About the TExES Science 4-8 (116) Exam

What Is the TExES Science 4-8 (116) Exam?

The TExES Science 4-8 (116) exam is a Texas educator certification content exam required for candidates seeking the Science 4-8 classroom teacher certificate. It is administered by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) through Pearson as a computer-administered test (CAT). The exam measures whether a prospective grades 4-8 science teacher has mastered the science content and instructional knowledge expected of an entry-level educator in Texas.

The "116" in the title is the official TExES exam identifier (sometimes written as TExES 116 or Science 4-8 116). Texas uses a three-digit numbering system across its TExES content exams; 116 specifically designates the Science 4-8 field.

Exam Logistics

The 5-hour appointment window includes 4 hours 45 minutes of actual testing time plus a 15-minute segment for the CAT tutorial and compliance agreement. Because the test is computer-administered, you will select answers on-screen at a Pearson VUE testing center; there is no paper form.

The Five Domains

The exam is organized into five domains that together contain 23 competencies (numbered 001 through 023). Four domains carry equal 22% weight and the fifth — instruction and assessment — carries 13%.

TEA publishes these as approximate percentages of the exam, which is why they sum to 101% rather than 100% — they are rounded. Treat them as planning weights, not as exact question counts, and do not expect precisely 22 items from each content domain.

• Domain I — Scientific Inquiry and Processes (22%) covers the nature of science, scientific inquiry, the relationship between science and society, and the unifying concepts and processes that recur across all sciences.
• Domain II — Physical Science (22%) covers scientific investigation in physical science, the structure and properties of matter, chemical reactions, physics of motion/forces/energy, and energy transformations.
• Domain III — Life Science (22%) covers biological structures and functions, heredity and reproduction, adaptations and classification, organisms and environments, and biological evolution.
• Domain IV — Earth and Space Science (22%) covers Earth systems, Earth's history, Earth in space, and the solar system and universe.
• Domain V — Science Learning Instruction and Assessment (13%) covers the science learning environment, scientific inquiry instruction, and science assessment.

Eligibility and Prerequisites

To sit for the exam you must:

1. Be enrolled in, or have completed, a Texas-approved educator preparation program (EPP) and have received testing approval from that program.
2. Hold (or be on track to hold) a bachelor's degree — required for the standard Texas classroom teacher certificate.
3. Register and pay the $116 fee through the tx.nesinc.com portal, then schedule a CAT appointment at a Pearson VUE testing center.

Out-of-state candidates and those seeking alternative routes should confirm current pathway rules directly with TEA, because certification requirements are subject to periodic revision.

Score Reporting and What Your Score Report Shows

The TExES Science 4-8 (116) exam is scored on a 100-300 scaled score, and the passing score set by TEA/SBEC is 240. Scores are not released immediately at the testing center. They are posted to your online tx.nesinc.com account at 10:00 p.m. Central time on the published score report date for your test date, so check the score report date list when you schedule rather than counting days from your appointment. Results also go to TEA and to your educator preparation program unless you cancel your scores at the end of the appointment, and you should allow a further 7 to 10 business days after the score report date for the result to appear in your ECOS account through TEAL before submitting a certification application. Your score report shows:

• The overall scaled score (one number between 100 and 300).
• A pass/fail status against the 240 threshold.
• Performance detail by content area, which TEA describes as information that can help you identify the specific areas to target if you need to retake the exam.

The exam may include pretest (pilot) questions embedded among the 100 items. These items are being field-tested and do not count toward your score, but you cannot identify them, so answer every question as if it counts.

Reference Materials, Calculator, and On-Screen Tools

A calculator is not permitted on the Science 4-8 (116) exam. Any reference materials you need are embedded in the CAT interface, including an on-screen periodic table. Before the 4-hour-45-minute testing clock begins, a 15-minute tutorial demonstrates the on-screen tools: question flagging, the review screen (jump back to flagged or unanswered items), the periodic table display, and navigation between items. Even if you have taken CAT exams before, use the tutorial to confirm where the periodic table and review controls live, because locating them under time pressure wastes minutes you cannot recover.

Test-Day Procedures and What to Bring

Arrive at the Pearson VUE testing center early. You must bring:

• Two forms of identification, one a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver license or passport).

Personal items including phones, notes, watches, and bags are stored in a provided locker. Check-in includes photo and signature capture. The 15-minute CAT tutorial and compliance segment runs before your 4-hour-45-minute testing clock starts, so total seat time approaches the full 5-hour appointment window.

How This Exam Fits Texas Teacher Certification

The Science 4-8 (116) exam supports the Texas Science 4-8 classroom teacher certificate field, authorizing the holder to teach science in grades 4-8. It is a content exam; pedagogy is assessed separately through the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) exam. The standard certification route is:

1. Earn a bachelor's degree.
2. Complete a Texas-approved educator preparation program (EPP).
3. Pass the content exam (116) and the PPR.