Praxis II Chemistry: Content Essays

The Chemistry: Content Essays exam assesses the proficiency of prospective high school teachers to teach the subject of chemistry. Generally, individuals who take this exam have taken the courses required for teaching as well as earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. This one hour exam is made up of 3 equally scored essays on the following topics:

• Structure/Property Correlations
• Chemical Reactions
• The Impact of Chemistry on Technology and Society

The first two essay questions each measure two factors. Each of the first two questions will evaluate knowledge of the main topic, one being Stucture/Property Correlations and the other being Chemical Reactions, but one question will also assess the use of scientific skills, while the other question will additionally assess comprehension of systems, patterns, concepts, and models of science.

The scientific skills that will be evaluated in one of the questions may involve analysis of data or methods and configurations of experiments. The examinee may also need to demonstrate the ability to initiate an experiment with a hypothesis and to interpret findings of an experiment. In the question that measures knowledge of scientific systems, patterns, concepts, and models, the examinee will need to demonstrate knowledge of how various part of a scientific system work together, show understanding of the reasons for scientific patterns such cycles as well be able to identify them; be able to establish concepts using their own understanding of science; and show an understanding of models, including how they are made and their uses and restrictions.

The third essay question will address the Impact of Chemistry on Technology and Society. The examinee must describe how society is affected by chemistry and technology using the appropriate concepts, principles, and vocabulary of chemistry and science.