Program Admission Assessment Policy
S.C. Code Ann. Sections 59-26-10 and 59-26-20 require that candidates seeking full admission to undergraduate teacher preparation programs in South Carolina must earn passing scores on all sections of the state’s adopted basic skills assessment in reading, mathematics, and writing.
The State Board of Education has adopted the Praxis® Core Academic Skills for Educators (Praxis® Core) assessments in reading, mathematics, and writing to meet this basic skill assessment requirement. On June 11, 2019, the SBE adopted updated Praxis Core requirements effective September 1, 2019, including the revised mathematics subtest.
For full admission to an undergraduate preparation program, South Carolina educator preparation providers must ensure that candidates earn a qualifying score on all three sections of the adopted basic skills assessment or meet an approved qualifying exemption.
A candidate must meet one of the following three options.
Option One: Praxis Core Individual Subtest Scores
A candidate may earn a passing score on all three sections of the Praxis® Core as indicated below:
- Praxis® Core Reading 5713 (updated code): 156
- Praxis® Core Mathematics 5733 (new test and code): 150
- Praxis® Core Writing 5723 (updated code): 158
Option Two: Praxis Core Composite Score
A candidate may also meet the program admission assessment requirement by achieving a composite score of 464 on all three subtests, with no individual subtest score more than four points below the required passing score for that subtest.
- Composite Score: 464 or higher
- Minimum Praxis® Core Reading 5713 (updated code): 152
- Minimum Praxis® Core Mathematics 5733 (new test and code): 146
- Minimum Praxis® Core Writing 5723 (updated code): 154
Option Three: Exemptions for Qualifying Scores on the SAT or ACT
A candidate may exempt one or more sections of Praxis Core by meeting a qualifying exemption. The State Board approved the following exemptions beginning June 13, 2017.
SAT Exemption
- 1100 Composite (Evidence-based Reading and Writing and Math): Candidate may exempt all sections of Praxis Core.
- 550 Evidence-based Reading and Writing: Candidate may exempt Praxis Core Reading and Writing.
- 550 Math: Candidate may exempt Mathematics subtest.
ACT Exemption
- 22 Composite: Candidate may exempt all sections of Praxis Core.
- 22 English: Candidate may exempt Reading and Writing subtests.
- 22 Math: Candidate may exempt Mathematics subtest.
Praxis Test Preparation Resources
The following resources are available for candidates preparing to take Praxis Core.
