The TExES Science 4-8 (116) exam is an exam required by the state of Texes for teachers who wish to teach science at the 4th- 8th grade level. The TExES Science 4-8 tests the examinees knowledge of science and ability to teach science topics to students of the specified grade level. The test covers topics that science teachers in those grade levels will need to know - including physical science, life science, and earth science. Upon passing the TExES exam, you will be eligible to apply for certification to teach upper elementary and middle school science.
The TExES Science 4-8 exam is a computer-administered test (CAT), and does not require hand-written responses of any kind. The TExES exam contains 100 questions, each of which is "selected-choice." You'll be given a question and asked to pick the correct response(s) from a list of possible answers. Examinees will not be required to write an essay or provide any other form of written or constructed response.
On test day, you'll be given 5 hours to complete the exam. The 5-hour testing period is broken up into two parts:
A 15 minute beginning section, which contains the compliance agreement for the exam and a tutorial on how to take the test
A 4 hour, 45 minute main section, where you'll answer the 100 exam questions
Additionally, the TExES Science 4-8 contains questions that are "ungraded" and do not count towards your final score. You will not know which questions are ungraded, however, so you should give your best effort on every question!
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As mentioned in the previous section, the TExES science 4-8 (116) is made up entirely of selected-response questions. There are no essays, graphing, or other constructed responses. You will be provided with a question and asked to select an answer out of a list of possible correct answers.
In terms of content, the state of Texas has several standards that guide the material on the exam. Some of these standards are:
Understanding the proper use of laboratory tools
Understanding classroom management
Having a solid grasp of science education strategies
Knowing science history and the fundamental nature of science, as well as the limitations of science
Being well-versed in the content-specific areas (we'll touch on these later)
While this list covers the foundational material on the test, it's not exhaustive.
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Now that we've completed our general walk-through of the test, it's time to dig into the content that this exam contains. The content of the TExES Science 4-8 (116) exam is divided into 5 domains. Each domain focuses on a specific competency.
Here are the TExES 4-8 Science competencies:
Domain
Percent of Exam
Approx. Number of Questions
1: Scientific Inquiry and Processes
22%
22
2: Physical Science
22%
22
3: Life Science
22%
22
4: Earth and Space Science
22%
22
5: Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment
13%
13
Note: percentages do not sum to 100 due to rounding.
Because science education at the upper elementary and middle school level is often very broad in terms of content, the material on this exam is also broad. You'll need to have a good working knowledge of everything from basic chemistry to cells to the water cycle. We'll spend the next several sections going through what you need to know to ace this test!
Domain I: Scientific Inquiry and Processes (22%)
Making up 22% of the exam, the Scientific Inquiry and Processes segment of the TExES Science 4-8 (116) focuses largely on your knowledge of science fundamentals. The specific competencies covered in this domain include:
Managing learning activities to ensure student safety
Correct use of tools, technology, materials, and scientific equipment
Comprehending the nature and history of science, as well as the process of scientific inquiry
Understanding the daily impact of science on the lives of students, as well as society as a whole
Knowing the concepts and processes that are constant across all types of science
Domain 1 of the exam focuses on two primary ideas: fundamental science knowledge and science classroom management. This domain will test the foundation of your abilities as a science educator. Do you have a deep understanding of the scientific process, how science impacts our lives, and how to create a successful and safe classroom environment? These are the overarching fundamentals that this section covers.
Domain II: Physical Science (22%)
The second of the TExES 4-8 exam competencies is the domain of Physical Science." Physical science - which includes everything from electricity and magnetism to motion and collisions - features heavily in the exam. This is one of the most practical portions of the test.
Here's the list of what the Physical Science domain focuses on:
Forces and motion, as well as their relationships
Physical properties and changes of matter
Chemical properties and changes of matter
Energy, as well as matter-energy interactions
Energy transformations, plus the conservation of energy and matter
The material in this domain can be separated into a few broad categories, including kinetics,chemistry and matter, and energy and energy transformations. To excel in this portion of the test, you should be sure to pay close attention to these concepts. The required knowledge won't be quite as in-depth as what you'd need if you were taking a higher-level test (e.g. a certification exam for high school science), but you'll still need to be readily familiar with ideas such as the makeup of atoms, the transformation of energy from one form to another, and how moving objects interact with their environment. You should also study up on basic mathematical and chemical equations.
Domain III: Life Science (22%)
The third domain comprising this exam is that of Life Science. Like physical science, life science plays a prominent role in upper elementary and middle school science education. When you think back to your time in school, do you remember learning about the parts of a cell? Perhaps you even got to do fun experiments, such as look at cells under a microscope. or grow plants under different colors of light.
If you did this, or anything similar, you were learning about life science!
This section of the TExES Science 4-8 content test will assess your knowledge of:
Structures and functions of living organisms
Reproduction and heredity
Organism adaptation and the theory of evolution
Regulatory mechanisms and behaviors (e.g. homeostasis, response to stimuli, etc.)
Organism-environment relationships
Included under these content areas are more detailed competencies, such as understanding taxonomic groups, tracking genetic changes across different generations of organisms, and being familiar with concepts such as carrying capacity and food chain niches.
Domain IV: Earth and Space Science (22%)
In addition to physical science and life science, another essential element of science education is Earth and Space Science," and is the fourth domain of the TExES Science 4-8 (116). In this domain, you'll be tested primarily on the following ideas:
Functions and structures of Earth systems
Cycles in Earth systems
The role energy plays in weather and climate
Characteristics of the solar system and the universe at large
History of the Earth system
It is this portion of the exam that you will be tested on elements such as: plate tectonics, the difference between climate and weather, and the history of the solar system. This is one of the more creative sections of the exam, and of the science classroom.
Domain V: Science Learning, Instruction, and Assessment (13%)
The fifth and final domain of the TExES Science 4-8 is Science Learning, Instruction, and Assessment." It counts for around 13 percent of your total score. This last domain of the exam is similar to the first, as it deals less with your knowledge of science facts and more with your knowledge of science education and instruction.
As such, the competencies covered in this domain are:
Knowing both the theory and practice behind teaching science, as well as how students learn science
Understanding the process of scientific inquiry and the role of this process in education
Knowing how to use appropriate assessments to monitor student learning, including assessments in the classroom, in the laboratory, and in the field
Domain 5 is focused on the strategies and mechanisms behind science education. It addresses questions such as: How do students learn science? What assignments are useful to monitor student learning? How do you effectively teach science curriculum to students? These are the main ideas that this portion of the exam will test you on.
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To register for this exam, you must be seeking TExES teacher certification in Texas. Registration is completed by visiting the official TExES website and navigating to the "Science 4-8" section. You will need an account to register for this exam.
After creating an account, you will be prompted to enter basic background information about yourself, thus creating a personal profile. Then, you'll be allowed to select a time and location upon your TExES exam registration.
Appointments are available year-round at multiple testing centers both in Texas and around the United States.
Cost of the Science 4-8 Test
The TExES Science 4-8 exam has an exam fee of $116. Additional small fees may apply. These fees serve to support the operations of the Texas educator website. Payment may be made only via a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card. No other forms of payment (checks, cash, or other credit/debit brands) will be accepted.
After the payment has been processed, you'll have 170 days to schedule and take your exam. During this time, you'll be able to get a refund if you: (1) request to cancel at least 48 hours before your exam appointment, and (2) submit a withdrawal request through your account. If you fail to appear for testing and do not cancel your exam (or you wait beyond 170 days after registration to take the exam), you won't be eligible for a refund.
Testing Policies for the TExES Science 4-8 Exam
On exam day, you'll be expected to abide by the test center policies. These include (but are not limited to) the following:
Personal items (except for eyeglasses or clothing worn for religious purposes) are not allowed in the testing room. You'll be checked for prohibited materials before entering the room.
No notes or calculators are permitted
No food, drink, or chewing gum is allowed
No collaboration is allowed with other test-takers
There are other test center policies which can be viewed on the official Texas Educator Certification Examination Program website.
In addition to the policies described above, the TExES exams have specific policies regarding identification. To verify your identity on test day, you must submit two official identification documents. One of these - your primary document - has to be an original piece of government identification. That includes driver's licenses, passports, a state-issued ID, or a military ID. It is important that these be original - no photocopies will be permitted.
Your secondary document can be anything you want, provided that it is a valid form of ID containing either your photo or your signature. Additionally, the name on your ID (excluding prefixes/suffixes, hyphens, spaces, etc.) MUST match that on your test registration. If it doesn't, you will not be allowed to take the test and you will not receive a refund.
Scoring Guidelines for the Science 4-8 Content Test
The TExES Science 4-8 exam passing score is 240. The test is scored on a scale from 100 to 300, with 100 being the lowest possible score and 300 being the highest. All scored questions are worth the same amount of points. After testing, you will typically receive your TExES exam results within 7 days.
According to statistics available from the 2016-2017 academic year, the average score on this exam was 243.3. 61 percent of test-takers passed the exam.
TExES Science 4-8 Test Preparation
The key to success on any test is study and preparation. But how you study is just as important as how much you study. Here's what you should consider doing during your TExES Science 4-8 test prep:
Make a plan. The most effective way to do this is to go domain-by-domain. Dedicate portions of your study specifically to the material contained in each separate domain, breaking it up into "bite-sized" chunks. It is here that you'll essentially be building your 4-8 Science TExES study guide.
Take your time studying. To truly make sure you understand the material, you should spread out your studying over time, versus cramming. Don't study too much at once!
Take practice tests. This is one of the most important parts of your study plan. We'll discuss these in more detail below.
TExES Science 4-8 Practice Test
Taking TExES practice test is essential to prepare for any exam, as they allow you to effectively prepare for the real test. The score you get on a practice test can also help you understand how much you need to study, and what areas you need to study.
As such, you should incorporate practice test heavily into your TExES Science 4-8 test prep. Try to take a variety of different practice tests, as this will expose you to a wider variety of material.
As you complete practice tests, go back over your answers. Make sure you understand why you got the answer right (or why you got it wrong,) as this will help you improve in the future. Additionally, you should be sure to practice good test-taking strategies as you work through your practice tests. Good test-taking strategies include: eliminating incorrect answers, using context clues, and, if you don't know the answer, guessing. These strategies will serve you well when take the real exam.
TExES Science 4-8 Difficulty
Because this exam covers a wide range of science and education principles, it can be rather difficult. However, it is by no means the toughest TExES test - the TExES 4-8 Science difficulty can probably be rated as "medium."
As we found out earlier on, 61 percent of test-takers passed this exam the first time around. This is encouraging news! To ensure success on your first attempt, make sure that you put together a study plan and build an effective 4-8 Science TExES study guide. If you study well and take plenty of practice tests, then you should be able to succeed in your TExES 4-8 Science exam.
Expert Contributor
Zenobia Denny
Zenobia Denny, M.A. has been a dedicated educator for over 10 years. She holds teaching certifications in Elementary Education, Special Education, and ESL. She has taken and passed numerous Praxis and TExES exams, including the TExES Principal Certification exam. Zenobia completed an M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Walden University and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Gifted and Talented.
Frequently Asked Questions
What TExES exams do I need to take?
This depends upon what you want to teach. If you wish to teach upper elementary and/or middle school science, you will need to take the TExES Science 4-8 exam.
How many times can you take the TExES exam?
You can typically retake them 5 times. According to the TExES official website, you must wait at least 30 days after the date of your last test before re-taking the exam.
