Praxis 5002 Writing, Speaking, and Listening

Content category II of the Elementary Education: Reading and Language Arts Subtest (5002): about 42 of the 80 questions (53%). The topics ETS lists, how they are tested and practice questions with explanations.

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80 questions on the real 90-minute clock, weighted like the ETS test, with a score by content category and an explanation for every answer.

Or start the free Writing, Speaking, and Listening drill

What ETS lists

  • Characteristics of common types of writing (opinion/argument, informative/explanatory, narrative)
  • Characteristics of effective writing and the developmental stages of writing
  • Digital tools for producing and publishing writing, and the research process
  • Conventions of standard English grammar, usage, mechanics and spelling
  • Determining the meaning of words and phrases; conversational, academic and domain-specific language
  • Effective collaboration and engaging oral presentations

From the ETS Elementary Education: Reading and Language Arts Subtest (5002) Study Companion, content category II.

Line drawing of a lined notebook with a pencil, sticky notes and a small microphone

How Writing, Speaking, and Listening is tested

This is the larger category. Expect grammar and usage questions (sentence types, parts of speech, subject-verb agreement, punctuation), questions on the writing process and the types of writing, the developmental stages of children’s writing, morphology and word meaning, the research process and speaking and listening. Several questions show a student’s writing and ask what to teach next.

Start the free Writing, Speaking, and Listening drill

Praxis 5002 Writing, Speaking, and Listening practice questions

Answer each question, then open the explanation.

Question 1

A class researches how its school’s first librarian organized the original library. Which source provides firsthand evidence of that work?

  1. A.A textbook chapter explaining common library arrangements
  2. B.The shelving plan and notes the librarian wrote while organizing the library
  3. C.A modern student essay imagining the library’s opening day
  4. D.A later article summarizing several historians’ accounts of school libraries
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B: The shelving plan and notes the librarian wrote while organizing the library

The librarian’s own plan and notes were created by the person doing the work at the time, so they are a primary source. The later article is a secondary source because it summarizes historians’ accounts rather than recording the work firsthand.

Question 2

An explanatory paragraph discusses preparing a puppet show, switches to presenting it, then returns to making the puppets. Which revision most improves organization?

  1. A.Keep the sequence but replace several repeated nouns with pronouns.
  2. B.Correct the spelling of puppet while leaving all details in place.
  3. C.Group the stages in order and add transitions.
  4. D.Add an enthusiastic closing sentence while retaining the sequence.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C: Group the stages in order and add transitions.

Grouping related stages makes the explanation easier to follow. Correcting spelling is useful editing, but it leaves the organization of the process unchanged.

Question 3

A student’s personal narrative lists events but gives no indication of what the narrator experienced or felt. Which revision most strengthens it as a narrative?

  1. A.Add more routine events before and after the central moment.
  2. B.Develop the main moment with actions, details, and thoughts.
  3. C.Add more sequence words but leave the events otherwise unchanged.
  4. D.Replace the narrator’s experience with a general opinion about the activity.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B: Develop the main moment with actions, details, and thoughts.

Selected actions, sensory details, and thoughts help readers experience the important event. Adding sequence words alone clarifies order without developing what the narrator experienced.

Question 4

A classmate proposes rotating classroom jobs, but the proposed schedule is unclear. Which response best demonstrates active listening and seeks needed clarification?

  1. A.“I agree that rotating jobs is a good idea for the class.”
  2. B.“Would jobs change daily or weekly in your plan?”
  3. C.“I prefer to keep my current job instead of rotating.”
  4. D.“I would like to describe the job I enjoyed last year.”
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B: “Would jobs change daily or weekly in your plan?”

The question identifies a specific uncertainty about the schedule and asks the speaker to resolve it. Agreeing with the general proposal does not clarify when the jobs would change.

Take the full test under the real clock

Take a full timed Praxis 5002 practice test

80 questions on the real 90-minute clock, weighted like the ETS test, with a score by content category and an explanation for every answer.

Or start the free Writing, Speaking, and Listening drill

Common questions

How many Writing, Speaking, and Listening questions are on the Praxis 5002?

ETS lists about 42 of the 80 questions in Writing, Speaking, and Listening, about 53% of the test.

What does Writing, Speaking, and Listening cover on the Praxis 5002?

Characteristics of common types of writing (opinion/argument, informative/explanatory, narrative); Characteristics of effective writing and the developmental stages of writing; Digital tools for producing and publishing writing, and the research process; Conventions of standard English grammar, usage, mechanics and spelling; Determining the meaning of words and phrases; conversational, academic and domain-specific language; Effective collaboration and engaging oral presentations.

How should I study Writing, Speaking, and Listening for the Praxis 5002?

This is the larger category. Expect grammar and usage questions (sentence types, parts of speech, subject-verb agreement, punctuation), questions on the writing process and the types of writing, the developmental stages of children’s writing, morphology and word meaning, the research process and speaking and listening. Several questions show a student’s writing and ask what to teach next.

Praxis is a registered trademark of ETS. Original independent practice questions written to the published ETS Study Companions; not affiliated with or endorsed by ETS.