Customer Reviews

Study Guide Social Studies and Citizenship Education: Content Knowledge (Praxis Study Guides)

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I recently took the Praxis II Secondary Social Studies test in late April of 2008, and found this study guide to be of central importance to my ability to go into the test feeling like I had done as much meaningful prep as was possible given the time I had to study.

In the month prior to taking the test, I did some online research (including reading these reviews about THIS study guide), and came away not particularly impressed that I would need the guide. I bought several books and created study regimens for myself on world and us history, psychology, economics, geography etc. that are included in the test. However, after nearly 3 weeks of studying, I realized that the spectrum of possible subject topics was just too overwhelming, and that I needed help to refine what I was going to spend my time on. This particular subject test covers so much stuff, why would you leave it to your own assumptions or guesswork which topics, prominent figures, or general ideas you would look to learn rather than get a simple, comprehensive list of what you should study. I found, for instance, in the psychology/sociology section, I simply researched every person or idea they had listed through google and wikipedia - and I scored a perfect 13 our of 13 on that particular section. Had I not had that list, I would have likely studied twice as much for not as much return on my studying investment. Moreover, the study guide included some rather specific ideas that in my B.A. and M.A. of political science would not have thought to include in my study of psychology - I consider that valuable information.

Having said that, this is not a comprehensive study guide. You will get general ideas and names that you are left to go gather info on. It is just as easy to google a name and search wikipedia than it is to read it from in a book. I think people are somewhat misguided to expect ETS to literally hand them a complete answer sheet to the test they need to make an effort to learn the information for in order to pass.

That is what this study guide is for - to help you prevent studying things that are not going to be on the test - and help you concentrate your efforts on the areas that are included to help you score better. In that regard, I am 100% satisfied that I purchased this study guide.

If you're like me, you are going into teaching to do as good as you can. So you can be a stingy know-it-all and save your $20, but I think the time and effort this guide will save you is well worth the money, and difficult to think of doing without.

This review study guide did little for history majors. yes, it certainly helped as a review from the early american history but the actual material on the test was very random questions which were NOTHING like easy review questions. I WAS HIGHLY disappointed especially since a large part was pertaining to random economic questions

Works great, however... it's very general knowledge stuff- it basically could have said, when you're studying make sure you know everything. The practice test was nice because it was really long and gave me an idea of what the test would be like, and the test was very close to identical to the practice test. (Different questions, but exact same style)

If you are going to take the Praxis test it is because you have experience in the given subject. As such, do not buy this study guide. Its things to study are extremely broad and do not give any specific information. For example: Chapter 6, "Political Theory" Things to Study- Political theory and major theorists such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Marx, and Lenin. I was hoping for some more specific information than a prompt to return to my college textbooks and notes. As part of the test on politics, one could easily imagine the key names to know... thus thanks for the obvious. If this limited information will suffice, shell out the $20. Otherwise, save it to pay for the huge fee Praxis charges for their tests.

The Praxis II is an intimidating exam. It is more difficult than the study guides let on; however, this book offers a reasonable overview. I would use it as a place to start, but NOT exclusively. Start with one of the many study guides out there (borrow one from the library for free) then move on to finding a good overview book in each catagory...geography, poli sci. etc. The study guide tests (this and other praxis II study guides) also serve as a way to test which areas need additional review. Good luck!!

I totally agree with you, as do many others. It is a very hard test that should be looked at by ETS and reviewed by the board. I wonder what the statistics are on the pass/fail rate on that test and what the average score is on the test. Buying this study guide will not help you, it is just another money making way for ETS. I had to take the test and the best way to study is to buy class room books and read through them. That is the only true way to passing this test, or getting lucky.

When we moved from Colorado to Minnesota, I found I had to take several hundred dollars worth of Praxis tests to keep my license. (We're teachers, not lawyers--it's not like we get paid enough to justify these prices.) It has been several years since I did my teacher prep, and a couple of decades since I took most of my undergrad social studies classes. So I decided I'd get some review guides. I read all the reviews on Amazon, and chose to go with these official guides. I wish I'd kept my money and spent it on something else.

Specifically, I wish I'd bought the Cliff's guides. The biggest difference is in the content and format of the books. The ETS books tell you what subjects will be covered and tell you to go out and find resources on those subjects. The Cliff's guides actually put the recommended study content in the book, so you don't have to go out and find other study resources. I didn't find the Cliff's guides until the day of the test, though. Boy, was I peeved!

As one previous reviewer remarked, this test is heavily weighted toward economics. I think that's interesting, as most high schools don't teach economics--it's not a class required for high school graduation. The history and government classes that ARE required receive short shrift on this test. So be sure you review your econ notes!

In case you're wondering, I passed in spite of this book.

So, I just want to echo some of the reviews here by saying that this guide is most definitely useful. That being said, it does not provide you with all the information you need to pass the test. The title of the thing is most apt: It's a study guide...it guides you about what to study. You choose where/how you will study. But it's nice to have some kind of guideline so that you don't have to waste your time studying things that won't be on the test. Still, at only 150 pages including a practice test, this is not a world history, US history, geography, social science, economics or government text, but it will specify, by these categories, the exact areas you need to focus on. Ideally, I'd recommend buying this at least a month before the test, that way you're guaranteed at least a couple weeks to cover some of the major content areas. I only had a week, and I was scrambling to look everything up that I wanted to learn/refresh. Using this guide in conjunction with some library research (or even wikipedia, which is what I used) is a great way to increase your score. The practice test also gives you a good place to start; it functions as a reliable diagnostic tool that provides instant feedback about the areas that need the most focus for study. Finally, it's produced by the Praxis people themselves, while this does not make it perfect, it proved very reliable in that I studied nothing that wasn't worth my time, and, in fact, I can say that I answered at least 30 questions correctly that I would not have were it not for this guide. On a 130 question exam, I can say without a doubt, I wouldn't have passed were it not for this guide.

I bought this praxis study guide after reading several of the reviews on amazon.com. There are chapters for each of these subjects: U.S. history (7 pages), world history (6 pgs), government/political science (2 pgs), geography (3 pgs), economics (5 pgs), and sociology/psychology/anthropology (2 pgs). There are also several chapters that explain the praxis exams and test taking tips. The info is not anything you don't already know, but I found it was helpful to review before taking the exam.
The subject chapters provide the general names, dates, concepts, events, etc. that you are expected to know for the test. It is up to you to look up the information--general lists are provided and you do your own research. I simply used the internet for the research and found everything I needed quickly.
The general lists are comprehensive, the test does cover those areas, but the practice questions (116 q's with answers and explanations) gave me the sense that the test would be very basic, practically easy. The actual test was much more challenging. My main sense of the test is that the questions and answers are not general but rather quite specific, and oftentimes it is a matter of which of the answers is Most or Least true. I thought that many of the questions were asked in a way that made me wonder what exactly they were asking. The study guide does not prepare you for this reality.
I do recommend this study guide because it does provide you with lists of the general information that the test covers. I would just caution you against believing that the practice questions are equal in level of difficulty to the actual test. With 130 questions to answer in 2 hours, there isn't a lot of time to play around with the less than clearly worded questions, but that's the actual praxis test and not the study guide.

The guide does what it purports to do: give you an understanding of the types of questions on the Praxis II and the content that is covered.
Do not expect this guide to be in-depth, for the test itself is not about depth, but a veneer-thin covering of all things social studies.
The questions were useful for the multiple choice section of the Praxis. The essay portion is really a crapshoot; either you know enough content about a particular topic or not. Though, judging from my and other people's experiences, form is weighted higher than content in the essays.

All this said, its was a little pricey, though worth having.