The Praxis Core Reading (5713) is a 56-question multiple-choice exam that measures the foundational reading skills needed to enter a teacher preparation program. You have 85 minutes to complete it. Questions are divided across three content categories: Key Ideas and Details, Craft, Structure, Language Skills, and Integration of Knowledge and Ideas. Most states require a passing score of 156, though some states accept scores as low as 150.
This page covers everything you need to know about the exam format, what's on the test, how it's scored, and how to prepare.
Praxis Core Reading (5713) At a Glance
| What is the exam code? | 5713 |
| How many questions are on the exam? | 56 multiple-choice |
| What is the time limit? | 85 minutes |
| What content categories are covered? | Key Ideas and Details, Craft Structure and Language Skills, Integration of Knowledge and Ideas |
| What is the passing score? | 150-156 (varies by state) |
| How much does the exam cost? | $90 individual subtest / $150 combined Praxis Core (5752) |
| Is a calculator allowed? | No |
| When do I get my scores? | Unofficial scores: available immediately after the exam Official scores: about a week after your exam |
What is the Praxis Core: Reading (5713) Exam?
The Praxis Core Reading (5713) is a 56-question multiple-choice exam that measures the foundational reading skills required for entry into a teacher preparation program. Questions are divided across three content categories, and you have 85 minutes to complete the exam.
The exam contains 56 questions divided across three content categories. All skills assessed have been identified as needed for college and career readiness, in alignment with the Common Core State Standards for Reading. The reading material is drawn from a variety of subject areas and real-life situations, including newspapers, magazines, journals, nonfiction books, novels, online articles, and visual representations such as diagrams, charts, drawings, maps, and graphs. National Education Association
All questions can be answered using information contained within the passage; no question requires outside knowledge of the content
Content Category 1: Key Ideas and Details (17-22 questions, 35%)
This category tests your ability to understand what a passage is saying at its core. Questions in this category ask you to:
- Identify accurate summaries or paraphrases of the main idea or primary purpose of a passage
- Identify supporting ideas and specific details
- Draw inferences and implications from what is directly stated in the passage
These are the most foundational reading comprehension skills: understanding what an author said, what details support that point, and what can reasonably be concluded from the text.
Content Category 2: Craft, Structure, and Language Skills (14-19 questions, 30%)
This category tests your ability to understand how a passage is constructed and how language is used. Questions ask you to:
- Identify the author's tone or attitude toward the subject
- Recognize how a passage is organized, cause and effect, compare and contrast, problem and solution
- Identify the role that a specific idea or piece of information plays in the author's argument
- Determine the meaning of words as they are used in context
- Distinguish between information presented as fact versus opinion
This category requires you to think beyond what the author said to how and why they said it.
Content Category 3: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (17-22 questions, 35%)
This category tests your ability to evaluate arguments, interpret visual information, and compare multiple texts. Questions ask you to:
- Interpret texts that include visual representations such as charts, graphs, and diagrams
- Identify relationships among ideas and determine whether evidence strengthens or weakens an argument
- Identify the assumptions underlying an argument or conclusion
- Draw conclusions from the material presented in a passage
- Recognize points of agreement and disagreement between two texts
This is the most analytically demanding category, requiring you to evaluate the quality of arguments rather than just understand their content.
Passage Types
The test consists of four types of stimulus material: paired passages totaling approximately 200 words, followed by four to seven questions; long passages totaling approximately 200 words, followed by four to seven questions; short passages totaling approximately 100 words, followed by two or three questions; and brief statements, followed by a single question.
For more details on the content categories and topics covered on the Praxis 5713 exam, check out the Praxis Core: Reading (5713) study companion
How much time do I have to take the Praxis Core: Reading exam?
You will have 85 minutes to complete the Praxis Core (5713) subtest.
What score do I need to pass the Praxis Core: Reading exam?
For most states, you need a 156 to pass the Praxis Core: Reading exam. There are a few states that have different score requirements:
- American Samoa: 142
- Kentucky: 150
- Maine:153
- Nevada:150
Check the Praxis ETS website to determine the score requirement for your state.
How many questions are on the Praxis Core: Reading exam?
The Praxis Core: Reading (5713) exam has a total of 56 multiple-choice questions divided across 3 content categories.
| Content Category | Approximate Number of Questions |
| Key Ideas and Details | 17-22 |
| Craft, Structure, and Language Skills | 14-19 |
| Integration of Knowledge and Ideas | 17-22 |
How much does the Praxis Core: Reading exam cost?
The Praxis 5713 exam costs $90. If you take the entire Praxis Core (5752) exam, it will be $150. Check the Praxis website to find more information on how to pay for your exam.
How do I register for the Praxis Core: Reading exam?
You can register for the Praxis Core: Reading exam online using your Praxis ETS account. Before you register, make sure you check with your state to determine which exams you need to take. You can also check the Praxis ID requirements to ensure you have proper identification at registration.
How Is the Praxis Core: Reading Exam Scored?
Your score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly; there is no penalty for wrong answers. Unofficial scores are available immediately after the exam. Official score reports are released within approximately one week and will appear automatically in your ETS account.
In most cases, your score report will be automatically sent to your state education department after your exam. However, if you are taking the test in a state where you are not a resident and would like to send your score to that state’s education department, you must list it as a score recipient.
You can dig deeper into the exam’s scoring using our Praxis 5713 scoring guide!
How Hard Is the Praxis Core Reading (5713) Exam?
The Reading subtest is generally considered the most manageable of the three Praxis Core subtests. Over 50% of test takers pass the Reading section of the Praxis Core exam, so candidates who can read, comprehend, and interpret a passage should feel confident they will pass this section. That said, don't underestimate the time pressure and variety of question types, which can catch many candidates off guard.
What makes it harder than it looks:
- There are 14 distinct question types. The Reading exam tests everything from main idea and inference questions to assumption questions, fact vs. opinion questions, argument evaluation, and visual interpretation. Candidates who haven't practiced each question type spend valuable time during the exam figuring out what's being asked, rather than answering.
- The paired passage format is tricky. Several questions require you to read two related passages and compare them — identifying where authors agree or disagree and evaluating arguments from both texts. This is the most analytically demanding part of the exam, and the one that most candidates haven't practiced enough.
- Time pressure is real. The Reading test requires strong comprehension under time pressure. At 90 seconds per question, you don't have time to reread passages multiple times. Candidates who haven't practiced pacing often rush through the final set of questions.
The good news is that no question requires outside knowledge of the content. Everything you need to answer every question is directly stated or implied in the passage. You don't need to know anything about the topic of a passage to answer its questions correctly. That levels the playing field significantly.
How to Prepare for the Praxis Core: Reading Exam?
The most effective preparation strategy is to take a diagnostic practice test first, identify your weakest content category, and focus your study time there before working through the other areas.
The Praxis Core Reading exam tests your ability to read carefully, analyze arguments, and interpret what authors are saying not your background knowledge of any subject. That means preparation is less about memorizing content and more about sharpening specific reading skills and getting comfortable with the question types.
Step 1: Take a diagnostic practice test first.
Before you open a study guide, take a full-length practice test. Your score breakdown will show you exactly which of the three content categories — Key Ideas and Details, Craft Structure and Language Skills, or Integration of Knowledge and Ideas — needs the most work. Studying without knowing your weak spots wastes time.
Step 2: Practice reading actively
The passages on this exam come from a wide range of topics — science, history, humanities, social science, and general interest. You won't know the topics in advance, and you don't need to. What matters is your ability to read carefully and answer questions based only on what the passage says. Practice reading unfamiliar passages and identifying the main idea, the author's tone, and how the argument is structured before you look at the questions.
Step 3: Get comfortable with the question types
The Reading exam has 14 distinct question types, ranging from main-idea and inference questions to assumption, fact vs. opinion, and visual interpretation questions. Each type requires a slightly different approach. Knowing what each question type is asking before you sit down for the exam dramatically reduces the time you spend figuring out what to do on test day.
Step 4: Practice with paired passages
One of the trickier parts of this exam is the paired passage format, two related passages followed by questions that ask you to compare them, identify where the authors agree or disagree, and evaluate arguments from both texts. This format catches candidates off guard if they haven't practiced it. Make sure at least some of your practice includes paired passage sets.
Step 5: Pace yourself, don't linger.
You have 85 minutes for 56 questions, about 90 seconds per question. If a question or passage is taking too long, make your best guess and move on. You can always return to it if time allows. Candidates who spend too long on difficult questions often run out of time on easier ones at the end.
More Praxis Core: Reading (5713) Resources!
If you're ready to start preparing, 240 Tutoring offers a full Praxis Core Reading study guide, free practice test, and scoring guide to help you pass on your first attempt.
- Start your test prep with our free Praxis 5713 practice test.
- Got questions about your scores? We got you covered in our Praxis 5713 scoring guide!
- Looking for some study help? Check out our Praxis Core: Reading (5713) study guide.
Praxis Core: Reading (5713) FAQs
The Praxis Core: Reading (5713) exam consists of 56 multiple-choice questions spread across 3 content categories:
- Key Ideas and Details
- Craft, Structure, and Language Skills
- Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
The Praxis Core: Reading (5713) exam lasts for 85 minutes.
The passing score for the Praxis Core: Reading exam ranges from 150-156 depending on your state’s requirement. Check the Praxis ETS website to determine your state’s score requirement.
Yes, there are several study resources available for the Praxis Core: Reading exam. You can access official study guides, practice tests, and review courses from educational websites and institutes.
Most tests don’t offer a scheduled break. However, you have the option to take a short, unscheduled break. If you choose to take an unscheduled break, your test clock will not stop so be sure to keep these breaks short.
The exam contains 56 multiple-choice questions across three content categories: Key Ideas and Details (17-22 questions), Craft, Structure, and Language Skills (14-19 questions), and Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (17-22 questions). All questions are based on reading passages. No outside knowledge of any topic is required to answer them.
Over 50% of test takers pass the Reading section, making it the most approachable of the three Praxis Core subtests. The main challenges are time pressure, the variety of question types, and the paired passage format. Candidates who take a practice test first and study their weak areas typically pass on their first attempt.
No. Every question on the exam can be answered using only the information in the passage. You are not expected to have prior knowledge of any topic covered in the reading selections. What matters is your ability to read carefully and answer questions based on what the passage says or implies.
There is no limit on the number of retakes. You must wait 28 days between attempts. If you fail the Reading subtest but passed Writing or Mathematics, you only need to retake the Reading subtest, not the full combined exam.
Yes. You can register for the Reading subtest (5713) individually for $90, or take it as part of the combined Praxis Core (5752) for $150. Taking subtests individually gives you flexibility. If you fail one, you only retake that subtest.
Passages are drawn from a wide range of subjects including social science, humanities, science, and general interest topics. They come from print and digital sources including newspapers, magazines, journals, nonfiction books, novels, and online articles. Some questions also include visual representations such as charts, graphs, and diagrams.