic word problems
         6. Figuring Out Functions
            1. Identifying functions
            2. Working with functions
         7. Thinking Outside the Algebra Box
            1. Recognizing relational patterns
            2. Algebraic reasoning
         8. Practice Questions about Algebra
         9. Answers and Explanations
      3. Chapter 6: Grasping Geometry Concepts
         1. Understanding the Building Blocks of Geometry
            1. Getting to the point
            2. Defining lines and parts of lines
            3. Moving along planes in space
            4. Getting the right angles on angles
            5. Recognizing congruence
         2. Understanding Angle Measures and Relationships
            1. Distinguishing degrees of angle measure and naming angles
            2. Working with angle relationships
         3. Knowing Common Shapes and Their Basic Properties
            1. Defining polygons in general
            2. Analyzing triangles: Three-sided polygons
            3. Identifying facts about quadrilaterals
            4. Working with other types of polygons
            5. Knowing the basic facts about circles
         4. Working with Shapes that Are Alike
            1. Forming conclusions about congruent shapes
            2. Working with similar shapes
         5. Figuring out Geometric Formulas
            1. Finding the perimeter
            2. Circling the circumference
            3. Getting into the area
            4. Calculating on the surface: surface area
            5. Finding the right volume
         6. Combining Shapes
            1. Coming together: Shapes that have joined without an invasion
            2. Preparing for invasion: When one shape invades another
         7. Knowing the Ways of the XY Coordinate Plane
            1. Naming coordinate pairs
            2. Identifying linear equations and their graphs
            3. Using the distance and midpoint formulas
            4. Finding meaning in intersecting graphs
            5. Transforming coordinate plane figures
         8. Touching on Right Triangles
            1. Knowing what Pythagoras discovered
            2. Working with special right triangles
         9. Practice Questions about Geometry
         10. Answers and Explanations
      4. Chapter 7: Pinning Down Statistics and Probability
         1. Representing Data
            1. Tables
            2. Bar graphs and line graphs
            3. Pie charts
            4. Stem-and-leaf plots
            5. Box-and-whisker plots
            6. Venn diagrams
            7. Scrambling around scatter plots
            8. Loitering around line plots
         2. Analyzing Data
            1. Combing through comparisons
            2. Homing in on the range
            3. Measuring arithmetic mean, median, or mode
            4. Variably affecting data
            5. Scrutinizing samples for data analysis
            6. Interpreting linear models
         3. Calculating Probability
            1. Determining the likelihood of an event
            2. Using complements
         4. Pointing Out Scientific Notation Facts
         5. Practice Questions about Probability and Statistics
         6. Answers and Explanations
      5. Chapter 8: Test-Taking Strategies for Core Math
         1. Using Helpful Shortcuts
            1. Solving equations versus determining what must be solved
            2. Using estimation and approximation
            3. Using the calculator
            4. Identifying calculations you can make in your head
            5. The art of guessing as a last resort
            6. Working backward
         2. Narrowing Down Answer Choices
            1. How to eliminate obviously wrong answer choices
            2. Avoiding the most common wrong answers
         3. Tackling the Constructed Response
            1. Tips for preparing responses and answering questions
            2. Understanding the importance of avoiding careless errors
            3. Some proper ways of representing answers
   4. Part III: Refining Your Reading Comprehension Skills
      1. Chapter 9: Reading Comprehension: Finding Meaning and Identifying Purpose
         1. Previewing the Praxis Reading Test
            1. Knowing what the test contains
            2. Applying a general strategy
         2. Mastering Short-Passage Questions
            1. Ferreting out the main idea
            2. Discerning the author’s tone and intent
            3. Putting vocabulary in context
         3. Looking at Long-Passage Questions
            1. Purpose and paraphrase
            2. Arguments and support
            3. Getting the hang of “If” questions
            4. Sample questions for long passages
         4. Visual-Information Questions
            1. Rethinking charts and graphs
            2. Getting graphs
         5. Practice Reading Comprehension Questions
         6. Answers and Explanations
      2. Chapter 10: Test-Taking Strategies for Core Reading
         1. Figuring Out Which to Read First: The Passage or the Question
         2. Examining Strategies for the Various Passages
            1. Approaching long and short passages
            2. Approaching the paired passages
         3. Approaching Questions about Charts and Graphs
         4. Eliminating Wrong Answers
         5. Tips for Slow Readers
   5. Part IV: Fine-Tuning Your Writing Skills
      1. Chapter 11: Acing the Essay
         1. Perusing the Types of Prompts: “Picking a Side” versus “Exploring an Idea”
            1. Writing persuasively
            2. Sticking to the facts
         2. Creating a Solid Essay
            1. Making an outline: Essential or overrated?
            2. Looking at the sections of your essay
            3. Don’t box yourself in: Theses aren’t set in stone
            4. Citing the sources
            5. Checking out some additional writing pointers
         3. Turning a Good Essay into a Great One
            1. Adding interesting anecdotes
            2. Painting a picture with words
            3. Anticipating objections against your position
         4. Understanding How the Essay Is Scored
         5. Checking Out Some Practice Prompts
            1. Prompts for argumentative essays
            2. Prompts for informative/explanatory essays
         6. Reviewing a Sample Essay
         7. Evaluating Your Essay
      2. Chapter 12: Giving Grammar a Glance
         1. Getting a Grip on the Parts of Speech
            1. Finding nouns as subjects and objects
            2. Putting verbs to work
            3. Using adjectives to describe people, places, and things
            4. Calling on adverbs to describe actions and conditions
            5. Getting the lowdown on pronouns
            6. Considering conjunctions
            7. Perusing prepositions
         2. Making Sense of Sentence Structure
            1. Independent clauses versus everything else
            2. The sentence skeleton: Identifying the main subject and verb
            3. Run-ons and comma splices
            4. Appositives: Interruptions to the independent clause
         3. Pondering Punctuation
            1. Commas
            2. Semicolons
            3. Apostrophes
         4. Misplaced Modifiers
         5. Redundancy and Double Negatives
         6. Homophones: “They’re in there with their bear”
            1. Which one has the apostrophe?
            2. Spelled and used differently, but sound the same
         7. Capitalization: What You Need to Know
         8. Practice Questions about Grammar
         9. Answers and Explanations
      3. Chapter 13: Test-Taking Strategies for Core Writing
         1. Knowing the Types of Multiple-Choice Writing Questions
            1. Type 1: Answering usage questions
            2. Type 2: Showing your research skills
            3. Type 3: Making sentence corrections
            4. Type 4: Regarding revision-in-context questions
         2. Identifying and Correcting Errors in Multiple-Choice Items
            1. Eliminating the obviously wrong choices
            2. Don’t be afraid to say it’s right the way it is
            3. The art of guessing as a last resort
            4. A word of advice about “trusting your ear”
         3. Mastering the Essay
            1. Outlining your thoughts and managing your time
            2. Arm yourself with versatile examples
            3. Practicing ahead of time
   6. Part V: Tackling Praxis Core Practice Tests
      1. Chapter 14: Practice Exam 1
         1. Part 1: Reading
         2. Part 2: Writing
            1. Argumentative Essay
            2. Source-Based Essay
         3. Part 3: Mathematics
      2. Chapter 15: Practice Exam 1: Answers and Explanations
         1. Part 1: Reading
         2. Part 2: Writing
            1. Argumentative Essay
            2. Source-Based Essay
         3. Part 3: Mathematics
         4. Answer Key
      3. Chapter 16: Practice Exam 2
         1. Part 1: Reading
         2. Part 2: Writing
            1. Argumentative Essay
            2. Source-Based Essay
         3. Part 3: Mathematics
      4. Chapter 17: Practice Exam 2: Answers and Explanations
         1. Part 1: Reading
         2. Part 2: Writing
            1. Argumentative Essay
            2. Source-Based Essay
         3. Part 3: Mathematics
         4. Answer Key
   7. Part VI: The Part of Tens
      1. Chapter 18: Ten Common Math Errors to Avoid
         1. Misusing Negative Signs
         2. Confusing Perimeter and Area
         3. Incorrectly Combining Like Terms
         4. Messing Up when Moving Decimals
         5. Not Solving for the Actual Variable
         6. Misrepresenting “Less Than” in Word Problems
         7. Mixing Up Supplementary and Complementary Angles
         8. Finding the Wrong Median
         9. Fearing Fractions
         10. Forgetting about Fractions in Formulas
      2. Chapter 19: Ten Mistakes to Avoid on the Praxis Reading and Writing Exams
         1. Avoiding Mistakes Common to the Writing and Reading Tests
            1. Don’t look for patterns in the answers
            2. Don’t change answers merely for the sake of changing them
         2. Sidestepping Mistakes on the Writing Test
            1. Don’t equate different with wrong
            2. Don’t assume something must be correct just because it sounds fancier or more complex
            3. Don’t turn the essay into a thesaurus explosion
            4. Don’t paint yourself into a corner with a rigid thesis
         3. Evading Mistakes on the Reading Test
            1. Don’t rule out the “too obvious”
            2. Don’t word-match
            3. Don’t ignore your outside knowledge
            4. Don’t try to answer more than the question asks you to
   8. About the Authors