TExES 238 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass

The Passing Score Number, Explained

The passing score for the TExES Life Science 7-12 (238) exam is 240 on a scale that runs from 100 to 300. That single number is the finish line for every candidate seeking Texas certification in secondary life science, and it's set by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and its State Board for Educator Certification in coordination with Pearson Evaluation Systems, the vendor that develops and administers the test.

Unlike a raw percentage, 240 isn't "you must answer 240 questions correctly" or "you need 80% right." It's a scaled score calculated from your performance on the scored portion of the exam. Understanding how that scale works - and how it maps onto the exam's six domains - is the difference between studying randomly and studying strategically. If you want the full breakdown of those domains before diving into scoring mechanics, the TExES 238 Exam Domains 2026 guide is the companion piece to this one.

Why It's a Scaled Score, Not a Percentage

Pearson administers the TExES 238 as a computer-administered test (CAT) at Pearson VUE centers across Texas and nationwide, by appointment, year round. Because the exam draws from a large item bank and includes unscored field-test questions mixed in with scored ones, raw right-answer counts can't be compared directly across test dates or forms. That's why TEA converts your raw score on scored items into a scaled score between 100 and 300.

This matters practically for two reasons:

• You can't count questions to estimate your score. Because some of the 100 selected-response items are unscored field-test questions that don't count toward your result, you have no way of knowing during the test which questions are "real." Treat every question as if it counts.
• 240 is fixed, not a moving curve based on your test date. The scaling process is designed to keep the passing standard consistent across different exam forms, so 240 means the same level of mastery whether you test in January or November.

If the CAT format itself - timing, question style, navigation - is unfamiliar territory, the How Hard Is the TExES 238 Exam? guide walks through what makes this particular exam format challenging compared to paper-based tests.

How the Six Domains Add Up to 240

The TExES 238 is built on the 2019 Life Science 7-12 exam framework, which organizes 20 competencies into six domains aligned to Life Science 7-12 Standards I-XI and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Each domain carries a weight that tells you roughly how many of the 100 questions come from that area:

Notice that three domains tie for the heaviest weight at 20% each: Cell Structure and Processes, Heredity and Evolution of Life, and Diversity of Life. Combined, they account for roughly 60 of the 100 questions - a majority of the entire exam. If you're deciding where to invest your limited study hours to reach 240, these three domains deserve the largest share of your time.

The remaining domains - Scientific Inquiry and Processes, Interdependence of Life and Environmental Systems, and Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment - carry lighter weights individually, but together they still represent about 40% of the test. Skipping them to over-prepare on the "big three" is a common mistake. For a competency-by-competency breakdown of all six domains, see the complete domains guide.

100 Questions, But Not All Are Scored

Your total appointment runs 5 hours: 15 minutes for the CAT tutorial and compliance agreement, plus 4 hours 45 minutes of actual testing time. Within that window you'll answer 100 selected-response questions. Because some of those items are unscored field-test questions used to evaluate future exam content, your scaled score of 240 (or whatever you achieve) is calculated only from the scored subset - you won't know which is which.

No calculator or reference sheet is provided for this exam, which raises the stakes on genetics ratios, biochemical pathway sequences, and taxonomic terminology you might otherwise look up. Every fact and formula needs to live in your working memory on test day.

Retake Rules If You Miss 240

Missing 240 on your first attempt is not unusual - statewide, only 47% of candidates passed on their first try during the 2024-2025 program year, with a best-attempt rate of 56% (N=554), the lowest among the major secondary science TExES exams. That data point alone signals how seriously this content area needs to be studied. For a full statistical picture, read the TExES 238 Pass Rate 2026 breakdown.

If you don't reach 240, here's what governs your next steps:

• Five attempts total are allowed before you need a TEA test-limit waiver.
• A 30-day waiting period is required between attempts - you cannot simply retest the following week.
• Registration validity is 170 days, so plan your retake window accordingly if you need to re-register.
• Withdrawal refunds equal the $116 exam fee minus a $25 processing charge, if you need to cancel rather than reschedule.
• Scores post at 10:00 p.m. Central on the published score report date, not immediately after you finish testing.

This retake structure means a failed attempt costs real time - at minimum a month before you can try again, plus the mental reset of another full-length exam. It's worth treating your first attempt as if it's your only shot. The TExES 238 Study Guide 2026 lays out a first-attempt-focused preparation approach if you're still early in planning.

Closing the Gap Between 47% and Passing

A 47% first-attempt pass rate means fewer than half of test-takers reach 240 on their first try. That's not a reason for panic, but it is a reason to prepare with precision rather than general "science review." The exam rewards depth in three specific domains and breadth across the other three. Candidates who fail often report being strong in one area (say, molecular genetics) but weak in another equally-weighted area (say, plant and animal systems within Diversity of Life), and the deficit in the weaker domain drags the scaled score below 240.

Because the test format doesn't tell you which domain a wrong answer belonged to until you review official score reports, the smartest move is to diagnose your domain-level strengths and weaknesses before test day using full-length practice sets that mirror the six-domain structure. Our TExES 238 practice test platform is built around exactly this domain breakdown so you can see where your projected score sits relative to 240 before you ever pay the $116 exam fee.

If you're weighing whether the investment of time and money is worthwhile relative to career outcomes, the Is the TExES 238 Certification Worth It? ROI analysis and the TExES 238 Certification Cost breakdown both address that question directly, while the TExES 238 Salary Guide and TExES 238 Jobs overview cover what districts hire life science-certified teachers to do once you've passed.

A Domain-Weighted Study Plan

Rather than a generic week-by-week template, build your schedule around the actual domain weights. If you have roughly six weeks before your test date, allocate time proportionally to where the questions actually live.

This structure front-loads the three heaviest domains while leaving room to reinforce lighter-weight content and simulate the actual test conditions before your appointment. For a condensed, exam-day reference of must-know facts across all six domains, keep the TExES 238 Cheat Sheet 2026 handy during final review, and confirm your appointment logistics with the TExES 238 Exam Dates 2026 scheduling guide.

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