Praxis Early Childhood Education: Foundational Knowledge and Content (5534) Study Guide
Child Development, Observation and Assessment, Teaching, Families, and Academic Content, with Practice Tests
What is inside
- 1,156 practice questions, with a reason given for every wrong choice as well as the right one
- Two full-length 120-question practice tests at the official category counts of 26, 23, 28, 14, and 29
- A 40-question diagnostic test that sends each missed question to the chapter that teaches it
- 73 content chapters on milestones and theories, screening and observation records, play and routines, the NAEYC Code, IDEA Parts B and C, Section 504, FERPA, early literacy, and early mathematics
- Which TWO questions and item sets built on observation notes, work samples, and family messages
- Quick reference, commonly confused terms, glossary, coverage map, answer key at a glance, score tracker, and wrong-answer log
For the 2027–2028 testing year: the Praxis 5534 taught one ETS topic at a time, from birth to age eight, with two full-length practice tests.
The Praxis Early Childhood Education: Foundational Knowledge and Content test (5534) asks 120 selected-response questions in 120 minutes. There is no calculator and no written response. The questions fall into five categories: child development and learning (about 26), observation, documentation, and assessment (23), developmentally appropriate teaching practice (28), professionalism and family partnerships (14), and academic content in the curriculum (29). This book follows the ETS topic list in that order.
Written for the classroom you will teach in. Each of the 73 content chapters explains what a teacher of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, or primary children actually does with the idea: when a milestone is late enough to refer, which screening tool fits which purpose, how to write an observation note that stays objective, how to set up routines and play areas, and how to plan a phonological awareness or early counting lesson. Milestones, theories, and the laws are set out in tables you can review in a few minutes, and every content chapter ends with 12 practice questions.
What is inside
- 1,156 practice questions, each with the reason the right answer is right and every wrong choice is wrong
- Two full-length 120-question practice tests at the official category counts of 26, 23, 28, 14, and 29, with Which TWO questions and item sets built on observation notes, work samples, and family messages
- A 40-question diagnostic test that sends each missed question to the chapter that teaches it
- Development from birth to eight: physical, cognitive, language, and social-emotional milestones, red flags, children learning two languages, and the theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, Erikson, and Bronfenbrenner
- Assessment and the law in plain words: screening, observation methods, portfolios, referral, IDEA Parts B and C, Section 504, FERPA, mandated reporting, and the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct
- Academic content: language and early literacy, children's literature, writing, early mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, and the arts
- Review tools: a quick reference, commonly confused terms, a glossary, a topic coverage map, an answer key at a glance, a score tracker, and a wrong-answer log
Coming from the 5024? A chapter compares the 5534 with the 5024, 5023, and 5531 and shows what carries over. Some states still list the 5024 or another test, so the book gives the state passing scores ETS published in October 2026 (163 in eleven jurisdictions, 160 or 157 in four more) and tells you how to confirm what your license needs.
Checked at the source. The question count, timing, category counts, score scale, $130 fee, 28-day retake rule, and passing scores were read from the ETS Study Companion for the 5534, the ETS test page, the passing-score table, and the Praxis Bulletin 2026–27 in October 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by ETS. Praxis is a registered trademark of ETS (Educational Testing Service), which does not sponsor or endorse this product.
