Praxis II Social Studies: Content and Interpretation (5086) Examination Ideas

Praxis II Social Studies: Content and Interpretation (5086) Exam General Information

The Social Studies: Content and Interpretation test assesses the knowledge and skills necessary for a beginning secondary school social studies teacher. The test is based on the understanding and application of social studies knowledge, concepts, methodologies, and skills across the fields of United States History, World History, Government/Civics, Geography, Economics, and Behavioral Sciences. Some of the selected-response and all of the short-essay questions are interdisciplinary, reflecting the complex relationship among the social studies fields. Some questions are based on interpreting stimulus material such as written passages, maps, charts, graphs, tables, cartoons, diagrams, and photographs.

Praxis II Social Studies: Content and Interpretation (5086) Examination Format

The Praxis II Social Studies: Content and Interpretation (5086) Exam consists of 90 selected-response questions (Part A) and 3 constructed-response questions (short-answer essays) (Part B). Examinees are given 120 minutes to complete the exam. The three equally weighted short-answer/essay questions will focus on important historical events and issues as well as on fundamental social studies concepts. These questions, which should take about 10 minutes each to complete and will together comprise 25 percent of the examinee’s score, will emphasize the exercise of critical thinking skills, requiring the reading and interpreting of social studies materials (such as maps, charts, quotations); drawing inferences from such materials; and placing these materials in their historical, geographical, political, and economic contexts. The 90 equally weighted selected-response questions will constitute 75 percent of the examinee’s score.

Examination Coverage with its Approximate Number of Questions and Percentage

The Praxis II Social Studies: Content and Interpretation (5086) Exam covers:

United States History (18 items – 15%)

• North American geography, peoples, and cultures prior to European colonization
• Origins of the American Revolution and its impact on the founding of the United States
• United States Constitution and Bill of Rights
• Causes and consequences of territorial expansion of the United States
• Impact of race, gender, and ethnicity throughout American history
• How participants in the political process engage in politics and shape policy
• Struggles and achievements of individuals and groups for greater political and civil rights throughout United States history

World History (18 items – 15%)

• Formation, organization, and interactions of the classical civilizations
• Major political, social and economic developments in Europe from the Renaissance through the Enlightenment
• Major developments of the post-Cold War world
• Technological innovations and adaptations
• Roles of major world religions in shaping societies and effecting major historical turning points

Government/Civics (18 items – 15%)

• Political theory
• United States government and politics
• Comparative politics and international relations

Geography (13 items – 11%)

• Map types and projections
• Mental maps
• Recognizing and interpreting spatial patterns
• Locating and using sources of geographic data
• Spatial concepts
• Characteristics and spatial distribution of Earth’s ecosystems
• Patterns of migration and settlement
• Political geography

Economics (13 items – 11%)

• Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics

Behavioural Sciences (10 items – 8%)

• Human behaviour
• Culture and cultural change, human adaptation, and diversity
• Individual behaviour

Short Content Essays (3 items -25%)

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