The TExES Physical Science 6-12 exam is an assessment test designed to test the knowledge of entry-level computer science teachers in the state of Texas.
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Exam Outline
The TExES Physical Science 6-12 exam contains a total of 100 selected-response questions, and you will be given 4 hours and 45 minutes to complete it.
Teaching Standards
The exam is aligned with nine standards for educators that have been outlined by the State Board for Educator Certification.
Click the button below to see the full list of approved educator standards:
Approved Educator Standards
Standard I: You are expected to manage the classroom, field, and lab activities to ensure student safety and the ethical care and treatment of specimens and organisms.
Standard II: You are expected to understand how to use materials, technologies, equipment, and tools correctly.
Standard III: You are expected to understand scientific inquiry and its role in science instruction.
Standard IV: You are expected to have practical and theoretical knowledge about teaching science and how students learn science.
Standard V: You are expected to know the appropriate assessments to monitor the learning of science.
Standard VI: You are expected to understand the history and nature of science.
Standard VII: You are expected to understand how science affects daily life and how science interacts with societal and personal decisions.
Standard VIII: You are expected to understand the science content appropriate to teach physical science in the state of Texas.
Standard IX: You are expected to know the unifying processes and concepts that are common among all sciences.
Exam Domains
The exam is split into four domains, each of which covers one or more of the nine standards mentioned above.
| Domain | Percentage of Exam | Standards Used |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Scientific Inquiry and Processes | 14% | I-III, VI, VII, and IX |
| 2. Physics | 36% | VIII |
| 3. Chemistry | 41% | VIII |
| 4. Science Learning, Instruction, and Assessment | 9% | IV and V |
For the questions in this domain, you will be asked to demonstrate your knowledge and abilities in the following areas:
- Selecting and managing learning activities to ensure safety and the correct use and care of organisms, materials, technologies, and natural resources
- The nature of science
- The process of scientific inquiry
- The unifying concepts that are common to all sciences
- The history of science
- The impact of science on the daily lives of students
- The interactions of science with personal and societal decisions
2. Physics (36%)
For the questions in this domain, you will be asked to demonstrate your knowledge and abilities in the following areas:
- Motion in one and two dimensions
- The laws of motion
- The concepts of gravitational and electromagnetic forces in nature
- Applications of electricity and magnetism
- The conservation of energy and momentum
- The laws of thermodynamics
- The characteristics and behavior of waves
- The fundamental concepts of quantum physics
3. Chemistry (41%)
For the questions in this domain, you will be asked to demonstrate your knowledge and abilities in the following areas:
- The characteristics of matter and atomic structure
- The properties of gas
- The properties and characteristics of ionic and covalent bonds
- Chemical equations and chemical reactions
- Types and properties of solutions
- Energy transformations that occur in physical and chemical processes
- Nuclear fission and fusion
- Nuclear reactions
- Oxidation and reduction reactions
- Acids and bases and their reactions
4. Science Learning, Instruction, and Assessment (9%)
For the questions in this domain, you will be asked to demonstrate your knowledge and abilities in the following areas:
- Research-based theoretical and practical knowledge about teaching science
- The role of scientific inquiry in science instruction
- Monitoring and assessing science learning in field, lab, and classroom settings
Reference Materials
You will have access to a basic copy of the periodic table and a list of definitions and physical constants during the exam to reference at any time:
Periodic Table of Elements
Definitions and Physical Constants
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Exam Registration
To register for the Physical Science 6-12 exam, you must create an online NES account via their website. Once your account has been created, you can use it to register for the exam and schedule an exam date.
When you register, you will need to pay the $116 examination fee.
Test Day
You should arrive at the testing center 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment to allow enough time for the check-in process. Once you arrive, you will be asked to sign in and present one form of valid, government-issued photo ID.
After the check-in process, you will be asked to leave all personal items (phone, keys, wallet, bags, etc.) in a locker outside the testing area.
Once you enter the testing room, you will be asked to sign an NDA, and you will be given a brief tutorial on the computer-adaptive testing system. Once the tutorial is complete, the exam will begin.
How the Exam is Scored
The TExES Physical Science 6-12 exam is computer-adaptive. Here’s a look at how it works:
The first question is judged to be of medium difficulty, and depending on your performance, the next question may be easier or harder. If you do well on the first question, the second question will be harder; conversely, if you do poorly on the first question, the second question will be easy.
The questions on this exam are rated on a scale of 100-300. The higher a question is rated, the harder the question is (e.g., a question marked as 255 will be more difficult than a question marked 155).
To pass the exam, your final question must be on or above the 240 mark. If your final question is below this mark, you will not pass the exam, even if you have answered some questions above the 240 mark at some point during the exam. This is because the computer has rated the difficulty of your final question based on how you answered the previous questions.
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FAQs
Q
How many questions are on the TExES Physical Science 6-12 exam?
A
There are 100 selected-response questions on the exam.
Q
How long is the TExES Physical Science 6-12 exam?
A
The time limit for the exam is 4 hours and 45 minutes.
Q
What is the passing score for the TExES Physical Science 6-12 exam?
A
To pass the exam, you must achieve a scaled score of at least 240.
Q
How much does the TExES Physical Science 6-12 exam cost?
A
The examination fee is $116.
