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7 Shocking Facts About Your Praxis Unofficial Score At The End Of The Test

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The moment of truth arrives immediately after you click "submit." As of the current date in late 2025, many test-takers who complete a computer-delivered Praxis exam are presented with a preliminary, on-screen number—the unofficial score. This immediate result can be a huge relief or a major source of anxiety, and understanding exactly what this score means is crucial for your teacher certification journey. This unofficial score is a powerful indicator, but it’s not available for every exam, and it comes with a few caveats. Knowing the difference between the unofficial and the official score report will help you plan your next steps, whether that’s celebrating a pass or scheduling a retake.

The Big Reveal: Which Praxis Tests Show an Unofficial Score?

The availability of an immediate, unofficial score depends entirely on the *format* of the specific Praxis exam you take. This is the first and most critical distinction you must understand.
  • Selected-Response Only Tests: If your exam consists *only* of selected-response questions (multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, etc.) with no written or spoken answers, you will almost certainly see an unofficial scaled score on your screen before you leave the testing center. This includes the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) Reading and Core Mathematics sections.
  • Tests with Constructed-Response Items: If your exam includes any constructed-response items, such as essays, short-answer questions, or other written responses, you will not receive an unofficial score. This is because these sections require human scorers to evaluate your answers, a process that takes time. The Praxis Core Writing exam is the most common example of an assessment that does not provide an immediate score.
  • Subject Assessments: Many Praxis Subject Assessments (e.g., Elementary Education, Special Education) are entirely multiple-choice and will provide an unofficial score. However, others (like some World Language or English Content Knowledge tests) include constructed-response sections and will not. Always check the specific exam bulletin from ETS.

Key Entities and Terms to Know

To fully grasp your score report, familiarize yourself with these essential Praxis terms:

  • ETS (Educational Testing Service): The organization that develops and administers the Praxis tests.
  • Selected-Response (SR): Question types that are automatically scored by the computer, like multiple-choice.
  • Constructed-Response (CR): Question types that require human scoring, like essays or short answers.
  • Scaled Score: The final score reported, which has been adjusted to account for slight differences in difficulty across different versions (forms) of the test.
  • Raw Score: The actual number of questions you answered correctly. The unofficial score is a scaled score, not a raw score.

5 Crucial Facts About the Unofficial Score’s Accuracy

The unofficial score is a powerful predictor, but it's important to know why it's labeled "unofficial." Here are the five most crucial facts about its accuracy and meaning:

1. It is Almost Always Your Final Score.

For selected-response only tests, the unofficial score you see on the screen is highly reliable. In the vast majority of cases, the unofficial scaled score is identical to the official score you receive later. This means if you see a passing score, you can breathe a huge sigh of relief.

2. The 'Unofficial' Label is a Technicality.

The score is considered "unofficial" until it passes through the full ETS verification process. This process includes a final quality check, ensuring all test administration procedures were followed correctly, and accounting for any unscored "pretest" questions that were included in the exam but do not count toward your final scaled score.

3. Minor Adjustments Are Rare, But Possible.

Occasionally, an unofficial score might be slightly adjusted during the final scaling process. This usually happens due to the inclusion of complex selected-response questions that have multiple correct answers or other subtle scoring nuances. These adjustments are typically minor and rarely change a passing score to a failing one, or vice-versa, unless your score was right on the passing threshold.

4. It is a Scaled Score, Not a Percentage.

The number you see is your scaled score (e.g., 170), which is the number that determines if you passed. It is *not* a percentage of correct answers. The scaling process adjusts your raw score to a consistent scale, which accounts for the slight differences in difficulty between different versions of the test.

5. You Cannot Use It for Official Purposes.

Even if you pass, your unofficial score cannot be used to apply for certification, employment, or program admission. You must wait for the official score report from ETS, which contains the verified score and is formally sent to your designated score recipients (state licensing agencies, universities, etc.).

The Official Score Report: What Happens Next and When to Expect It

Once you have your unofficial score, the next step is waiting for the official documentation. The official score report is the legally verified document that confirms your performance and is necessary for all certification applications.

Official Score Release Timeline (2025 Updates)

The waiting period for your official score depends on the complexity of the exam, specifically whether it contained constructed-response items that need human grading.

  • For SR-Only Tests (Where you saw an unofficial score): Official scores are generally released within 10 to 16 days after your test date. ETS has specific score report dates, often releasing scores on Tuesdays and Fridays, so check the official ETS Praxis website for the most current schedule based on your testing window.
  • For Tests with Constructed-Response (Where you did NOT see an unofficial score): The wait time is longer, as it includes the time needed for human graders. These scores are typically released on the official score reporting dates that follow the 10-16 day window for SR-only tests.

How to Access Your Official Report:

When the scores are officially released, you will receive an email notification from ETS. You can then access and download your official score report through your ETS Praxis account. This report will not only show your final scaled score but also a breakdown of your performance by content category, which is invaluable for studying if you need to retake the exam.

What to Do Immediately After Seeing Your Unofficial Score

Your immediate actions depend on the number that appeared on your screen:

  1. If You Saw a Passing Score: Celebrate! But don't stop there. Wait for the official score report to be released. In the meantime, you can begin gathering all other necessary documents for your teaching certification application, such as transcripts and background check paperwork.
  2. If You Saw a Failing Score: Don't panic. Use the time before the official score report arrives to start planning your retake strategy. Review the content categories you struggled with (which will be detailed in the official report) and immediately register for your next test date, keeping in mind the 28-day waiting period between tests.
  3. If You Saw NO Score: This means your test had constructed-response sections. Be patient. Use the next two weeks to relax and prepare for your next steps, knowing that human graders are carefully evaluating your written work.
7 Shocking Facts About Your Praxis Unofficial Score at the End of the Test
praxis unofficial score at end of test
praxis unofficial score at end of test

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