Praxis Core Writing practice test (5723): free drill, essay prompts and checklist
Praxis Core Writing (5723) is 40 selected-response questions in 40 minutes, then two 30-minute essays: 100 minutes in all. The essays are scored by trained readers and combined with the selected-response score; most states ask for 162. The free drill below is 12 selected-response questions at the real pace, and the essay prompts and checklist are on this page.
- 40 + 2
- questions plus essays
- 100 min
- 40 for questions, 30 per essay
- 162
- most common cut score
- 12
- questions in the free drill
Last checked · Format from ETS's study companion for Core Writing (5723)
Free Writing drill: 12 original Praxis Core-style Writing questions at the real pace, then every answer explained. The essays are below. No sign-up.
12
questions
12 min
time limit
Free
every answer explained
By the LifeScore Editorial Team · Updated · How we check facts · How this is scored
What is on the Praxis Core Writing test?
Two parts: 40 selected-response questions on usage, sentence correction, revision and research skills, and two essays. The essay category is about 60% of the test, so the essays matter as much as the grammar.
| Category | Share | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Text Types, Purposes and Production | About 60% | Revision-in-context questions and both essays: argumentative, and informative/explanatory from two sources |
| Language and Research Skills for Writing | About 40% | Usage (grammar errors), sentence correction, and research skills such as judging sources and citation |
ETS's 2026-27 bulletin announces updates to Core Writing that add research and revision questions. Check the current study companion before test day; our drills already include both kinds.
Which grammar rules cost the most points on Praxis Core Writing?
Subject-verb agreement hidden behind a long phrase, pronoun case in pairs, verb forms, comparisons, modifier placement and run-on sentences. Each has a quick test.
| Rule | Quick test | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject-verb agreement | Cross out the phrase between subject and verb | The box of photos was found |
| Pronoun case | Say the pronoun alone | Maria and I went; asked Ms. Park and me |
| Neither ... nor | The verb agrees with the nearer subject | Neither the coach nor the players were |
| Comparisons | Two things: -er/more; three or more: -est/most | The more persuasive of the two |
| Verb forms | After "had," use the past participle | had begun, had known |
| Modifiers | The word after the comma did the action | Having graded the papers, Ms. Lee ... |
| Run-ons | Two sentences need a period, a semicolon or comma + and/but/so | ...the budget; however, it delayed... |
Choose "No error" only after testing all four bracketed parts. In our bank, about one usage question in five has no error, which is enough that skipping the check costs points.
What are good practice prompts for the Praxis Core essays?
Use one argumentative prompt and one source-based prompt, each under a 30-minute timer. Here are two original prompts in the real formats.
Practice prompt A: argumentative
30 minutes
"Some schools require every student to complete community service before graduating. Others make it optional." Take a position on whether community service should be required. Support it with reasons and examples from your reading, studies, experience or observation, and answer the strongest objection.
Practice prompt B: informative/explanatory
30 minutes
Source 1 reports that after one district moved its high school start time from 7:30 to 8:30, attendance rose and students reported more sleep. Source 2 describes the costs another district faced: rearranged bus routes, later sports practices and less time for after-school jobs. Explain why the start-time decision is difficult for school districts, using information from both sources and citing each by name.
Plan for three minutes, write for about twenty-four and proofread for three. The informative essay is not an opinion piece: you explain the issue with both sources, and leaving one out is the fastest way to lose points.
How can I score my own Praxis Core essay?
Grade it against six points, written from ETS's description of its six-point holistic scale. An essay that meets all six is in the upper range; one missing a position or a source drops sharply.
- Position or main idea: stated clearly in the first paragraph and kept through the essay.
- Development: at least two body paragraphs, each with one reason and a specific example or explanation, not just a restatement.
- Sources (informative essay): information from both sources, each cited by name, explained in your own words and connected to each other.
- Reasoning: the strongest objection answered (argumentative) or the main tensions weighed (informative).
- Organization: a logical order with transitions, and a conclusion, even a short one.
- Language: varied, clear sentences and few errors in grammar, usage and punctuation.
This is a self-check, not a score. ETS readers score holistically, and only they can give you a Writing score. What the checklist does is catch the gaps that cost the most: no clear position, thin examples, a missing source and no time to proofread. The Pass Pack study guide has both prompts with a planning template.
More Writing practice
Four Writing drills, four mocks with new usage and revision questions, and the essay prompts in the study guide.
The Praxis Core Pass Pack gives you 4 full mocks on the real clock, 12 drills of 12 questions for the sections that cost you points, and a predictor that turns your mocks into the odds of reaching your target. One payment, no subscription, and your free score stays free.
Prep courses for these tests usually cost $19 to $129. The Praxis Core Pass Pack is US$39 (£29), once.
- 4
- timed mocks
- 12
- topic drills
- 1
- score predictor
What do Praxis Core Writing questions look like?
A usage question with four bracketed parts and "No error," a sentence to correct with the original as the first choice, and a research question about sources.
Praxis Core-style question 1 · Usage: subject-verb agreement
Which bracketed part of the sentence contains an error? If the sentence has no error, choose "No error." The stack of graded essays [on] the teacher's desk [were] [finally] returned [to] the students.
- Aon
- Bwere
- Cfinally
- Dto
- ENo error
Worked answer
B: were. The subject is "stack," which is singular, so the verb must be "was." "Of graded essays on the teacher's desk" sits between the subject and the verb.
- Find the verb: "were returned."
- Find its subject by crossing out the phrases: "The stack ... were returned."
- "Stack" is singular, so "were" should be "was."
The trap: Matching the verb to "essays," the plural noun right before it.
Praxis Core-style question 2 · Sentence correction: modifier placement
Which of the following is the best way to write the bracketed part of the sentence? The first choice repeats the original. [Having graded every paper, the weekend was free for Ms. Lee.]
- AHaving graded every paper, the weekend was free for Ms. Lee.
- BHaving graded every paper, Ms. Lee had a free weekend.
- CHaving graded every paper, a free weekend was had by Ms. Lee.
- DThe weekend, having graded every paper, was free for Ms. Lee.
- EHaving graded every paper; Ms. Lee had a free weekend.
Show the worked answer
B: Having graded every paper, Ms. Lee had a free weekend.. The opening phrase describes whoever graded the papers, so that person must come right after the comma. The weekend did not grade anything.
- Ask who did the action in the opening phrase: Ms. Lee.
- Check the word after the comma: "the weekend." That is a dangling modifier.
- Choose the version that puts "Ms. Lee" next, with a comma, not a semicolon.
The trap: Choice C puts a noun after the comma but still not Ms. Lee; choice E fixes the order but uses a semicolon after a phrase.
Praxis Core-style question 3 · Research: best source
A student is writing a report on how a 2024 state law changed the requirements for a teaching license. Which source would be most appropriate to start with?
- AThe text of the law on the state legislature's website
- BA 2015 blog post about teacher licensing
- CA social media thread in which teachers discuss the law
- DA novel about a first-year teacher
- EAn encyclopedia article on the history of public schools
Show the worked answer
A: The text of the law on the state legislature's website. The law itself is the primary, authoritative and current source on what it changed. The blog is out of date, the thread is opinion and the others are off topic.
- Ask what the report needs: what the 2024 law requires.
- Rule out sources older than the law (2015) and sources that are opinion.
- The law's own text is the most authoritative source.
The trap: The social media thread. It is current and on topic, but it reports opinions about the law, not the law.
More are on Praxis Core sample questions. Reading and Math are on the Praxis Core Reading and Praxis Core Math pages.
How should I pace the Praxis Core Writing test?
One minute per selected-response question, then 30 minutes for each essay on its own clock. Time does not carry from the questions to the essays or between the essays.
- Usage questions are fastest: aim for 40 seconds and bank time for revision drafts.
- In each essay, stop adding new paragraphs at about 27 minutes and proofread.
- If you are short of time on an essay, write a two-sentence conclusion: an essay that ends beats one that stops.
- There is no penalty for a wrong answer on the selected-response part, so answer everything.
Frequently asked questions
How are the Praxis Core essays scored?
Do you grade my practice essays?
What score do I need on Praxis Core Writing?
How long should a Praxis Core essay be?
Reach your Writing cut score the first time
Four Praxis Core-style mocks, four Writing drills, essay prompts and every answer explained, for one payment.
The Praxis Core Pass Pack gives you 4 full mocks on the real clock, 12 drills of 12 questions for the sections that cost you points, and a predictor that turns your mocks into the odds of reaching your target. One payment, no subscription, and your free score stays free.
Prep courses for these tests usually cost $19 to $129. The Praxis Core Pass Pack is US$39 (£29), once.
- 4
- timed mocks
- 12
- topic drills
- 1
- score predictor