- TExES 116 is the Texas Education Agency's Science 4-8 certification exam, administered by Pearson for $116.
- It contains 100 selected-response questions across a five-hour testing appointment.
- Four domains - Scientific Inquiry, Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth and Space Science - each carry 22% weight.
- A scaled score of 240 is required to pass; the statewide best-attempt pass rate for 2024-2025 was 56%.
What TExES 116 Actually Is
TExES 116 is shorthand for the TExES Science 4-8 (116) examination - one of the content-specific certification tests administered under the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards program. It is developed and overseen by the Texas Education Agency and delivered as a computer-administered test through Pearson. The exam exists to verify that a candidate has the science content knowledge and pedagogical understanding required to teach science to students in grades four through eight in Texas public schools.
Unlike a general teaching credential, TExES 116 is subject-specific. It measures competency across scientific inquiry, physical science, life science, and Earth and space science, plus how well a candidate can translate that content knowledge into classroom instruction and assessment. If you're still mapping out how this credential fits into the broader certification process, the TExES 116 Certification overview and the TExES 116 Requirements guide are good companion reads.
Who Takes This Exam and Why
TExES 116 is intended for candidates pursuing certification to teach science in Texas middle-level classrooms - typically grades 4 through 8. This includes:
- Undergraduate and post-baccalaureate candidates finishing an educator preparation program (EPP) with a science specialization
- Career-changers moving into teaching through alternative certification programs
- Current Texas teachers adding a science certification to an existing credential
School districts hire science-certified 4-8 teachers for middle school science classrooms, integrated STEM roles, and departmentalized elementary science positions. If you're weighing whether this certification will open the doors you expect, the TExES 116 Jobs article and the Is the TExES 116 Certification Worth It? analysis dig into that question in more depth.
Exam Format and Registration Mechanics
TExES 116 is a computer-administered test consisting of 100 selected-response questions. Candidates are given a five-hour appointment window, structured as:
- 15 minutes for the on-screen tutorial and compliance agreement
- 4 hours and 45 minutes of actual testing time
Some questions on the exam may be unscored field-test items, which is standard practice across TExES exams and not something candidates can identify during the test. A periodic table is provided on screen, so candidates don't need to memorize element symbols, atomic numbers, or atomic masses - that reference material is built into the testing interface.
The exam fee is $116, paid at the time of registration through Pearson. Testing is offered year-round, which gives candidates flexibility to schedule around coursework, student teaching, or job application deadlines rather than waiting for a fixed testing window. For a breakdown of scheduling logistics and how to plan around program deadlines, see TExES 116 Exam Dates 2026. For the full cost picture beyond just the test fee, check TExES 116 Certification Cost 2026.
Key Takeaway
Because testing is available year-round, there's no need to rush unprepared into a single fixed date - build your study timeline around your own readiness, not an exam calendar.
The Five Content Domains
TExES 116 organizes its 100 questions across five domains. Four of them are weighted equally, which tells you something important: this exam does not let you specialize heavily in one science discipline and coast through the rest.
Domain 1: Scientific Inquiry and Processes (22%)
Covers the nature of science, safe laboratory and field practices, tools and measurement, and the ability to design, interpret, and evaluate investigations.
- Experimental design and controlling variables
- Data interpretation, graphing, and error analysis
- Lab and field safety procedures appropriate for grades 4-8
Domain 2: Physical Science (22%)
Focuses on matter, energy, forces, and motion at a depth appropriate for middle-level instruction.
- Properties of matter and the periodic table (provided on screen)
- Chemical and physical changes
- Forces, motion, work, and energy transformations
Domain 3: Life Science (22%)
Covers cell structure and function, heredity, classification, ecosystems, and human body systems.
- Cell biology and genetics fundamentals
- Classification and biodiversity
- Ecological relationships and energy flow through ecosystems
Domain 4: Earth and Space Science (22%)
Addresses Earth's structure, weather and climate systems, and the solar system and universe.
- Plate tectonics, rock cycle, and geologic processes
- Weather, climate, and the water cycle
- Astronomy basics: solar system, seasons, and celestial motion
Domain 5: Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment (13%)
Ties the content domains together with pedagogy - how science is taught, assessed, and made accessible to middle-level learners.
- Instructional planning and differentiation strategies
- Formative and summative assessment design
- Integrating literacy and technology into science instruction
For a deep, question-level walkthrough of every domain, the TExES 116 Exam Domains 2026 Complete Guide is the most thorough resource on this site.
Scoring, Passing, and Retakes
TExES 116 uses a scaled scoring system, and candidates need a scaled score of 240 to pass. The statewide best-attempt pass rate for the 2024-2025 reporting period was 56%, which reflects the exam's breadth across four equally weighted science domains plus pedagogy. For more context on what that pass rate means for your own preparation, see TExES 116 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows, and for a precise explanation of how scaled scoring works, see TExES 116 Passing Score 2026.
If a candidate does not pass on the first attempt, Texas rules require a 30-day wait before retesting, and candidates are limited to a maximum of five attempts on the exam. This makes early, deliberate preparation more valuable than a rushed first attempt followed by repeated retakes.
| Exam Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Total Questions | 100 selected-response |
| Appointment Length | 5 hours (15 min tutorial + 4 hrs 45 min testing) |
| Passing Scaled Score | 240 |
| Test Fee | $116 |
| Retake Wait Period | 30 days |
| Attempt Limit | 5 attempts |
| 2024-2025 Pass Rate | 56% (best-attempt, statewide) |
The Certification Pathway Around the Exam
Passing TExES 116 is one step within a larger certification pathway, not a standalone credential. Most candidates need testing approval issued through an educator preparation program before they can even register for the exam. The Texas classroom-teacher pathway generally requires:
- Completing an approved educator preparation program
- Passing all required certification exams, including TExES 116 for a science 4-8 assignment
- Submitting a formal certification application to the Texas Education Agency
- Completing fingerprinting and background check requirements
Once issued, a standard Texas classroom-teacher certificate is valid for five years and requires 150 continuing professional education (CPE) hours for renewal. This means TExES 116 is a gateway exam - pass it, complete the surrounding paperwork, and the certification itself carries a defined renewal cycle rather than being a one-time credential. The TExES 116 Requirements guide covers eligibility and prerequisites in more detail, and What Is TExES 116 Certification? explains how the exam and the certificate relate to each other.
How to Approach Preparation
Because TExES 116 spreads its weight evenly across four content domains, effective preparation means allocating study time proportionally rather than gravitating toward whichever science subject feels most comfortable. A candidate with a biology background, for example, still needs dedicated time with Earth and space science topics like plate tectonics and the rock cycle, since that domain carries identical weight to life science.
Diagnostic and Domain Mapping
- Take a full-length practice test to identify weak domains among the four 22% content areas
- Review Domain 1 inquiry skills, since these concepts recur inside physical, life, and Earth science questions
Targeted Content Review
- Work through Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth and Space Science systematically, using the periodic table provided on-screen rather than memorizing it
- Practice interpreting graphs and experimental setups, since Domain 1 concepts appear embedded across other domains
Pedagogy and Full Simulation
- Review Domain 5 instructional and assessment strategies
- Take timed, full-length practice exams to build stamina for the 4 hour 45 minute testing block
For a structured, week-by-week study plan built specifically around this domain breakdown, see the TExES 116 Study Guide 2026. And if you're trying to gauge realistically how much preparation this exam demands relative to your current background, How Hard Is the TExES 116 Exam? walks through the difficulty factors in detail. Running full-length timed sets on our practice test platform is one of the most direct ways to see how your domain-by-domain readiness compares to the 240 passing score before test day.
Key Takeaway
Don't study science subjects in isolation - Domain 1's inquiry and data-analysis skills show up embedded inside physical, life, and Earth science questions, so strengthening inquiry reasoning pays off across the whole exam.
After You Pass
Passing TExES 116 clears one requirement toward earning a Texas science 4-8 certification, but it doesn't automatically issue the credential. Candidates still need to finalize their educator preparation program requirements, submit their certification application, and complete fingerprinting before the Texas Education Agency issues the standard certificate. Once active, that certificate is valid for five years, after which renewal requires 150 CPE hours - a detail worth planning for early in your career rather than scrambling near the expiration date.
For candidates evaluating how this credential translates into classroom placement and long-term career direction, TExES 116 Jobs and TExES 116 Salary Guide 2026 offer additional context, while TExES 116 Training outlines preparation program options if you haven't yet started an EPP. You can also revisit the fundamentals anytime through our practice test homepage as you move from studying to test-day readiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
TExES 116 refers to the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards Science 4-8 (116) exam, the Texas Education Agency's certification test for teaching science in grades four through eight. See What Does TExES 116 Stand For? for a full breakdown of the naming.
The exam has 100 selected-response questions administered within a five-hour appointment, which includes a 15-minute tutorial and compliance agreement plus 4 hours and 45 minutes of testing time.
Candidates need a scaled score of 240 to pass. Full scoring mechanics are explained in TExES 116 Passing Score 2026.
Candidates are limited to five total attempts and must wait 30 days between each retake.
No. A periodic table is provided on screen during the test, so preparation time is better spent understanding concepts like chemical reactions and properties of matter rather than memorizing element data.