The Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) English
Language Arts and Reading
7-12 exam is used to assess your requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities as an
entry-level, grades 7-12 educator in Texas public schools. Educators in Texas
public schools must adhere to stringent standards to ensure students receive a high-quality education, and the TExES exams
were designed to assess these precise standards.
Please
note that in addition to meeting other eligibility criteria for educators in
the state of Texas, you may need permission from your educator preparation
program prior to taking the TExES English
Language Arts and Reading 7-12 exam. Be sure to
check with your educational institution before registering to take the
exam.
How much does the TExES English Language Arts and Reading 7-12 test cost and how do I register?
The TExES English Language Arts and Reading 7-12 exam costs $116, only Visa and MasterCard credit/debit cards are accepted. The $116 fee is assessed per TExES test, which means that should you take additional TExES tests, you will pay additional registration fees for each test. Registration for the exam can be completed via the Texas Educator Certification Exam website or by phone.
Schedule my exam
Once your registration is complete you have 170 days to schedule and take your exam. If you do not complete your exam within the 170 days, your registration will expire and your fee will not be refunded. The exam can be scheduled year round at Pearson VUE testing centers throughout Texas and worldwide.
What can I expect on test day?
Arrive to the testing center at least 30 minutes prior to your exam start time to have plenty of time to park and complete check-in procedures with the testing center. If you are late to your testing appointment you will not be allowed to test, and your registration fees will be forfeit.
What to bring:
Bring two forms of identification with you to the exam. Your primary identification must be a government-issued ID, either a driver’s license, state issued ID card, military ID card, or passport. Primary identification must be valid (unexpired), original, and contain your name, recent photo, and signature. Secondary identification can be any of the above forms of identification or any valid, original identification including your name and signature.
If the first and last name on your identification does not match the name in which you registered for the exam exactly, you will not be permitted to take the exam and your exam fees will be forfeit.
What not to bring:
A locker will be provided for your personal items including jewelry, watches, wallets and purses. Items prohibited in the testing center are:
- cell phones, tablets, and recording devices
- calculators
- eyeglasses with communication or recording devices
- scratch paper, notes, study materials
- hats, jackets, or bags of any kind
- food and drink
What does
the TExES English Language Arts and Reading 7-12 exam cover?
The TExES English Language Arts and Reading 7-12 exam is a computer-administered test consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions and 2 constructed-response questions. Of the 100 multiple-choice questions, several may function as unscored pilot-test questions used to determine the questions’ efficacy in future tests. Make note that you will not be able to tell the difference between scored and unscored questions, so it is important to answer each question to the best of your ability. You will be allotted 5 hours to complete the exam.
In terms of content, the TExES English Language Arts and Reading 7-12 test consists of four weighted, content-specific domains. Each domain covers specific Texas educational standards. The domains, standards, and weights per domain are as follows:
Integrated language arts, the study of English, and diverse learners, 15%
English Language Arts and Reading 7-12 standards I and VII: including designing and implementing appropriate instruction, ensuring reflection of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), understanding development of English language skills, etc.
Literature, reading processes, and skills for reading literary/nonliterary texts, 40%
English Language Arts and Reading 7-12 standards I-IV: including ensuring reflection of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), integrating components of English language arts, understanding the reading process, understanding reading strategies for literary and nonliterary texts, etc.
Written communication, 30%
English Language Arts and Reading 7-12 standards I, V-VI: including ensuring reflection of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), understanding the development of writing skills, understanding effective written communication for various audiences, etc.
Media literacy and oral communication, 15%
English Language Arts and Reading 7-12 standards I, VIII-IX: including ensuring reflection of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), understanding the development of oral communication skills, understanding interpretation of visual images, etc.
What score do I need to pass?
A passing score is 240.
When can I expect my score?
Scores are released to your Texas Educator Certification Exam Program account or email no later than 28 days after your exam.
How Can I Prepare for the TExES English Language Arts and Reading 7-12?
We believe that different learning styles require different tools for success. We have compiled a list of the best study guides, flashcards, and practice tests that we’ve found on the market. Some of these guides have review videos, for you visual learners out there. Others have practice tests, which have been proven to increase student scores by a whole letter grade (in some cases more than that)!