The Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) Social Studies 7-12 exam is used to assess that a teacher candidate has the required knowledge and skills necessary as an entry-level educator in Social Studies, grades seven through 12. This exam is required for certification as a Social Studies teacher for grades seven – 12 in the state of Texas.
Test design
The Social Studies exam is a four-hour and forty-five-minute
computer-administered test (CAT) consisting of 140 multiple-choice
questions. Questions are developed to
assess your competency in the established domains of educator standards for
Social Studies teachers. Questions are developed utilizing various methods of
introducing information such as tables, passages, graphs, and media clips.
The examination is divided into seven domains. Each domain
consists of competency and descriptive statements which are used to test your
knowledge, skills, and abilities. All domains test your knowledge and
understanding of influencing factors, significant events, major
characteristics, exploration and discovery, and the effects of decisions and
conflict throughout the world.
- Domain I: World History – 15% of the test
Time periods covered in this domain are the
ancient world to 600 A.D., 600 A.D. to 1450 A.D., 1450 A.D. to 1750 A.D., and
1750 A.D. to the present is examined and assessed.
- Domain II: U.S. History – 20% of the test
This domain covers the following time periods:
exploration and colonization; Revolutionary era; the early years of the
Republic; Westward Expansion; Civil War; Reconstruction; the U.S. as a world
power; and political, economic, and social developments from 1877 to the
present.
- Domain III: Texas History – 13% of the test
Required of all Social Studies educators in
Texas is the understanding of the significant historical developments and
events leading to Texas as it is in the present day. The time periods explored
in this domain are: the beginning of the Mexican National Era in 1821;
Independence, Statehood, Civil War Reconstruction and Aftermath 1821 to 1900;
Texas in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries from 1900 to present.
- Domain IV: Geography, Culture, and the Behavioral and Social Sciences – 13% of the test
This domain covers physical geography
concepts, natural processes, and the Earth’s physical features. You must be
able to understand global and regional patterns associated with cultures,
cultural regions, the interactions of societal groups, and the influence they
bear on other cultures, places, and environments. In addition, you will apply
sociological, anthropological, and psychological concepts to help your students
understand cultural formation and change, intergroup relations, and their
effects on individual development.
- Domain V: Government and Citizenship – 13% of the test
As a social studies teacher, it is your
responsibility to understand the principles and structure of government, the
political process, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens in the
United States. Additionally, you need to exhibit your understanding of the
similarities and differences of significant historical and contemporary forms
of government.
- Domain VI: Economics and Science, Technology and Society – 13% of the test
This domain will test your understanding of
fundamental economic developments, the structure and operation of the free
enterprise system, and the basic concepts of consumer economics. The questions
in this domain also assess your knowledge and understanding of major scientific
and mathematical discoveries, technological innovations, and their impact on
society.
- Domain VII: Social Studies Foundations, Skills, Research, and Instruction – 13% of the test
This domain covers your understanding of
social studies foundations and skills, sources and interpretation of social
studies information, research methods and techniques, and the instruction and
assessment of social studies essential skills in an educational environment.
Registration,
scheduling the exam, and cost
You will be scheduled for a five-hour time block for the
assessment. This time allotment includes fifteen minutes to complete pre-test
activities and four hours and forty-five minutes for the examination.
Registration is completed online, and test dates are available year-round, on a
first-come, first served basis. Testing centers are located throughout Texas
and nationwide. The cost of the exam is $116.00, and you will have 170 days to
schedule your appointment once you register and pay the exam fee.
Test Day
You are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes before your
appointment time to complete pre-test paperwork. Two valid forms of
identification are required, and all personal items need to be left at home, in
your car, or in the locker that is provided.
The Social Studies exam is a closed-book test, and the
testing center provides you with everything you need to complete the test
including a note board booklet and an erasable pen. If time remains when you are finished, review
your answers before submitting your test for scoring. Once you are satisfied
with your responses, return all materials to the test center administrator.
Exam scoring and
results
You receive one point for each correct response. Incorrect
or blank answers do not incur a penalty. Your raw score is then converted to a
scaled score. You need to obtain a scaled score of 240 to pass.
Your official report will be available in your account by 10:00 p.m. within seven days of your testing window closing. You may elect to have your report emailed to you, and your official score is reported to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Educator Preparation Program (EPP), if applicable.
How Can I Prepare for the TExES Social Studies 7-12 Exam?
We believe that different learning styles require different tools for success. We have compiled a list of the best study guides, flashcards, and practice tests that we’ve found on the market. Some of these guides have review videos, for you visual learners out there. Others have practice tests, which have been proven to increase student scores by a whole letter grade (in some cases more than that)!