Praxis: The Aftermath

So I took the Praxis yesterday for secondary social studies.  It's purportedly the most difficult to pass, with most people taking it more than once and even then only passing by a few points.  I knew this going in and had a fair idea as to why, which proved to be accurate.

The problem with the test isn't so much that it's too much test in too little time, though that is an issue.  It's not the easiest thing in the world to complete 90 multiple choice questions and three constructed response essays in two hours, but it's doable, if you budget your time well.  As a writer, it grated on me that my essays weren't up to the quality of which I know I'm capable, but they got the points across and that was what was needed.

The thing that makes this Praxis so difficult is the fact that it covers, ranging from very broadly to minutely specifically, world history, American history, all of the social sciences, anthropology, theology, economics and American civics.  In one test.  It makes the test very nearly impossible to study for, as the coverage area is so vast and the percentage devoted to each discipline completely random. 

For instance, I spent the last month splitting my time between brushing up on the social sciences and economics, which would, according to the ETS breakdown, be roughly 30% of the test.  In actuality?  There were two on the social sciences and four on economics.  Out of 90.  The vast majority of the test, including all three constructed response essays, dealt with history. 

Now, I think I passed.  There were only two questions at which I had to just plain guess.  But this is ridiculous.  The concept as a whole of paying nearly a hundred dollars to take what amounts to a shot in the dark when, in the classroom, you'll be using books and resources that will always be present to plan lessons.  Were the test only constructed response, which tests both general knowledge of history AND the ability to interpret and relay the causal relationships between the various aspects, it would be valid.  But the crapshoot that is the multiple choice section (and 75% of the score) is a waste of time and money.  But hey, when you have to pay $90 to retest each time, ETS doesn't have a lot of incentive to change things, do they?