TExES Generalist EC-6 Exam

The TExES 191 Generalist EC-6 exam is a wide-ranging assessment for men and women who want to teach early grades in the state of Texas. The content of the exam is divided into five domains: English language arts and reading (32% of the test); mathematics (19%); social studies (19%); science (18%); and fine arts, health, and physical education (12%).

The English language arts and reading domain covers the following topics: oral language, phonological and phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle, literacy development and practice, and word analysis and decoding. This domain of the TExES 191 Generalist EC-6 exam also includes reading fluency, reading comprehension, development of written communication, writing conventions, assessment and instruction of developing literacy, research and inquiry skills, and viewing and representing. The mathematics domain, meanwhile, addresses the following topics: number concepts, patterns and algebra, geometry and measurement, probability and statistics, mathematical processes, mathematical perspectives, mathematical learning and instruction, mathematical assessment, and professional development. The social studies content area of the TExES 191 Generalist EC-6 exam covers the following topics: the social sciences and the value of the social sciences; effective integration of the social science disciplines; and the use of social studies, as defined by Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), to plan and implement effective curriculum, instruction, assessment, and evaluation. More specifically, this domain requires knowledge of history; geography; economics; government; citizenship; culture; and science, technology, and society. The science domain of the TExES 191 Generalist EC-6 exam addresses the following topics: the management of classroom, field, and laboratory activities to ensure the safety of all students and the ethical care and treatment of organisms and specimens; the correct use of tools, materials, equipment, and technology; and the process of scientific inquiry and its role in science instruction.

This domain also includes theoretical and practical knowledge about teaching and learning science, the assessment practices to monitor science learning, and the history and nature of science. Finally, this domain includes questions about how science affects the daily lives of students and how science interacts with and influences personal and societal decisions; the science content appropriate to teach the TEKS curriculum in physical science, life science, Earth science, and space science classes; and the unifying concepts and processes that are common to all sciences. The TExES 191 Generalist EC-6 exam was developed by the Texas Education Agency and the Educational Testing Service.