Praxis 5001 Passing Scores by State (2026): Qualifying Scores for 5002–5005

Looking for the Praxis 5001 passing score for your state? Here is the short answer: there is no national passing score. ETS does not set pass/fail standards — each state and licensing agency sets its own qualifying score for each of the four subtests.[1] Your real target is four separate numbers: one each for 5002 Reading & Language Arts, 5003 Mathematics, 5004 Social Studies, and 5005 Science.

This page collects the qualifying scores we can verify from official sources, shows which states have moved away from the 5001 entirely, and explains why the numbers are changing right now.

States That Use the Praxis 5001: Verified Qualifying Scores

Several large states currently require the full 5001 battery for elementary certification, and many of them set identical subtest lines:

South Carolina currently lists the same 157/157/155/159 lines, but it is mid-transition: elementary candidates are being steered toward the 5901 Three Subject Bundle and the 7811 CKT series, with cutoff dates tied to August 2026 and August 2027 depending on pathway.[5] If you are in South Carolina, confirm which test family applies to your application window before you register.

These are the states where an official, current number could be verified against a primary source at publication time. They are not the only states that accept the 5001 — they are the ones this page can vouch for.

States That Do Not Use the 5001 for Elementary Certification

A "passing score by state" list is incomplete without the states where the 5001 is not the elementary exam at all. Four examples:

If your state is in this group, no Praxis 5001 score will help — build your prep around the code your state actually requires.

Why So Many States Show the Same Numbers

Notice that Virginia, Tennessee, New Jersey, Kentucky, and South Carolina all sit at 157/157/155/159. That is not coincidence: when states adopt the 5001, many accept the standard-setting-recommended cut scores rather than inventing their own.[1]

Practically, that means:

• Most qualifying lines for the 5001 subtests land between 150 and 165 on the 100–200 scaled-score range.
• Identical numbers across states are common — but so are exceptions, and any state can adjust its line when it adopts a new test version.
• Never assume another state's number (or a forum post's number) applies to you.

Why 2026 Is a Bad Year to Guess

ETS is replacing the 5001 family with the 8000-series Elementary Education Fundamentals tests, which launched in spring 2026,[8] and states are adopting the new codes at different speeds. Some states are also transitioning between the 5001, 7001, and CKT families at the same time. Three consequences:

1. A qualifying score you found in a 2025 blog post may belong to a code your state no longer accepts.
2. The same state can require different exams for different certificate pathways.
3. Qualifying scores themselves can change when a new test version is adopted.

The safe habit: confirm your exact test code and qualifying score within a few weeks of registering — then re-check before test day. For the differences between the old and new series, see Praxis 5001 vs. the 8000 Series.

How to Confirm Your State's Number

Fastest official route: open the ETS passing-score lookup, select your state or agency and the 5001 subtest codes, and read the qualifying scores shown.[1] Then cross-check against your state education agency's certification handbook, because agency rules occasionally lag behind or diverge from what ETS displays.

For the full verification method — including what to do when your state's page lists no 5001 score at all — use the step-by-step checklist in our guide to Praxis 5001 passing scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Praxis 5001 passing score?

There is no meaningful average. Qualifying scores are set per state, per subtest, and most published lines fall between 150 and 165.[1] The only number that matters is your state's current requirement for each subtest.

Is 157 the passing score everywhere?

No. Several states — including Virginia, Tennessee, and New Jersey — set 157 for 5002 Reading & Language Arts,[2][3][4] which makes "157" look universal online. It is not: other states set different lines, and some do not use the 5001 at all.

Do I have to pass all four subtests?

In most states, yes — each subtest is scored separately and agencies require a qualifying score on every one. A strong math score does not offset a failed science score.

Where can I compare states quickly?

The official ETS score-comparison tool lets you select multiple states and agencies side by side.[1]

The Bottom Line

Your Praxis 5001 target is four state-specific numbers, not one national constant. Verify all four for your state, aim comfortably above them, and spend most of your study time on your weakest gate.

Not sure where you stand against those lines? Take the free Praxis 5001 diagnostic — 12 original questions across all four subtests, with an estimated scaled score per gate.

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