Failed Praxis 5331 twice — what finally worked for me

Short answer: candidates who fail the Praxis Speech-Language Pathology exam (5331) more than once usually improve after three changes: they study by the ETS content categories instead of by graduate course, they practise the long clinical case questions under time pressure, and they target the categories that the score report shows as weakest. Passing scores are set by each state, so confirm yours.

What the exam emphasises

• Foundations and professional practice: typical development, anatomy and physiology, research and ethics.
• Screening, assessment and evaluation: choosing the right assessment and interpreting results.
• Planning, implementation and evaluation of treatment across disorders: fluency, voice, dysphagia, language, AAC, cognition and more.

Changes that help on a retake

1. Read the score report closely. Rank the content categories and put most of your time into the bottom two.
2. Practise case sets. Many questions follow a client case. Read the question before the case so you know what to look for.
3. Learn "best next step" logic. When several options are clinically reasonable, pick the one that fits evidence-based practice and the client's stage.
4. Take full-length timed practice tests to build stamina and check pacing.

Check your state's required score, ETS registration and retake waiting periods, and ASHA's certification requirements before you book again.

Editorial Q&A by the PracticeTestGeeks editors: general study guidance, not a personal account. Confirm fees, dates and rules with the official exam body before you book.