- TExES 236 is the Science 7-12 certification exam administered by Pearson under TEA governance.
- The test has 140 selected-response questions in a 4-hour-45-minute session, for a $116 fee.
- Physics and Chemistry each carry 20% weight - the two largest of 10 domains.
- A scaled score of 240 is required to pass; the statewide 2024-2025 pass rate was 63%.
What Is A TExES 236, Exactly?
TExES 236 is the shorthand educators use for the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards Science 7-12 (236) exam. It's one of dozens of TExES content-area tests that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires for teacher certification, and it's the specific credential that verifies a candidate can teach science to students in grades 7 through 12 across Texas public schools. Pearson administers the computer-based test on behalf of TEA at approved testing centers.
If you've landed here searching for a general definition, this article stays narrowly focused on the science certification - not any other program that happens to share the same numeric code. For a deeper breakdown of the terminology itself, see TExES 236 Meaning and What Does TExES 236 Stand For?.
Who Needs This Certification
Aspiring secondary science teachers pursuing certification through a Texas Educator Preparation Program (EPP) typically need TExES 236 as their content-area exam before they can be recommended for a standard classroom teaching certificate. This includes candidates coming through traditional university-based EPPs as well as alternative certification programs. Candidates generally need test approval through an eligible certification route, and those entering through the PACT (post-baccalaneous alternative certification) pathway follow a separate pre-admission process before they're cleared to register.
Because the exam covers grades 7-12, it applies broadly to middle school and high school science positions - general science, integrated science, or department roles where a single certification covers multiple science subjects rather than requiring separate Biology, Chemistry, or Physics certificates. If you're trying to figure out whether this is the right test for your teaching goals versus another Texas science credential, the eligibility nuances are covered in more depth in TExES 236 Requirements 2026.
Key Takeaway
Confirm your EPP has approved you for TExES 236 before registering - approval status, not just interest in teaching science, determines whether Pearson will let you schedule a seat.
Exam Format and Registration Mechanics
Understanding the mechanics of test day matters as much as knowing the content. Here's what candidates actually encounter:
- Question count: 140 selected-response (multiple-choice) items. Some test forms may embed unscored field-test questions within that total, so not every question you answer counts toward your score - but you won't know which ones are field-test items, so every question deserves full attention.
- Time allowed: 4 hours 45 minutes of testing time, inside a 5-hour total appointment. The extra time covers a 15-minute tutorial and a compliance agreement you complete before the clock starts on actual questions.
- Fee: $116, paid during registration through the Pearson testing platform.
- Provided resources: An on-screen scientific calculator, a periodic table, and a reference page with definitions and physical constants are built into the testing interface - you don't need to memorize constants like Avogadro's number or the gas constant, but you do need to know when and how to apply them.
Because this is a computer-based test delivered on a fixed schedule of appointment slots rather than a single annual date, scheduling logistics matter. If you're planning around a certification deadline or a hiring window, review TExES 236 Exam Dates 2026 before you commit to a testing month. And if you want the full cost picture beyond the base exam fee - retakes, prep materials, EPP fees - TExES 236 Certification Cost 2026 breaks that down.
The 10 Domains You'll Be Tested On
TExES 236 is not evenly distributed across science subjects. The exam blueprint weights ten domains differently, and two of them - Physics and Chemistry - together make up 40% of the entire test. That's a critical planning detail: candidates who studied Biology-heavy coursework in college sometimes underestimate how much physical science shows up on test day.
Domain 1: Scientific Inquiry and Processes (10%)
Covers the nature of science, experimental design, lab safety, and how evidence supports scientific claims.
- Designing controlled experiments and identifying variables
- Interpreting data tables, graphs, and error analysis
Domain 2: Physics (20%)
One of the two largest domains. Expect mechanics, energy, waves, electricity, and magnetism.
- Newtonian motion and force diagrams
- Circuits, wave behavior, and energy transformation
Domain 3: Chemistry (20%)
The other largest domain. Covers atomic structure, bonding, reactions, and stoichiometry.
- Periodic trends and chemical bonding
- Balancing equations and reaction types
Domain 4: Cell Structure and Processes (8%)
Cellular biology, organelles, and metabolic processes like respiration and photosynthesis.
Domain 5: Heredity and Evolution of Life (8%)
Genetics, inheritance patterns, and mechanisms of evolutionary change.
Domain 6: Diversity of Life (8%)
Classification systems, taxonomy, and characteristics distinguishing major life groups.
Domain 7: Interdependence of Life and Environmental Systems (6%)
Ecosystems, energy flow, and human impact on environmental systems.
Domain 8: Earth's History and the Structure and Function of Earth Systems (9%)
Geology, plate tectonics, rock cycle, and Earth's layered structure.
Domain 9: Components and Properties of the Solar System and the Universe (6%)
Astronomy content - celestial bodies, planetary motion, and the scale of the universe.
Domain 10: Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment (5%)
Pedagogy specific to science classrooms: lab safety protocols, instructional planning, and formative assessment.
For a full walkthrough of subskills within each domain - including which topics tend to trip up candidates - see TExES 236 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 10 Content Areas.
Scoring and What Passing Actually Requires
TExES 236 uses a scaled scoring system, and you need a scaled score of 240 to pass. Scaled scores aren't the same as a raw percentage of questions answered correctly - TEA converts your raw performance into a scaled number that accounts for the specific difficulty of the form you received.
Statewide data from the 2024-2025 reporting period shows 790 test takers attempting the exam, with a 63% pass rate on best attempts. That figure is worth sitting with: it means a meaningful share of candidates - including many with strong content backgrounds - do not clear the bar on their first try. This isn't a test you can coast through on general science literacy alone; the breadth across ten domains and the depth expected in Physics and Chemistry specifically catch people off guard.
| Exam Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Total Questions | 140 selected-response |
| Testing Time | 4 hours 45 minutes (5-hour appointment) |
| Passing Score | 240 (scaled) |
| Fee | $116 |
| 2024-2025 Statewide Pass Rate | 63% (790 test takers) |
| Largest Domains | Physics (20%), Chemistry (20%) |
If you want a data-driven look at what that 63% figure means for your own prep strategy, read TExES 236 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows. And for candidates wondering how this exam compares in difficulty to other certification tests, How Hard Is the TExES 236 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 unpacks that question domain by domain.
Key Takeaway
A 240 scaled score isn't "70% correct" in a simple sense - treat every domain, especially Physics and Chemistry, as equally non-negotiable rather than betting on your strongest subject to carry an average.
How to Approach Preparation by Domain Weight
Because Physics and Chemistry combine for 40% of the exam, your study time should not be split evenly across all ten domains. A candidate who spends equal hours on Domain 9 (Solar System, 6%) and Domain 2 (Physics, 20%) is misallocating effort relative to how the test is actually built.
A practical approach: block your first study weeks around the two heaviest domains, then move into the biological and earth science domains, and finish with Domain 10 (pedagogy) and a full review pass. This isn't about rigid time-management systems - it's about matching your calendar to the blueprint.
Physics and Chemistry Foundations
- Review mechanics, energy, and circuits (Domain 2)
- Rebuild stoichiometry and bonding fluency (Domain 3)
Life Sciences Cluster
- Cell processes, heredity, and diversity of life (Domains 4-6)
- Practice interpreting genetics and classification questions
Earth and Space Systems
- Plate tectonics and Earth's structure (Domain 8)
- Astronomy fundamentals (Domain 9) and ecosystems (Domain 7)
Inquiry, Pedagogy, and Full Review
- Scientific inquiry and lab design (Domain 1)
- Instructional planning and assessment (Domain 10)
- Timed practice sets covering all domains
For a structured week-by-week plan with more detail than the outline above, see TExES 236 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. You can also run realistic timed sets on our practice test platform to get comfortable with the pacing before your actual appointment - with 140 questions in under five hours, pacing awareness matters as much as content knowledge.
After You Pass: Certification and Renewal
Passing TExES 236 is one requirement toward a standard Texas classroom teaching certificate - not the entire pathway. Once you clear the score, your EPP typically finalizes your recommendation to TEA for certification. Texas standard classroom-teacher certificates are valid for five years, and renewal requires completing 150 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) within that period. That's an ongoing commitment worth factoring into your long-term planning, not just a box to check at initial certification.
For candidates weighing whether this whole process - exam prep, fees, and the CPE commitment - pays off relative to job opportunities and earning potential, two resources are worth reading side by side: TExES 236 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis and Is the TExES 236 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026. If you're specifically scoping out where certified science teachers get hired across Texas districts, TExES 236 Jobs covers that landscape, and TExES 236 Training outlines formal prep program options beyond self-study.
You can also browse a condensed reference of the numbers covered in this article - fee, timing, passing score, domain weights - in TExES 236 Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts, and revisit the exact scoring mechanics in TExES 236 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Frequently Asked Questions
It certifies that a candidate has demonstrated content knowledge across ten science domains sufficient to teach science in Texas grades 7 through 12, as part of the broader teacher certification process governed by TEA.
The exam includes 140 selected-response questions. Some forms may contain unscored field-test items embedded within that total, though test takers cannot distinguish scored from unscored questions during the exam.
You need a scaled score of 240. This is not a raw percentage - it's a converted score based on your performance relative to the specific form's difficulty.
Physics and Chemistry each account for 20% of the exam - the two largest domains - so they deserve the largest share of study time, followed by the life science and earth science domains at smaller weights.
Most candidates need test approval through an eligible certification route via their Educator Preparation Program. Candidates entering through PACT follow a separate pre-admission process before registration.