NES Essential Academic Skills vs Praxis Core - is one actually harder or is that just wishful thinking?
I'm applying to teacher prep programs in Arizona and they accept either the Praxis Core or the NES Essential Academic Skills. I took the Praxis Core reading section once and didn't pass - scored a 148 against the 156 passing score - and now I'm deciding whether to retake the Praxis or switch to the NES EAS. A few people in my cohort said the NES is easier but I can't tell if that's actually true or just wishful thinking from people who haven't taken both.
I've been doing diagnostic practice on both exams for the past two weeks. On NES EAS reading I'm scoring around 73-76%, which feels better than where I was on Praxis prep. The question style seems more straightforward - less of the double-negative inference style questions that killed me on the Praxis and more direct comprehension questions. The math section of the NES looks comparable, maybe slightly more arithmetic-heavy.
The writing sections seem similar in structure - multiple choice language mechanics plus an essay component. I feel okay about the multiple choice side but essays under timed conditions stress me out. I had 30 minutes for the Praxis essay and felt rushed; I'm not sure if the NES EAS gives more or less time for the written component.
Anyone who's taken both or specifically the NES EAS: is it genuinely a different difficulty level, or is the content essentially the same and I'm just hoping the grass is greener? I don't want to split my prep time comparing instead of committing to one exam.
The math section on NES EAS covers proportions, basic algebra, data interpretation, and geometry - pretty standard stuff. The arithmetic-heavy framing means mental math fluency helps. If you're solid on reading and writing, spending the last week or two of prep reinforcing math basics is probably the best use of your remaining time before you sit.
The NES EAS essay gives you 30 minutes too, same as Praxis. The prompts are typically argumentative - you take a position and support it with evidence from provided texts. Practice writing to a timer a few times before the exam and don't overthink the thesis. A clear simple claim argued well beats a sophisticated claim argued weakly every time.
Switching exams mid-prep has a real cost because you're splitting your study time. Since your practice scores on NES are already decent and you have concrete feedback from a failed Praxis attempt, committing to the NES makes more sense than going back to the Praxis just for continuity. Don't let sunk cost keep you on the harder path.
I took the NES EAS after failing the Praxis Core twice and passed on my first NES attempt. I don't think it's dramatically easier but the reading section does feel more direct in the way you're describing - less trick-question framing. If your practice scores are already 73-76% you're closer to ready than you probably think.