Customer Reviews

Sciences: Content Knowledge Study Guide (Praxis Study Guides)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I bought this book because I was really scared about the Praxis II Chemistry test (0245) and thought that this book from the test makers will help alleviate my anxiety. I was wrong. It didn't help me at all. It was not worth the money and I would really like a refund. :-(

Since I only took the Praxis II Chemistry, I can't really help with the other test but I would like to help you with Chemistry 0245 so that you wouldn't have to waste money on this book too!

The main pro for the book is that it provides information about the test that you would not otherwise know. But if you want to buy this book for that reason alone, save your money. I will tell you.

*** It gives you the "Answer Sheet" that you will see on the test. Nothing out of the ordinary, you must provide name, candidate id (that is on your admission ticket which you can bring with you), birthday, social security, and test form codes which you will get from your proctor. There is also a certification statement that you need to write, sign and date. It reads, "I hereby agree to the condition set forth in the Registration Bulletin and certify that I am the person whose name and address appear on this answer sheet." That is it.

*** It gives you the "Periodic Table" that you will see on the exam. It is a standard periodic table with Hydrogen over Lithium if that is a quirk for anybody. :-D The only thing to note is that the the names of the elements are NOT provided on the exam only the symbol.

*** It gives you the same "Table of Information" provided on the exam. I understand the urge to know what is provided because I had the same urge. I provide it for you now. The information provided is the electron, proton, and neutron rest mass, magnitude of the electron charge, Bohr radius, Avogadro's number, Universal gas constant (in atm and joules), Boltzmann constant, Planck constant, speed of light, Vacuum permittivity and permeability, Coulomb constant, universal gravitational constant, acceleration due to gravity, 1 atmosphere pressure, Faraday constant, 1 atomic mass unit, 1 electron volt, Heat of fusion, vaporization and mean specific heat for H2O, and Volume of 1 mole of ideal gas at 0 degree C, 1 atmosphere (which is 22.4 liters). NO FORMULAS are provided, but from my experience, it seems only the simple, basic formulas such as ideal gas law is needed.

*** Lastly, it provides 75 sample questions for the exam. Now, I personally found these questions to be easier than the questions on the actual exam. When I took the exam, simple questions such as which of the following formula represent a ketone was not on the exam but is a "sample question" in the book. My advise is to go to any AP Chemistry, your textbook, or SAT Chemistry book and use those questions. AVOID questions that involve lengthy calculations. My exam did not contain a single one (it makes sense because you can NOT use a calculator). Practice balancing equations and understand pH and pKa (my personal advice to you, take it or leave it). Conceptual things are more likely to be asked.

Now, of the 19 chapters in the book, only chapter 4, 11 and 12 relate to chemistry.

Chapter 4 is an outline very similar to the .pdf file provided for free on the ets website. (http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/PRAXIS/pdf/0245.pdf) It is an outline of the topics that could be covered on the test. However, the book does elaborate on it (a little). I did not find it very helpful, because it is very broad. Look at a chapter outline of any general chemistry textbook and you will see the same outline provided here.

Chapter 11 is the sample test and 12 is the solutions.

Chapter 8 sort of relates to the test because it attempts to help you learn to take multiple choice test with suggestions such as, there is no penalty for guessing and it is OK to write in your test booklet. The same suggestion in any prep guide.

Chapter 19 is an useless chapter. It provides "last minute tips" to the test takers such as "be well rested." :-/

And that is it.

This is the information that I would have liked to know about the test without having to buy the book. But it is too late for me, so I hoped I have helped you. Good Luck.

Biology: I found the practice biology test to be very helpful for taking the 0231 test. The one in the book was harder. My mouse button must have slipped as I meant to give it 4 stars instead of 5. The section on Study Topics was overwhelming, and suggests you should know ALLLL of the topics at great depth. The real test was nothing of the sort. What I did to study was to get the Cliffs Quick Review called Biology and just read it. The topics are exactly the same, and those explain the material adequately and in a little more depth than the test asks you to know it.

General Science: My other gripe is that the general science practice test was not helpful for preparing me for 0435. It was only half the length and the questions were harder on the real test. The study topics were generally accurate, but I was completely unprepared for the vast barrage of weather-related questions the real test asked me.

This book was an excellent review for the Biology Praxis II. I am a career changer. I am in the process of changing from a career as a Scientist to a Biology Teacher. I need something to direct my preparation efforts for the Praxis II. I read over the topics and then took the practice exam just before taking the actual exam and I'm so glad I did. There were questions exactly like those on the exam. I was able to review topics from areas that aren't my expertise, plant biology, ecology, etc.

Great buy for Biology Praxis II Prep.

I purchased this thinking that I could use it to review the sciences. THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR REVIEWING THE SCIENCES! All it gives are topics that should be studied and practice tests for the various areas. I was disappointed. So instead I checked out a book called 'Chemistry the Easy Way' from the library and used it to review the chemistry material. That book was much better for reviewing the material and it had 5 practice tests that were a little more difficult than the Praxis. They also have the same books in the different science areas.

This book does exactly what it claims to do. It summarizes the topics that will be covered on the tests, and provides practice tests. It is not a review text and does not claim to be. I found this book to be extremely helpful. I used college texts and Wikipedia to review those topics I needed to brush up on and did very well on the tests themselves. Thanks to this book the tests had no surprises (including the Biology 0235 exam.)

For the chemistry & physics exams, this book was an acceptable review of content knowledge. If you can answer each of the 75 questions, you'll pass the exams. The review of middle school science was comprehensive (i.e., the review was harder than the actual test). Well worth the discount/wholesale price! js

Do not get this book if you are looking for a science review. It only provides an outline of topics covered on the test. However, it does include actual tests by the ETS so those are good for studying.

I found this book to be very helpful as a prep for the Praxis exam. The practice exam questions point you directly to those topics covered on the test, so you won't waste time studying topics that won't be on the test. Also, the practice test is a little more difficult than the actual exam, so if you master these 75 questions,you will do well on the test. Now, if they only had a book for the chemistry essay test!!!

I have been out of school for more years than I care to admit here, but found myself needing to pass the Praxis II exams to move forward with my teaching certification after some life altering events left me highly motivated if not greatly in practice. This book is best used by going through all of the science sections, even those that are not your major focus. For many of the subject content certifications, you must not only pass your specialty, mine is biology, but also a general science test to gain certification. The overall book was great for finding out what you do and do not remember about these subjects. When I found the holes in my knowledge base, I was able to go back and study more efficiently on the weak area, skimming the stuff that had managed to stay with me through the years. I passed the exams - maybe I would have anyway, but it was a good feeling going into the tests with the feeling that I was definitely in control of my own destiny, not just waiting to see if I could luck out. I also found the Practice tests put out by ETS for some content areas to be helpful, and I used them in conjunction with this book to make sure I knew my stuff. It is hard enough to wait for scores the first time - who wants to go through that again if you don't have too? I had other study guides available, but none any better for such a reasonable cost as the ETS publications. Slight differences in the breakdown of the question mix between the review and test, but you can pass your exam even if you miss a thing or two.

Best of luck studying and remember, it is NEVER too late shake off the cobwebs and further your education or your goals.

This is in NO WAY a study guide. There is ZERO Content inside this book. It is ONLY a LIST of sub-headings of things you might/could/should know about. But then they don't tell you about it. I'm not kidding when I say the book goes like this (in sarcastic paraphrase):

"Hey, you should know about Mendel...good luck with that"

"Hey, you should know about Mitosis...look it up somewhere"

"Hey, you should know about Ecolocy...perhaps buy a book"

I DID BUY A BOOK....YOURS ETS!!! Let me repeat...it is NOT A STUDY GUIDE. There is ZERO CONTENT INSIDE this book. It is a LIST of things that you will then need to go find a text book (or an actual study guide by another company) to actually learn about it. Problem is...the list of things they tell you to learn about science, Encompasses All Of Science!

This book made me angry when I kept flipping through thinking any minute I'd find some words to help me remember Krebs and Citric Acid cycle. It didn't. It DOES however have some practice tests. If you are simply looking to be graded on a practice test...go to town and buy this book. But don't think it's going to teach you anything.