TExES Core Subjects EC-6 (391) Practice Tests

The Core Subjects EC-6 exam (391) is part of the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES), the exams that the Texas Education Agency requires for educator certification in Texas public schools.

Five subject exams, each timed separately: English Language Arts and Reading (45 questions, 1 hour 10 minutes), Mathematics (40 questions, 1 hour 10 minutes), Social Studies (40 questions, 50 minutes), Science (45 questions, 55 minutes) and Fine Arts, Health and Physical Education (40 questions, 35 minutes). You must pass each one with a 240.

Scores are reported on a scale of 100 to 300, and 240 is the passing score for every TExES exam.

Retake wait

30 days between attempts

Registration valid

170 days from the date of issue

Arrival at the test center

15 minutes before your appointment

How to Register

1. 1
   Get approval to test

   You must be approved before you can register for a TExES exam. If you are in an educator preparation program, your program approves you. Candidates who are not in a program follow the approval routes described on the Registration Information page.

2. 2
   Register and pay online

   Create your account and register at tx.nesinc.com. Pay by Visa or MasterCard (including debit cards that carry the logo and need no PIN), Apple Pay or Google Pay. Cash and checks are not accepted.

3. 3
   Schedule your appointment

   After registering, you pick a test center and a date. Appointments are available year round on a first-come, first-served basis. Your registration is valid for 170 days, so schedule and test within that window.

4. 4
   Prepare with the official manual

   Read the free preparation manual for exam 391. It lists every competency and includes sample questions with explanations. Request alternative testing arrangements early if you need them, because approval takes time.

Fees

$116. Additional fees may apply. Exam registration fees are paid online by Visa or MasterCard, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and payment processing is provided by Texas.gov, which charges a processing fee that is not refundable. Your registration is valid for 170 days from the date of issue. If you do not take the exam within 170 days, or you withdraw within that time, the registration expires and you receive no refund or credit of any kind. Fees can change, so confirm the amount when you register.

Test day

Report to the test center 15 minutes before your scheduled testing time.

Bring two pieces of original, unexpired identification printed in English in the name used in your testing account. Each must show your name, and the set must include a recent photograph and your signature. Photocopies and digital IDs are not accepted.

At check-in, staff verify your ID and collect your digital signature and photograph.

Cell phones, electronic devices, watches, handwritten or printed materials, bags, food and drink, and most headwear must be stored in a locker outside the testing room. Calculators are prohibited except for the exams that allow them. Breaking the test site rules can void your scores.

Dress in layers, since the temperature of the center may not be under the control of the test administrators, and wear soft-soled shoes to keep the room quiet. Children are not allowed in the testing center.

Scoring

Total exam scores are reported on a scale of 100 to 300. The passing score is 240.

Scores are available at 10:00 p.m. Central time on the published score report dates. Your report shows Passed or Not Passed and your total scaled score, and for most exams it also shows how you did by domain and competency.

You must earn at least a 240 on each subject exam to pass overall. If you pass some but not all, you can retake just the ones you missed (if you did not pass two or more, you retake the overall exam), and your best score on each subject exam is kept.

There is no way to predict the exact number of correct answers needed to pass, because each exam has several versions that are adjusted to be comparable.

1. 1
   Start with the official preparation manual

   It is the only study material the Texas Education Agency endorses. Read the competencies for exam 391 and mark each one you cannot yet explain.

2. 2
   Study by domain weight

   Give the most time to English Language Arts and Reading (901) (about 21.5%), but cover every domain.

3. 3
   Each subject exam needs a 240

   You must reach the passing score on every one of the five subject exams. Your best score on each is kept if you retest.

4. 4
   Fine arts, health and PE still count

   It is the shortest subject exam, but it is one of the five you must pass, so it cannot be skipped.

5. 5
   Leave room for a retake

   You can retake an exam after 30 days, and you cannot register again until your results have posted. Book your first attempt early enough that a second one still fits your deadline.