The PRAXIS® Study Companion
General Science
(5436)
www.ets.org/praxis
,The Praxis Study Companion
Table of Contents
General Science (5436) .......................................................................................................................... 3
Test at a Glance .....................................................................................................................................................3
About The Test ......................................................................................................................................................4
Content Topics ......................................................................................................................................................5
Discussion Questions .............................................................................................................................................5
Science and Engineering Practices ......................................................................................................................19
Tasks of Teaching Science ...................................................................................................................................23
General Science (5436) Sample Test Questions ............................................................................... 25
General Science (5436) Answers .........................................................................................................................39
Understanding Question Types.......................................................................................................... 48
Understanding Selected-Response and Numeric-Entry Questions .....................................................................48
Understanding Constructed-Response Questions ..............................................................................................49
General Assistance For The Test ........................................................................................................ 51
Praxis® Interactive Practice Test ..........................................................................................................................51
Doing Your Best ...................................................................................................................................................51
Helpful Links ........................................................................................................................................................51
2
,The Praxis Study Companion
General Science (5436)
Test at a Glance
The Praxis® General Science test is designed to measure knowledge and competencies
important for safe and effective beginning practice as a teacher of general science. Test takers
have typically completed a bachelor’s degree program with appropriate coursework in general
science and education.
Test Name General Science
Test Code 5436
Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Number of Questions 135 selected-response questions
The test consists of a variety of selected-response questions,
where you select one or more answer choices, and other types
Format
of questions. You can review the possible question types in
“Understanding Question Types.”
Test Delivery Computer Delivered
Approximate Approximate
Content Categories Number of Percentage of
Questions Examination
I. I. Nature and Impact of
IV. 20 15%
Science and
Engineering
III. II. II. Physical Science 50 37%
III. Life Science 35 26%
IV. Earth and Space 30 22%
Science
Half or more of the questions integrate a Science and Engineering
Practice, and approximately one-quarter to one-third of the
questions assess content applied to a Task of Teaching of Science.
3
, The Praxis Study Companion
About The Test
The content topics for the General Science test span the general science curriculum, including
content related to (I) Nature and Impact of Science and Engineering, (II) Physical Science, (III) Life
Science, and (IV) Earth and Space Science.
The assessment is designed and developed through work with practicing general science
teachers, teacher educators, and higher education content specialists to reflect the science
knowledge teachers need to teach the general science curriculum and to reflect state and
national standards, including the National Science Teaching Association Preparation Standards
for general science. Content and practices measured reflect the Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs)
and Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) established by the National Research Council in A
Framework for K-12 Science Education and included in the Next Generation Science Standards.
The 135 selected-response questions measure concepts, terms, phenomena, methods,
applications, data analysis, and problem solving in science. A full list of the topics covered is
provided in Content Topics.
Test takers will not need to use calculators in taking this test. The periodic table of the elements
is available as a Help screen, along with a table of information that presents various physical
constants and a few conversion factors among SI units. Whenever necessary, additional values
of physical constants are included with the text of a question.
Test takers can expect half of the questions on the test to integrate general science content
knowledge with one or more of the SEPs, listed under Science and Engineering Practices.
Test takers will also find that approximately one-quarter to one-third of the questions call for
application of general science content and processes within a teaching scenario or an
instructional task. Such questions—designed to measure applications of general science
knowledge to the kinds of decisions and evaluations a teacher must make during work with
students, curriculum, and instruction—situate general science content questions in tasks critical
for teaching. Below, in Tasks of Teaching Science, is a list of tasks that are a routine part of
general science instruction. These tasks, identified based on research on science instruction,
have been confirmed by a national committee of teachers and teacher educators as important
for effective teaching of secondary science.
This test may contain some questions that will not count toward your score.
4
General Science
(5436)
www.ets.org/praxis
,The Praxis Study Companion
Table of Contents
General Science (5436) .......................................................................................................................... 3
Test at a Glance .....................................................................................................................................................3
About The Test ......................................................................................................................................................4
Content Topics ......................................................................................................................................................5
Discussion Questions .............................................................................................................................................5
Science and Engineering Practices ......................................................................................................................19
Tasks of Teaching Science ...................................................................................................................................23
General Science (5436) Sample Test Questions ............................................................................... 25
General Science (5436) Answers .........................................................................................................................39
Understanding Question Types.......................................................................................................... 48
Understanding Selected-Response and Numeric-Entry Questions .....................................................................48
Understanding Constructed-Response Questions ..............................................................................................49
General Assistance For The Test ........................................................................................................ 51
Praxis® Interactive Practice Test ..........................................................................................................................51
Doing Your Best ...................................................................................................................................................51
Helpful Links ........................................................................................................................................................51
2
,The Praxis Study Companion
General Science (5436)
Test at a Glance
The Praxis® General Science test is designed to measure knowledge and competencies
important for safe and effective beginning practice as a teacher of general science. Test takers
have typically completed a bachelor’s degree program with appropriate coursework in general
science and education.
Test Name General Science
Test Code 5436
Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Number of Questions 135 selected-response questions
The test consists of a variety of selected-response questions,
where you select one or more answer choices, and other types
Format
of questions. You can review the possible question types in
“Understanding Question Types.”
Test Delivery Computer Delivered
Approximate Approximate
Content Categories Number of Percentage of
Questions Examination
I. I. Nature and Impact of
IV. 20 15%
Science and
Engineering
III. II. II. Physical Science 50 37%
III. Life Science 35 26%
IV. Earth and Space 30 22%
Science
Half or more of the questions integrate a Science and Engineering
Practice, and approximately one-quarter to one-third of the
questions assess content applied to a Task of Teaching of Science.
3
, The Praxis Study Companion
About The Test
The content topics for the General Science test span the general science curriculum, including
content related to (I) Nature and Impact of Science and Engineering, (II) Physical Science, (III) Life
Science, and (IV) Earth and Space Science.
The assessment is designed and developed through work with practicing general science
teachers, teacher educators, and higher education content specialists to reflect the science
knowledge teachers need to teach the general science curriculum and to reflect state and
national standards, including the National Science Teaching Association Preparation Standards
for general science. Content and practices measured reflect the Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs)
and Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) established by the National Research Council in A
Framework for K-12 Science Education and included in the Next Generation Science Standards.
The 135 selected-response questions measure concepts, terms, phenomena, methods,
applications, data analysis, and problem solving in science. A full list of the topics covered is
provided in Content Topics.
Test takers will not need to use calculators in taking this test. The periodic table of the elements
is available as a Help screen, along with a table of information that presents various physical
constants and a few conversion factors among SI units. Whenever necessary, additional values
of physical constants are included with the text of a question.
Test takers can expect half of the questions on the test to integrate general science content
knowledge with one or more of the SEPs, listed under Science and Engineering Practices.
Test takers will also find that approximately one-quarter to one-third of the questions call for
application of general science content and processes within a teaching scenario or an
instructional task. Such questions—designed to measure applications of general science
knowledge to the kinds of decisions and evaluations a teacher must make during work with
students, curriculum, and instruction—situate general science content questions in tasks critical
for teaching. Below, in Tasks of Teaching Science, is a list of tasks that are a routine part of
general science instruction. These tasks, identified based on research on science instruction,
have been confirmed by a national committee of teachers and teacher educators as important
for effective teaching of secondary science.
This test may contain some questions that will not count toward your score.
4
