- TEA's 2024-2025 statewide best-attempt report lists 790 test takers and a 63% pass rate for TExES Science 7-12 (236).
- Passing requires a scaled score of 240 out of 140 selected-response questions.
- Physics and Chemistry each carry 20% of the exam - the two heaviest domains by far.
- The appointment runs 4 hours 45 minutes of testing inside a 5-hour slot, including a tutorial and compliance agreement.
What the 2024-2025 Data Actually Shows
The Texas Education Agency's statewide best-attempt report for 2024-2025 records 790 test takers for TExES Science 7-12 (236), with a 63% pass rate. That single figure tells you something important before you ever open a study guide: this is not a rubber-stamp exam. More than a third of candidates in that reporting period did not clear the required score on their attempt.
It also tells you the candidate pool is relatively small compared to broader TExES tests. Science 7-12 certifies teachers across an unusually wide content span - physics, chemistry, biology, earth and space science, and scientific pedagogy all in one sitting - which is part of why the numbers look the way they do.
Why the Pass Rate Sits Where It Does
TExES 236 covers ten domains, but the weighting is not even close to balanced. Physics and Chemistry each represent 20% of the exam - a combined 40% of your score sitting on the two subjects most science-teacher candidates find hardest to review broadly, since most people specialize deeply in only one science discipline during their degree.
Compare that to Domain 7 (Interdependence of Life and Environmental Systems) at 6% or Domain 10 (Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment) at 5%. A candidate can score perfectly on pedagogy and environmental systems and still fail the exam if physics and chemistry are weak. That imbalance - not the total number of domains - is the real driver behind why a meaningful share of test takers don't clear 240.
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1. Scientific Inquiry and Processes | 10% |
| 2. Physics | 20% |
| 3. Chemistry | 20% |
| 4. Cell Structure and Processes | 8% |
| 5. Heredity and Evolution of Life | 8% |
| 6. Diversity of Life | 8% |
| 7. Interdependence of Life and Environmental Systems | 6% |
| 8. Earth's History and the Structure and Function of Earth Systems | 9% |
| 9. Components and Properties of the Solar System and the Universe | 6% |
| 10. Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment | 5% |
For a full breakdown of what each domain actually tests, see the TExES 236 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 10 Content Areas.
How the Test Format Shapes the Outcome
The exam is 140 selected-response questions, and some administered forms may embed unscored field-test items within that total - meaning you can't identify which questions "count" while you're taking it, so every item deserves full attention. You get 4 hours 45 minutes of actual testing time inside a 5-hour appointment, with the extra time covering a 15-minute tutorial and the compliance agreement at check-in.
Pearson administers the computer-based test on behalf of TEA, and the fee is $116 per attempt. You're given an on-screen scientific calculator, a periodic table, and a definitions/physical-constants reference page - tools that matter enormously for the Physics and Chemistry domains but do nothing for you if you haven't practiced recognizing which formula or constant a question is actually asking for.
Key Takeaway
The provided reference page removes the need to memorize constants, but it won't teach you when to apply them. Practice identifying the right formula from a word problem, not just plugging numbers into one you already know is correct.
A scaled score of 240 is the passing threshold. Because scoring is scaled rather than a raw percentage, missing a cluster of questions in one heavy domain like Chemistry can be harder to recover from than scattered misses across several lighter domains. For the exact scoring mechanics, read TExES 236 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Domain-by-Domain Risk Analysis
Not all ten domains carry equal consequences for a candidate on the edge of the 63% line. Here's where preparation time tends to matter most, based purely on how the domains are weighted.
Physics (20%)
The single largest domain, tied with Chemistry. Candidates from a biology-heavy background often underestimate how much mechanics, energy, waves, and electricity content appears.
- Expect quantitative problems requiring the on-screen calculator
- Conceptual questions on force, motion, and energy transformation are common
- Weak preparation here has an outsized effect on your scaled score
Chemistry (20%)
Equally weighted with Physics. Periodic trends, stoichiometry, bonding, and reaction types are core territory, and the provided periodic table is essential but not sufficient on its own.
- Review atomic structure and periodic trends before reaction chemistry
- Practice balancing equations and mole-based calculations
- Don't neglect qualitative concepts like bonding types and states of matter
Scientific Inquiry and Processes (10%)
At 10%, this domain is smaller than the two science giants but still larger than six of the other eight domains - it's frequently under-studied because it feels "obvious."
- Covers experimental design, lab safety, and data interpretation
- Questions often test how you'd guide students through inquiry, not just your own science knowledge
The remaining seven domains - Cell Structure and Processes, Heredity and Evolution of Life, Diversity of Life, Interdependence of Life and Environmental Systems, Earth's History and Structure/Function of Earth Systems, Solar System and Universe, and Science Learning/Instruction/Assessment - range from 5% to 9% each. Individually small, but collectively they make up more than a third of the exam, so they can't be skipped either. A candidate who nails Physics and Chemistry but ignores everything else can still miss 240. This is exactly why the TExES 236 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt recommends weighting study hours proportionally to domain percentage rather than by personal comfort level.
Who Is Actually Sitting for This Exam
Most candidates arrive at TExES 236 through an approved educator preparation program that has cleared them for test approval. PACT (post-baccalaureate) candidates go through a separate pre-admission process before they're eligible to register. This matters for the pass-rate conversation because the population taking the test isn't random test-takers - it's specifically people who've already been vetted through a certification pathway, which shapes the baseline of who shows up on exam day.
The certificate this exam leads to is a standard Texas classroom-teacher certificate, valid for 5 years, renewed through 150 continuing professional education hours. That renewal cycle is worth knowing early, because it frames TExES 236 as the entry point into a longer professional commitment, not a one-time hurdle. If you're weighing whether that commitment fits your career plans, Is the TExES 236 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 walks through the tradeoffs, and TExES 236 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify covers the eligibility routes in detail.
A Domain-Ordered Study Timeline
Generic weekly study templates don't account for the fact that TExES 236 has two domains worth 20% each and several worth 5-9%. A smarter approach schedules time proportionally to weight, front-loading the domains that move your scaled score the most.
Physics and Chemistry Foundations
- Rebuild core physics concepts: mechanics, energy, electricity, waves
- Rebuild core chemistry concepts: atomic structure, bonding, stoichiometry
- Practice with the on-screen calculator and periodic table format
Life Science Cluster
- Cell Structure and Processes, Heredity and Evolution, Diversity of Life
- Together these three domains approach the weight of Chemistry alone
Earth and Space Cluster
- Earth's History and Structure/Function of Earth Systems
- Solar System and Universe components
- Interdependence of Life and Environmental Systems
Inquiry, Pedagogy, and Full Review
- Scientific Inquiry and Processes; Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment
- Full-length timed practice under the real 4-hour-45-minute constraint
If you want a distilled, single-page version of the must-know facts to review the night before test day, the TExES 236 Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts condenses the domains and format into a quick-reference format. And to gauge honestly whether your current preparation is on pace, How Hard Is the TExES 236 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks down difficulty by domain in more depth than pass-rate data alone can.
Running full practice sets under realistic conditions is one of the most reliable ways to see where your scaled score would actually land. You can build that habit using the timed practice tools on the main practice test platform before committing to an official registration date.
Frequently Asked Questions
TEA's 2024-2025 statewide best-attempt report shows 790 test takers and a 63% pass rate for TExES Science 7-12 (236).
You need a scaled score of 240. The exam has 140 selected-response questions, and some forms may include unscored field-test items within that count.
Physics and Chemistry each make up 20% of the exam - the two largest domains by a wide margin - so they deserve the most concentrated review time.
Testing time is 4 hours 45 minutes within a 5-hour appointment, which also includes a 15-minute tutorial and the compliance agreement.
Yes. Most candidates need test approval through an eligible certification route, while PACT candidates follow a separate pre-admission process before registering through Pearson.
Pass-rate data on its own won't get you to 240, but it does tell you where to spend your limited preparation hours. Pair that awareness with domain-proportional study, realistic timed practice on a full practice test platform, and a clear read on your own weak spots in Physics and Chemistry, and you're preparing for the exam that actually exists - not a generic version of it.