How to Raise Your Praxis 5331 Score by 10 Points on the Retake

If you missed the Praxis 5331 passing score by a few points — 158, 159, or 161 — you don't need to relearn everything. You need roughly 5 to 10 extra raw points, which on a 132-question test translates to a small but meaningful shift in accuracy. Here is the most efficient way to close that gap in the next 4 weeks.

Understand the math

The Praxis 5331 is scaled from roughly 100 to 200. The passing score is 162 for ASHA CCC-SLP and most states. A few scaled points usually mean only 3 to 6 raw questions. You don't need perfection. You need slightly better decisions on the items you were already close to getting right.

Tactic 1: Fix your weakest content area first

Your score report shows which of the three areas dragged you down. Spend 60% of your study time there. The most common weak areas for near-passing candidates are:

• Dysphagia — cranial nerves, swallowing phases, instrumental assessments, diet levels.
• Pediatric speech/language disorders — milestones, phonological processes, intervention hierarchies.
• Professional practice — scope of practice, ethics, federal regulations, supervision roles.

Tactic 2: Stop studying content you already know

Near-passing candidates often waste time re-reading chapters they already understand. Instead, switch to question-first practice. If you can explain why the correct answer is right and why each distractor is wrong, you know the content. Move on.

Tactic 3: Read rationales out loud

Many misses happen because two answer choices look clinically defensible. The fix is learning the exact language ETS uses to distinguish them. Read every rationale aloud, even for questions you got right. This exposes the subtle wording patterns the test rewards.

Tactic 4: Fix pacing before test day

You have roughly 120 minutes for 132 questions. If you rushed the final 20 items on your first attempt, that alone could account for 5 missed points. Practice full-length timed tests so you can finish with 5 minutes to review.

Tactic 5: Eliminate the "changed from right to wrong" habit

On review, many candidates find they changed correct answers to incorrect ones. If your first instinct was well-reasoned, trust it. Develop a rule: only change an answer if you can point to a specific fact that makes your first choice wrong.

What a 10-point improvement looks like in practice

• 2–3 points from shoring up your weakest content area.
• 2–3 points from better pacing and fewer rushed guesses.
• 2–3 points from reading rationales and learning ETS patterns.
• 1–2 points from anxiety management and sharper test-day execution.

The 2-week retake option

If you scored 160–161, you may be able to retake within a few weeks. The ETS 28-day rule is the minimum wait, so use that time for targeted drilling, not broad review. See our retake study plan for a day-by-day schedule.