TExES Science 7-12 Online Center
This TExES Science 7-12 Online Center brings together practice, lessons, worksheets, flashcards and review tools. Choose the resource that matches the skill you want to work on next.
TExES Science 7-12 Practice Center
Sit a full form of 140 questions in 285 minutes, then read the explanation under every miss. Score the ten domains separately. Physics and chemistry are 20 percent each, so a weak block there costs far more than a weak block in astronomy, and you cannot see that pattern from a single overall score.
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TExES Science 7-12 at a glance
This is the composite science exam for the Texas Science: Grades 7-12 certificate, and it is the broadest of the secondary science exams: physics, chemistry, biology, Earth and space science, plus inquiry and pedagogy, all in one sitting. Physics and chemistry carry 20 percent each, which surprises candidates who trained mostly in biology. Testing time is 4 hours 45 minutes for 140 questions, so the clock is generous. Breadth is what makes the exam hard.
| Test code | 236 (Science 7-12), administered by Pearson for Texas |
|---|---|
| Status | Current. The vendor test detail page, preparation materials, and exam framework are all live with no retirement notice and no successor code announced. |
| Number of questions | 140 selected-response questions |
| Constructed response | None. The framework describes selected-response questions only. |
| Time limit | 5 hours of appointment time: 15 minutes for the tutorial and compliance agreement, then 4 hours 45 minutes of testing |
| Calculator | An on-screen scientific calculator is provided. You do not bring your own, and there is no graphing calculator, which is the opposite of the arrangement on Mathematics 7-12 (235). |
| Other on-screen resources | A periodic table and a definitions and physical constants page, both supplied in the exam platform. |
| Format | Computer-administered test at a Pearson Professional Center, offered year round by appointment |
| Score scale | 100 to 300 |
| Passing score | A scaled score of 240 |
| Framework size | Ten domains and 47 competencies |
Texas publishes an approximate percentage for each of the ten domains, and they sum to 100: Scientific Inquiry and Processes 10 percent, Physics 20 percent, Chemistry 20 percent, Cell Structure and Processes 8 percent, Heredity and the Evolution of Life 8 percent, Diversity of Life 8 percent, Interdependence of Life and Environmental Systems 6 percent, Earth’s History and the Structure and Function of Earth Systems 9 percent, Components and Properties of the Solar System and the Universe 6 percent, and Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment 5 percent. Texas does not publish a percentage for any individual competency, so none is given here. Applied to 140 questions, the domain percentages work out to roughly 14, 28, 28, 11, 11, 11, 9, 13, 9, and 6 questions, which is how both practice forms are built.
The ten domains, in plain language
Texas lists 47 competencies across the ten domains. Here is the shape of each domain and the competencies inside it.
I. Scientific Inquiry and Processes (10 percent, about 14 questions)
How science is done, how it is kept safe, and how it has changed.
- Competency 001: Laboratory Safety and Measurement
- Competency 002: Nature of Science and Scientific Inquiry
- Competency 003: History of Science and Its Impact on Society
II. Physics (20 percent, about 28 questions)
Motion, forces, energy, waves, and the quantum picture of the atom.
- Competency 004: Describing Motion
- Competency 005: Newton’s Laws of Motion
- Competency 006: Gravitational and Electromagnetic Forces
- Competency 007: Applications of Electricity and Magnetism
- Competency 008: Conservation of Energy and Momentum
- Competency 009: Laws of Thermodynamics
- Competency 010: Characteristics and Behavior of Waves
- Competency 011: Quantum Physics and Atomic Models
III. Chemistry (20 percent, about 28 questions)
Matter, bonding, reactions, and the quantitative work that goes with them.
- Competency 012: Matter and Atomic Structure
- Competency 013: Properties and Behavior of Gases
- Competency 014: Chemical Bonding
- Competency 015: Chemical Equations and Reactions
- Competency 016: Solutions and Solubility
- Competency 017: Energy Transformations in Chemical Reactions
- Competency 018: Nuclear Reactions and Processes
- Competency 019: Oxidation and Reduction
- Competency 020: Acids, Bases and Their Reactions
IV. Cell Structure and Processes (8 percent, about 11 questions)
The molecules cells are built from and the work cells do.
- Competency 021: Structure and Function of Biomolecules
- Competency 022: Cell Structure and Organization
- Competency 023: Cell Life Processes
- Competency 024: Cell Growth and Development
V. Heredity and the Evolution of Life (8 percent, about 11 questions)
DNA, inheritance, and how populations change over time.
- Competency 025: Nucleic Acids and the Molecular Basis of Heredity
- Competency 026: Continuity and Variation of Traits
- Competency 027: Theory of Biological Evolution
- Competency 028: Evidence of Evolutionary Change
VI. Diversity of Life (8 percent, about 11 questions)
The range of living things, how their bodies are organized, and how they behave.
- Competency 029: Similarities, Differences and Classification of Organisms
- Competency 030: Organization of Living Systems
- Competency 031: Maintenance of Homeostasis
- Competency 032: Relationships Between Biology and Behavior
VII. Interdependence of Life and Environmental Systems (6 percent, about 9 questions)
Energy, matter, and populations moving through ecosystems.
- Competency 033: Flow of Energy and Matter Through Ecosystems
- Competency 034: Interactions Among Organisms in Ecosystems
- Competency 035: Population Dynamics and Carrying Capacity
VIII. Earth’s History and the Structure and Function of Earth Systems (9 percent, about 13 questions)
Rock, water, air, and the history written in all three.
- Competency 036: Structure and Function of the Geosphere
- Competency 037: Plate Tectonics and Changes to Earth’s Surface
- Competency 038: Earth’s Formation and History
- Competency 039: Structure and Function of the Hydrosphere
- Competency 040: Structure and Function of the Atmosphere
- Competency 041: Natural Events and Human Activity Affecting Earth Systems
IX. Components and Properties of the Solar System and the Universe (6 percent, about 9 questions)
Earth in space, the Sun’s family, and the universe beyond it.
- Competency 042: Earth’s Place and Orientation in the Solar System
- Competency 043: The Sun and Objects That Orbit It
- Competency 044: Composition, History and Properties of the Universe
- Competency 045: History and Methods of Astronomy
X. Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment (5 percent, about 6 questions)
Teaching science and finding out what students actually learned.
- Competency 046: Science Learning and Inquiry-Based Instruction
- Competency 047: Monitoring and Assessing Science Learning
A study routine for a 140-question composite exam
Time is not the pressure here. Four hours and forty-five minutes for 140 questions is over two minutes each. The pressure is coverage: no candidate arrives strong in physics, chemistry, biology, and Earth and space science at once, and the exam gives your weakest discipline just as many questions as your strongest.
Complete competency map
All 47 competencies Texas publishes for this exam, grouped by domain with the published domain weight and the question count that weight implies.
Domain I. Scientific Inquiry and Processes (10 percent, about 14 questions)
- 01Competency 001, Laboratory Safety and Measurement: the teacher understands how to select and manage learning activities to ensure the safety of all students and the correct use and care of organisms, natural resources, materials, equipment and technologies.
- 02Competency 002, Nature of Science and Scientific Inquiry: the teacher understands the correct use of tools, materials, equipment and technologies and the process and unifying concepts of scientific inquiry.
- 03Competency 003, History of Science and Its Impact on Society: the teacher understands the history of science, how science impacts the daily lives of students and how science interacts with and influences personal and societal decisions.
Domain II. Physics (20 percent, about 28 questions)
- 04Competency 004, Describing Motion: the teacher understands the description of motion in one and two dimensions.
- 05Competency 005, Newton’s Laws of Motion: the teacher understands the laws of motion.
- 06Competency 006, Gravitational and Electromagnetic Forces: the teacher understands the concepts of gravitational and electromagnetic forces in nature.
- 07Competency 007, Applications of Electricity and Magnetism: the teacher understands applications of electricity and magnetism.
- 08Competency 008, Conservation of Energy and Momentum: the teacher understands the conservation of energy and momentum.
- 09Competency 009, Laws of Thermodynamics: the teacher understands the laws of thermodynamics.
- 10Competency 010, Characteristics and Behavior of Waves: the teacher understands the characteristics and behavior of waves.
- 11Competency 011, Quantum Physics and Atomic Models: the teacher understands the fundamental concepts of quantum physics.
Domain III. Chemistry (20 percent, about 28 questions)
- 12Competency 012, Matter and Atomic Structure: the teacher understands the characteristics of matter and atomic structure.
- 13Competency 013, Properties and Behavior of Gases: the teacher understands the properties and behavior of gases.
- 14Competency 014, Chemical Bonding: the teacher understands the nature of ionic and covalent bonds.
- 15Competency 015, Chemical Equations and Reactions: the teacher understands and interprets chemical equations and chemical reactions.
- 16Competency 016, Solutions and Solubility: the teacher understands types and properties of solutions.
- 17Competency 017, Energy Transformations in Chemical Reactions: the teacher understands energy transformations that occur in physical and chemical processes.
- 18Competency 018, Nuclear Reactions and Processes: the teacher understands nuclear fission, nuclear fusion and nuclear reactions.
- 19Competency 019, Oxidation and Reduction: the teacher understands oxidation and reduction reactions.
- 20Competency 020, Acids, Bases and Their Reactions: the teacher understands the properties and behavior of acids, bases and their reactions.
Domain IV. Cell Structure and Processes (8 percent, about 11 questions)
- 21Competency 021, Structure and Function of Biomolecules: the teacher understands the structure and function of biologically important molecules.
- 22Competency 022, Cell Structure and Organization: the teacher understands the structure and function of cells.
- 23Competency 023, Cell Life Processes: the teacher understands how cells carry out life processes.
- 24Competency 024, Cell Growth and Development: the teacher understands the processes of cell growth and development.
Domain V. Heredity and the Evolution of Life (8 percent, about 11 questions)
- 25Competency 025, Nucleic Acids and the Molecular Basis of Heredity: the teacher understands the structure and function of nucleic acids in the mechanisms of genetics.
- 26Competency 026, Continuity and Variation of Traits: the teacher understands the continuity and variations of traits from one generation to the next.
- 27Competency 027, Theory of Biological Evolution: the teacher understands the theory of biological evolution.
- 28Competency 028, Evidence of Evolutionary Change: the teacher understands evidence for evolutionary change during the history of life on Earth.
Domain VI. Diversity of Life (8 percent, about 11 questions)
- 29Competency 029, Similarities, Differences and Classification of Organisms: the teacher understands similarities and differences among organisms and the classification of organisms.
- 30Competency 030, Organization of Living Systems: the teacher understands the structure and function of living systems at different levels of organization.
- 31Competency 031, Maintenance of Homeostasis: the teacher understands the processes by which organisms maintain homeostasis.
- 32Competency 032, Relationships Between Biology and Behavior: the teacher understands the relationship between biology and behavior.
Domain VII. Interdependence of Life and Environmental Systems (6 percent, about 9 questions)
- 33Competency 033, Flow of Energy and Matter Through Ecosystems: the teacher understands the flow of matter and energy through ecosystems.
- 34Competency 034, Interactions Among Organisms in Ecosystems: the teacher understands the interactions among organisms in ecosystems.
- 35Competency 035, Population Dynamics and Carrying Capacity: the teacher understands the relationship between carrying capacity and changes in populations and ecosystems.
Domain VIII. Earth’s History and the Structure and Function of Earth Systems (9 percent, about 13 questions)
- 36Competency 036, Structure and Function of the Geosphere: the teacher understands the structure and function of the geosphere.
- 37Competency 037, Plate Tectonics and Changes to Earth’s Surface: the teacher understands the processes of plate tectonics and the changes they produce on Earth’s surface.
- 38Competency 038, Earth’s Formation and History: the teacher understands the formation and history of Earth.
- 39Competency 039, Structure and Function of the Hydrosphere: the teacher understands the structure and function of the hydrosphere.
- 40Competency 040, Structure and Function of the Atmosphere: the teacher understands the structure and function of the atmosphere.
- 41Competency 041, Natural Events and Human Activity Affecting Earth Systems: the teacher understands the effects of natural events and human activity on Earth systems.
Domain IX. Components and Properties of the Solar System and the Universe (6 percent, about 9 questions)
- 42Competency 042, Earth’s Place and Orientation in the Solar System: the teacher understands the place and orientation of Earth in the solar system.
- 43Competency 043, The Sun and Objects That Orbit It: the teacher understands the properties and characteristics of the Sun and the objects that orbit it.
- 44Competency 044, Composition, History and Properties of the Universe: the teacher understands the composition, history and properties of the universe.
- 45Competency 045, History and Methods of Astronomy: the teacher understands the history and methods of astronomy.
Domain X. Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment (5 percent, about 6 questions)
- 46Competency 046, Science Learning and Inquiry-Based Instruction: the teacher understands research-based theoretical and practical knowledge about teaching science, how students learn science and the role of scientific inquiry in science instruction.
- 47Competency 047, Monitoring and Assessing Science Learning: the teacher knows how to monitor and assess science learning in laboratory, field and classroom settings.
Before test day
Two things decide this exam. The first is honesty about your weakest discipline. A biology major who never opens a physics book leaves 28 questions largely to chance, and 240 out of 300 is not a score you reach that way. The second is the on-screen toolkit. Candidates who have never used the supplied calculator and periodic table lose minutes hunting for them, and worse, they arrive having memorized values that were printed on the screen all along.
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TExES Science 7-12: study questions
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