Texas state requires some teaching candidates to pass a Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) for admission into certain educator preparation programs. The Texas PACT exam can be used for admission into post-graduate educator programs (EPP) and alternative certification programs. Passing a Texas PACT exam does not guarantee admission into preparation programs; EPP programs also have additional admissions guidelines.
PACT test Texas exams may also be used for other purposes besides admission to EPP programs. Participation in alternative routes to earning intern certification, or content expertise testing for employment opportunities in charter schools may both require successful PACT testing. After completion of an EPP program, educators must pass The Texas Examinations of Educator Standards exam to qualify for TExES teacher certification.
PACT vs TExES
The PACT test Texas admissions exams and the TExES exam for educator certification serve two different purposes. The PACT exam measures a candidate's admission readiness to EPP programs by testing subject-matter knowledge of TX PACT content. The TExES exam measures educators' knowledge for teacher certification by testing subject-matter knowledge and teaching knowledge specific to teaching content areas. In short, PACT vs TExES exams differ in terms of purpose and knowledge areas.
TX PACT Content Exams
Candidates entering an EPP program must successfully pass a TX PACT Essential Academic Skills (700) exam, which measures knowledge in Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic content areas to assess program admission readiness. After completion of the EPP program, PACT test Texas requires candidates to achieve passing scores on the TX PACT content exam applicable to their content specialty to qualify for certification. All Texas PACT exams are specifically designed to support that initiative by aligning content requirements with teaching expertise for grade-level certification. The following table provides examples of the TX PACT exam's multiple grade-level and testing requirements for certification in English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) and in ELAR and Social Science combined for grade levels 4-8.
Certification Area
PACT Exam Required
Teaching Grade level
Test Code
ELAR
TX PACT English Language Arts and Reading
4-8
717
ELAR
TX PACT English Language Arts and Reading
7-12
731
ELAR/Social Studies (4-8)
TX PACT English Language Arts and Reading
4-8
717
TX PACT Social Studies
4-8
718
Exams Unavailable Under Texas PACT
There are certification areas in which TX PACT exams are unavailable. Candidates need approval for alternative testing in the following content, professional, and specialty areas for certification.
Bilingual Education Supplemental
Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test Spanish
Braille
Educational Diagnostician
English as a Second Language Supplemental (ESL)
Gifted and Talented Supplemental
Health Science 6-12
Marketing 6-12
Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12
Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities for Trade and Industrial Education 6-12
Principal as Instructional Leader
Reading Specialist
School Counselor
School Librarian
Special Education Supplemental
Superintendent
Visually Impaired
Source: Texas Educator Certification Examination Program
PACT Exam Requirement Scenarios
Passing the PACT test and EPP leads to taking the TExES exam and to TExES certification. Candidates who do not meet the following requirements must take the PACT exam for admission into an EPP.
Does not meet the 2.5 GPA threshold OR
Has not completed twelve semester hours in their content area (excludes Math and Science above seventh grade, which requires fifteen semester hours.)
EPP programs may have policies related to passing the TX PACT exam. Localities may differ in their requirements; candidates should contact their intended EPP program for PACT exam policies. Intern certification through the intensive pre-service (IPS) route requires demonstrating knowledge in specific content areas through PACT exam testing. Other intern certification requirements include classroom training through instructional and EPP program support. IPS candidates have five attempts to pass the PACT exam. Candidates cannot restart the PACT exam count if transferring to another EPP.
Candidates Eligible for PACT Exam
Candidates are eligible to take the TX PACT exam if they hold an undergraduate degree in any area or are in the last semester of earning a degree from an accredited college or university. Candidates who were never admitted to a Texas-approved EPP program or who had transferred to a different EPP program qualify for TX PACT testing for admission, leading to the TExES exam and eventual educator certification.
Candidates Not Eligible for PACT Exam
Individuals seeking roles besides classroom instruction, such as; special education teachers, school and district leaders, counselors, librarians, and reading specialists cannot take the PACT exam. This non-eligibility policy also includes individuals; seeking certification requiring certain skills and experience, seeking to take the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12 examination, already admitted into an EPP, seeking initial certification, and holding teaching certification from other locations. Individuals who hold certification from other locations are not eligible to take the PACT exam for admission but may still be required to take the TExES (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards) exam for teacher certification.
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Candidates registering for PACT exams must first create an account on the Texas Education Website (TEA) or confirm an existing account. A TEA ID number will be provided upon profile completion. The candidate profile must include a phone number, email address, and mailing address. Candidates should next access the Pearson website as the test administrator for TX PACT testing, then create an account and enter their TEA ID. Candidates should review seat availability before registering for an exam. Select the appropriate PACT exam and determine if the test time meets program completion requirements. Then review alternative testing eligibility requirements and answer background items, including the reason for testing. Next, choose a score reporting method preference. Then, pay the applicable testing fees. Next, select the PACT exam to schedule, then select the testing location and time, then schedule your test. Confirm the appointment and submit and save confirmation.
PACT exams are scored on a scale of 100-300, with a minimum 240 passing score required. Score reports show total test PACT scores and scores for each content area, or domain, as well as an indicator of Pass/Not Passed status. Scores are reported at 10:00 p.m. within seven to twenty-eight days from the exam date, depending on the exam, and made available through the candidate's testing account.
Selected response questions are available by computer immediately after testing is complete. Constructed response items are graded separately by experts in each domain. Constructed response items are either double-scored or consensus-scored, depending on the number of test-takers in each domain. Official scores are added to a candidate's certification file and sent to TEA, State Board of Education (SBEC), and the candidate's EPP.
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Candidates taking the PACT exam should establish an effective study plan. Candidates can accomplish this by first identifying and reviewing competencies within their testing domain. Familiarizing oneself with the differences between single questions, clustered questions, and constructed response items will provide valuable insight into the testing format.
Gathering and assessing study material from EPP coursework and other relevant sources determines if resources are accessible for all the competencies and domains. It is practical to organize those study resources when developing an effective study plan and schedule, whether in a group setting or if studying alone.
A Texas PACT test study guide and a Texas PACT practice test are also useful when preparing for the exams. Candidates should determine their strengths and weaknesses when studying and focus on areas of weakness. On test day, candidates should develop a strategy that includes focus and preparedness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between PACT and TExES exams?
PACT exams are required testing for admission into many EPP programs. TExES exams are required pedagogical knowledge testing for teacher certifications in Texas. PACT exams are knowledge-based, whereas TExES exams are content expertise-based.
What is a passing score on a TX PACT exam?
TX PACT scores range on a scale from 100-to 300. A total score of two hundred is required to pass the exam. Scoring is determined by full tests and individual domain results. If a failing score is earned on any domain sections, that section will need to be re-taken.
How do I check my PACT scores?
Selected response scores are available immediately after testing via the testing site computer; these are unofficial scores. Constructed response items are scored separately by trained experts. Official test scores are available through the candidate's testing account seven to twenty-eight days after the date of testing, depending on the test taken.
