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100+ Free TExES Principal 268 Practice Questions

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A principal advocates for all children in the campus community. Under Competency 011, this advocacy is BEST demonstrated by:

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B
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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: TExES Principal 268 Exam

70 + 4

Selected-Response and Constructed-Response Questions

TExES 268 test page

5h / 4h45m

Appointment / Testing Time

TExES 268 test page

240

Scaled Passing Score

Texas educator testing program

$200

Current Test Fee

TExES 268 test page

42%

Domain II Leading Learning Weight

TExES 268 exam framework

6

Domains and 11 Competencies

TExES 268 preparation manual

I, II, III

Domains Assessed by Constructed Response

TExES 268 exam framework

PASL

Performance Assessment Also Required

TEA principal certification requirements

For 2026 planning, the TExES Principal as Instructional Leader (268) is a computer-administered exam with 70 selected-response questions and 4 constructed-response questions, a 5-hour appointment (4 hours 45 minutes of testing), a 240 scaled passing score, and a $200 fee. The framework weights Domain II Leading Learning most heavily at about 42%, followed by Domain I School Culture at about 22% and Domain III Human Capital at about 18%; Domains IV Executive Leadership and V Strategic Operations are about 6% each and Domain VI Ethics, Equity, and Diversity about 5%. Constructed-response prompts are drawn only from Domains I, II, and III, and candidates must also complete the separate Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL) for the principal certificate.

Sample TExES Principal 268 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your TExES Principal 268 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A newly appointed entry-level principal wants to begin shaping a shared campus vision. According to Domain I of the TExES Principal as Instructional Leader framework, which approach BEST reflects effective vision development?
A.Collaboratively developing the vision with stakeholders using multiple types of data, including demographic, perceptive, and student-learning data
B.Drafting the vision independently and announcing it at the first faculty meeting to save time
C.Adopting the vision statement used by the highest-performing campus in the district verbatim
D.Delegating the entire vision-writing process to the campus secretary and counselor
Explanation: Competency 001 emphasizes that the principal collaboratively develops a shared campus vision using emerging issues, recent research, and various types of data (demographic, perceptive, student learning, and processes). Shared ownership and data grounding are central to an effective vision. Top-down or copied visions fail to build stakeholder investment.
2An entry-level principal notices that several teachers feel isolated and morale is declining. Aligned with Competency 001, which action would MOST effectively shape a positive campus culture?
A.Creating a positive, collaborative, and collegial campus culture that sets high expectations and supports campus goals
B.Requiring all teachers to eat lunch in the staff lounge together every day
C.Posting the school's test-score rankings on the front office wall
D.Reducing the number of faculty meetings to give teachers more time alone
Explanation: Competency 001 calls for the principal to create a positive, collaborative, and collegial campus culture that sets high expectations and facilitates achievement of campus goals. Building collegiality and shared purpose addresses isolation and morale directly. Mandates and rankings do not foster genuine collaboration.
3Under Competency 002, the principal must work with stakeholders as key partners. Which strategy BEST involves diverse stakeholders in shaping a shared campus mission?
A.Using consensus-building, conflict-management, and information-gathering strategies to engage stakeholders in collaborative planning
B.Sending parents a finished mission statement and asking them to sign an acknowledgment
C.Limiting planning meetings to administrators and the most senior teachers only
D.Surveying only students who have the highest grade point averages
Explanation: Competency 002 specifies using consensus-building, conflict-management, communication, and information-gathering strategies to involve various stakeholders in planning a shared vision and mission. Authentic involvement requires two-way participation, not just notification. Excluding groups undermines the inclusive process the framework requires.
4A principal wants to ensure parents are an integral part of the campus culture rather than occasional visitors. Which approach is MOST consistent with Competency 002?
A.Building ongoing structures for parent participation and integrating parent voice into campus decisions
B.Inviting parents only to the annual open house and the end-of-year awards ceremony
C.Communicating with parents exclusively through automated robocalls about absences
D.Asking parents to volunteer only for fundraising and never for academic planning
Explanation: Competency 002 states the principal ensures that parents and other community members are an integral part of the campus culture. This means ongoing, meaningful involvement in decisions, not limited or transactional contact. One-way communication and fundraising-only roles do not integrate parents into the culture.
5An entry-level principal is developing a campus improvement plan. According to Competency 001, what should the principal do to keep the plan responsive over time?
A.Establish procedures to assess and modify implementation plans to promote achievement of the campus vision
B.Lock the plan for three years so staff are not distracted by changes
C.Wait until the end-of-year accountability ratings before reviewing any progress
D.Assign plan monitoring entirely to the district office to reduce campus workload
Explanation: Competency 001 directs the principal to establish procedures to assess and modify implementation plans to promote achievement of the campus vision. Continuous monitoring and adjustment keep the plan aligned with results. Freezing the plan or waiting for year-end data prevents timely course correction.
6To support the social, emotional, and physical well-being of staff and students, Competency 001 calls for the principal to do which of the following?
A.Create an atmosphere of safety that encourages the well-being of staff and students
B.Focus solely on raising standardized test scores until safety concerns resolve themselves
C.Address safety only after a serious incident has already occurred on campus
D.Delegate all student well-being matters to the school nurse without follow-up
Explanation: Competency 001 explicitly directs the principal to create an atmosphere of safety that encourages the social, emotional, and physical well-being of staff and students. Proactive attention to climate and safety is part of shaping a healthy culture. Reactive or narrowly academic approaches neglect this responsibility.
7A principal wants to systematically gather input that supports innovative thinking and an inclusive culture. Which method BEST aligns with Competency 001?
A.Implementing structured strategies to gather input from all campus stakeholders, including those whose voices are often unheard
B.Relying only on the opinions of the campus leadership team during planning
C.Acting on suggestions only from teachers with more than ten years of experience
D.Gathering input once at the start of the year and not revisiting it
Explanation: Competency 001 calls for implementing effective strategies to systematically gather input from all campus stakeholders, supporting innovative thinking and an inclusive culture. Inclusive input deliberately reaches diverse and often-unheard voices on an ongoing basis. Limiting input to a small or tenured group is exclusionary.
8Bullying incidents have risen at a middle school. Consistent with building a positive campus culture under Domain I, what is the principal's MOST appropriate first leadership response?
A.Develop a schoolwide culture and systems making clear that bullying is not permitted and all students are included and respected
B.Wait to see whether the incidents decrease on their own before taking action
C.Punish only the most visible offender and consider the matter resolved
D.Tell teachers that bullying is a counseling issue and not an instructional concern
Explanation: Building a positive campus culture under Domain I means establishing schoolwide expectations and systems so that bullying is clearly not permitted and all students are included and respected. A systemic, proactive culture response is more effective than isolated punishment or inaction. Climate and safety are core principal responsibilities.
9When aligning resources to a newly adopted campus vision, Competency 001 indicates the principal should do which of the following?
A.Align financial, human, and material resources to support implementation of the campus vision and mission
B.Spend the entire campus budget on technology regardless of the vision's priorities
C.Leave all resource decisions to the district until the vision is fully proven
D.Distribute resources equally across every program without regard to goals
Explanation: Competency 001 directs the principal to align financial, human, and material resources to support implementation of the campus vision and mission. Resource allocation should follow strategic priorities tied to the vision. Spending without regard to the vision, or distributing equally without prioritization, undermines coherent implementation.
10A principal establishes consistent expectations for all stakeholders and provides supportive feedback. According to Competency 001, the primary purpose of this practice is to:
A.Promote a positive campus environment through clear, consistent expectations and supportive feedback
B.Create a ranking system that publicly identifies the lowest-performing staff members
C.Reduce the need for any future professional development on campus
D.Ensure that only veteran staff receive feedback from the principal
Explanation: Competency 001 states the principal establishes and communicates consistent expectations for all stakeholders, providing supportive feedback to promote a positive campus environment. The aim is a constructive, consistent climate, not public ranking or selective feedback. Clear expectations apply to all stakeholders.

About the TExES Principal 268 Exam

TExES Principal as Instructional Leader (268) is the Texas certification exam for aspiring campus principals. The official framework centers on instructional leadership across six domains: School Culture, Leading Learning, Human Capital, Executive Leadership, Strategic Operations, and Ethics, Equity, and Diversity. The exam combines 70 selected-response questions with 4 constructed-response questions.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

5h appointment (4h 45m testing)

Passing Score

240 (scaled)

Exam Fee

$200 (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program / Pearson)

TExES Principal 268 Exam Content Outline

22%

School Culture

Domain I (Competencies 001-002): establishing and implementing a shared vision and culture of high expectations, campus safety and climate, and working with stakeholders and families as partners in student learning.

42%

Leading Learning

Domain II (Competencies 003-004): collaboratively developing high-quality, TEKS-aligned instruction and monitoring and assessing classroom instruction to promote teacher effectiveness, equity, and student achievement.

18%

Human Capital

Domain III (Competencies 005-006): feedback, coaching, evaluation, and professional development of staff, plus legal selection, placement, retention, and development practices that build teacher excellence.

6%

Executive Leadership

Domain IV (Competencies 007-008): selecting communication strategies for varied audiences, building stakeholder relationships, and improving outcomes through problem solving, resiliency, and change management.

6%

Strategic Operations

Domain V (Competencies 009-010): goal setting, resource allocation, budget and policy implementation, safety and crisis planning, and coordination of school operations and programs.

5%

Ethics, Equity, and Diversity

Domain VI (Competency 011): upholding the Educators' Code of Ethics (TAC Chapter 247), ensuring equitable access to effective educators, applying confidentiality and legal guidelines, and promoting diversity.

How to Pass the TExES Principal 268 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 240 (scaled)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 5h appointment (4h 45m testing)
  • Exam fee: $200

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

TExES Principal 268 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Prioritize Domain II Leading Learning first because it carries about 42% of the exam weight when constructed-response questions are included
2For instructional scenarios, choose actions that prioritize high-quality, TEKS-aligned instruction, data-informed decisions, and reducing achievement gaps
3For human capital items, favor coaching, individualized feedback, and legal, evidence-based personnel decisions over punitive or shortcut approaches
4On operations and safety items, apply local, state, and federal law, due process, and special-education requirements, and ensure a documented, practiced crisis plan
5For ethics questions, anchor to the Educators' Code of Ethics (TAC Chapter 247): integrity, confidentiality, conflict-of-interest avoidance, and equitable access for all students
6Practice the four constructed-response prompts from Domains I, II, and III, and treat ethics, equity, and diversity as integrated across every domain

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the TExES Principal 268 exam?

The TExES Principal as Instructional Leader (268) exam has 70 selected-response questions and 4 constructed-response questions. The appointment is 5 hours total, with 4 hours 45 minutes of actual testing time after the tutorial and compliance agreement.

What passing score do I need for the TExES 268?

The passing standard is a scaled score of 240 on a 100-to-300 scale. The score combines performance on the selected-response and constructed-response portions, so focus on consistent performance across all six domains rather than a raw-score cutoff.

How much does the TExES Principal 268 exam cost?

The current fee for the TExES Principal as Instructional Leader (268) is $200, with the possibility of additional fees. The 268 costs more than many TExES content exams because it includes constructed-response questions that require scoring.

Which domains are weighted most heavily on the TExES 268?

Domain II Leading Learning is weighted most heavily at about 42% of the exam, followed by Domain I School Culture at about 22% and Domain III Human Capital at about 18%. Domains IV and V are about 6% each and Domain VI is about 5%.

Do I also have to take the PASL for principal certification in Texas?

Yes. In addition to passing the 268 exam, candidates for the Texas principal certificate must complete the Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL), a separate performance-based assessment. Confirm current requirements with your educator preparation program.

How should I study for the TExES Principal 268 effectively?

Study with scenario-based practice rather than memorizing competency wording. Prioritize Domain II instructional leadership, then School Culture and Human Capital, and practice the four constructed-response prompts that come from Domains I, II, and III. Ground answers in effective, ethical, student-centered leadership.