Praxis

Praxis 5165 (Mathematics): Format, Scores and Prep

Praxis 5165 for North Dakota secondary math teachers: 180 minutes, on-screen calculator, qualifying score 159, and how it differs from Core 5733.

Key details for Praxis 5165 (Mathematics): Format, Scores and Prep
Test code 5165
ETS test name Mathematics
ND qualifying score 159
ETS fee (checked) $130

Sources checked November 2026

Sections12

Secondary mathematics licensure and code 5165

North Dakota secondary mathematics candidates must pass Mathematics (5165) in addition to Core and Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT): PreK–12 (5625) or PLT Grades 7-12 (5624). The ETS North Dakota list pairs 5165 with that endorsement. Elementary teachers need 5017 instead; do not register for 5165 unless your ESPB plan says secondary math.

ETS structure and classroom-linked items

ETS allots 180 minutes for 5165. The product page lists 66 questions. Formats include selected-response, multi-select, and numeric entry.

Roughly 25 percent of items embed mathematics inside teaching scenarios. ETS says those questions measure how teachers apply math during routine classroom decisions, using tasks identified from research on mathematics instruction (ETS 5165 product page, November 2026). Test takers receive an on-screen graphing calculator. Notations, definitions, and formulas appear on the test Help screen and in the Study Companion on that same page.

The fee was $130 in November 2026. Some items may be unscored field test questions. Practice navigating the calculator toolbar before test day.

Before you register, open ESPB testing information. Note the 21-day retake guidance ESPB lists for Praxis attempts. Map that rule against ETS waiting periods in the Information Bulletin.

North Dakota qualifying score

North Dakota's qualifying score for 5165 is 159 on ETS qualifying scores (checked November 2026). Reconfirm the week you register. ESPB publishes broader guidance on ND testing information.

Registration and PLT pairing

Register at praxis.ets.org using code 5165. Add ESPB recipient 7848 when you want electronic transmission. Budget separate prep months for 5625 or 5624, which includes constructed-response pedagogy tasks unrelated to calculus content.

Optional ETS interactive practice was listed near $24.95 on the ETS product page (November 2026). Confirm the listing references 5165 specifically.

Prep that respects teaching scenarios

Download the Study Companion and tag each objective as procedural skill, conceptual understanding, or instructional decision. For instructional decision tags, write a short note about a common student misconception and how you would respond in class. Those notes map directly to the scenario items ETS highlights.

Relearn statistics and probability if your undergraduate degree skipped them; secondary licensure exams often revisit data displays. Use the provided graphing calculator during every practice set so muscle memory matches test day constraints.

How 5165 differs from Core 5733

5733 targets skills for all educators and allows different calculator rules on the Core math exam. 5165 expects deeper secondary content and more lesson-analysis stems. Passing Core does not guarantee readiness for 5165 without separate study.

Retakes and score files

ETS waiting periods between attempts are listed in the Information Bulletin. If you miss 159, analyze whether misses group together in scenario teaching items or raw content items before rebooking. Save PDF score reports the day results post and follow ESPB upload steps on ESPB testing information even when recipient 7848 was selected at registration.

On-screen calculator drills for 5165

Open the graphing calculator during every practice set, not only on calculus items. ETS may ask statistics questions where plotting regression lines saves time. Learn how to reset the calculator view between items so you do not carry the wrong window into the next stem.

When a scenario shows hypothetical student work, read the work before the answer choices. 5165 often rewards spotting a procedural error in a learner's steps rather than solving a fresh problem from scratch.

Algebra and geometry weight for secondary licenses

Undergraduate programs sometimes emphasize calculus while 5165 still tests geometry and data displays at the secondary level. Use the companion percentage breakdowns to rank topics before you schedule a retake or buy paid practice.

Pair with your student teaching reflections: note which lessons you taught in Algebra I versus Geometry, then study the opposite strand if your reflection log is thin.

Content categories on the ETS 5165 blueprint

The ETS product page groups 5165 items into major content categories. Topics include algebra and number, geometry and measurement, and probability with statistics. Calculus with functions appears as its own band. Each category mixes computation with classroom decision stems.

ETS states that the assessment measures whether a secondary teacher knows enough math to teach it. Scenario items ask you to critique sample student thinking. They do not only ask you to solve equations. Track practice misses by category from the Study Companion. Retakes should target weak buckets, not random chapters.

On test day, open the Help screen for the notation list ETS describes on the product page. The list mirrors the Study Companion formulas. Glance at it during the tutorial so you know where matrices live before timed items begin.

North Dakota pairs 5165 with PLT on the secondary mathematics route in the ETS North Dakota required tests table. Schedule content prep before PLT constructed-response drills. Keep one short PLT practice question weekly so pedagogy vocabulary stays fresh.

ETS lists official prep for 5165 on its product page. Options include a $45 eBook, a $45 QuizStack, and a $24.95 interactive practice test (November 2026). Registering also includes four free score recipients when you use My Praxis.

The ETS product page ties items to standards from the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, NCTM guidelines, and CAEP mathematics teacher preparation standards. Use those labels when you map companion objectives to the units you taught during student teaching.

Test delivery for 5165

ETS lists 5165 as computer delivered in 180 minutes with 66 questions on the product page (November 2026). Confirm ID rules and appointment policies in the current ETS Information Bulletin linked from praxis.ets.org during the week you register. Review the formula list ETS places on the Help screen so on-screen references feel familiar before timed items begin.

Sources checked November 2026

Quick answers

Is 5165 the same as Core Mathematics 5733?

No. Core 5733 is required for every candidate. 5165 measures secondary mathematics content for the math endorsement.

What calculator does ETS provide?

The ETS 5165 product page states test takers have access to an on-screen graphing calculator. Personal calculators are not permitted on Praxis tests.

Do I need to bring my own graphing calculator?

No. ETS supplies the on-screen tool for 5165.

Will North Dakota accept a 5165 score from another state?

You must meet the North Dakota qualifying score on the report ETS generates for ESPB, not another state's cut.

Should I take 5165 right after Core math?

Many advisors want Core complete first. Schedule 5165 when you can study 180-minute blocks weekly, not squeezed between student teaching finals alone.