- What Is A TExES 238, Exactly?
- Who Governs and Administers the Exam
- Exam Format, Timing, and Fees
- The Six Domains You're Actually Tested On
- Passing Score and What Happens If You Don't
- Who Needs This Certificate and How to Qualify
- Who Hires Life Science 7-12 Certified Teachers
- Building a TExES 238-Specific Prep Plan
- Frequently Asked Questions
- TExES 238 is the Texas Life Science 7-12 exam, governed by TEA and administered by Pearson.
- It has 100 selected-response questions delivered as a computer-administered test, with a 5-hour appointment.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 240 out of 300, and three domains each carry 20% weight.
- The exam fee is $116, and candidates get five attempts with a mandatory 30-day wait between tries.
What Is A TExES 238, Exactly?
TExES 238 refers specifically to the TExES Life Science 7-12 (238) certification exam, a Texas educator certification test that verifies a candidate has the content knowledge to teach life science to students in grades 7 through 12. This is not a generic "science teacher" test - it is narrowly scoped to life science topics like cell biology, genetics, evolution, ecology, and organismal diversity, mapped directly to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) that Texas secondary science teachers are expected to deliver in the classroom.
If you're comparing exam codes across states or credentialing bodies, it's worth being precise: this article, and this site, are only about the Texas-specific Life Science 7-12 (238) exam. For a broader breakdown of what the letters and number actually stand for, see What Does TExES 238 Stand For? and TExES 238 Meaning.
Who Governs and Administers the Exam
The TExES Life Science 7-12 (238) exam is governed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the State Board for Educator Certification. Day-to-day exam development and administration is handled by Pearson through its Evaluation Systems group. Practically, this means:
- The test is a computer-administered test (CAT), taken at Pearson VUE testing centers.
- It's offered year round by appointment, both across Texas and at Pearson VUE locations nationwide, which matters if you've relocated but still need Texas certification.
- TEA sets the certification requirements and passing standard; Pearson builds and delivers the actual test content and scoring.
Because TEA and Pearson split governance and delivery, your registration, eligibility approval, and score reporting flow through different systems depending on the step. For a full rundown of what "TExES 238" means as a credential in the Texas certification pipeline, see TExES 238 Certification and What Is TExES 238 Certification?.
Exam Format, Timing, and Fees
Understanding the mechanics of test day removes a lot of unnecessary anxiety. Here's exactly what you're walking into:
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Question count | 100 selected-response questions (some unscored field-test items included) |
| Total appointment time | 5 hours (15 minutes tutorial/agreement + 4 hours 45 minutes testing) |
| Exam fee | $116, no member/non-member tiers |
| Passing score | 240 on a 100-300 scale |
| Calculator/reference sheet | None provided |
| Registration validity | 170 days |
| Attempt limit | 5 attempts, 30-day wait between attempts |
A subtle but important detail: some of the 100 questions on your screen are unscored field-test items that TEA and Pearson use to calibrate future exams. You won't know which ones they are, so every question deserves your full attention. Only the scored items count toward your final 100-300 scaled score.
Because there's no calculator or reference sheet, any quantitative reasoning - Punnett square ratios, population genetics math, dilution calculations - has to be done mentally or on scratch material provided at the test center. That's a detail worth building into your practice routine well before test day.
For a deeper walkthrough of what your money buys and what else factors into total certification cost, check TExES 238 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you withdraw after registering, you'll receive a refund of the exam fee minus a $25 processing charge - plan your test date accordingly, since scheduling details and windows are covered in TExES 238 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
The Six Domains You're Actually Tested On
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 TEKS. Three domains tie for the heaviest weight at 20% each, meaning roughly 60 of your 100 questions come from just three content areas.
Domain 1: Scientific Inquiry and Processes (15%)
Covers the nature of science, lab safety, experimental design, and data interpretation - the connective tissue that runs through every other domain.
- Designing and evaluating controlled experiments
- Interpreting graphs, tables, and data sets
- Applying safety protocols in a life science lab setting
Domain 2: Cell Structure and Processes (20%)
One of the three highest-weighted domains. Focuses on the molecular and cellular machinery of life.
- Biomolecules and their structure-function relationships
- Prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cell structures
- Transport, homeostasis, photosynthesis, respiration, and the cell cycle
Domain 3: Heredity and Evolution of Life (20%)
Another top-weighted domain covering genetics from the molecular level up to population-level change over time.
- DNA/RNA structure and function
- Mendelian and molecular genetics, including mutation
- Natural selection, speciation, and fossil/molecular evidence
Domain 4: Diversity of Life (20%)
The third domain tied for heaviest weight. Broad in scope, spanning classification through animal behavior.
- Taxonomy and classification systems
- Plant and animal systems and their homeostatic mechanisms
- The biology of behavior
Domain 5: Interdependence of Life and Environmental Systems (15%)
Ecology and environmental science content, including energy flow and human impact on ecosystems.
- Ecosystem structure, energy flow, and biogeochemical cycles
- Population and community ecology
- Human impact on environmental systems
Domain 6: Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment (10%)
Pedagogical content specific to teaching life science, not general teaching theory.
- Selecting appropriate instructional strategies for science concepts
- Designing formative and summative science assessments
- Addressing misconceptions common in life science instruction
For a competency-by-competency breakdown of everything within these six domains, see TExES 238 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 6 Content Areas.
Passing Score and What Happens If You Don't
TExES 238 uses a scaled score range of 100-300, and you need a 240 to pass. That scaled score is derived only from the scored questions on your test - the unscored field-test items don't count either way, so there's no benefit to trying to guess which questions "matter" during the exam itself.
If you don't pass on your first try, you're not done. Candidates get up to five attempts, with a required 30-day wait between each attempt. If you exhaust all five without passing, you'll need a test-limit waiver from TEA to try again. Given that TEA's most recent statewide data shows a passing rate below the majority on first attempts - and only modestly higher on best attempts - treating your first sitting as your only shot is a risky strategy. Many candidates benefit from planning for a possible second attempt from the outset rather than scrambling afterward.
For the full statistical picture, including how TExES 238 compares to other secondary science certification exams in Texas, see TExES 238 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows. And if you want the exact mechanics of how the 240 threshold is calculated and what it means for your raw number of correct answers, read TExES 238 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Scores post at 10:00 p.m. Central on the published score report date - mark that date on your calendar rather than refreshing the portal all day, since scores won't appear early.
Who Needs This Certificate and How to Qualify
You can't just show up and register. Candidates must be approved to test either through an educator preparation program (EPP) or directly by TEA. This approval step confirms you meet the prerequisite coursework or program enrollment requirements before Pearson will let you schedule an appointment.
It's also worth knowing that passing TExES 238 alone doesn't get you a Texas classroom certificate. A first Texas teaching certificate also requires passing the PPR EC-12 (160) pedagogy exam, which covers general teaching practice rather than life science content specifically. Think of TExES 238 as proof of subject-matter mastery and PPR EC-12 as proof of instructional readiness - Texas requires both.
Once certified, your standard certificate is valid for five years and renews through ECOS with 150 CPE clock hours for classroom teachers - so this isn't a one-time hurdle but part of an ongoing professional cycle.
For the complete prerequisite checklist, including program approval routes and documentation, see TExES 238 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Who Hires Life Science 7-12 Certified Teachers
Once you hold TExES 238 certification alongside PPR EC-12, you're qualified to teach life science courses in Texas public middle and high schools - biology, environmental science, and related life science electives fall within this scope. Texas independent school districts (ISDs) hire directly for these positions, and demand tends to track general secondary science staffing needs across the state's public school system.
Because the certification is grade-band specific (7-12) and subject-specific (life science), it's a more targeted credential than a general science composite certificate - which can work in your favor when applying to districts that specifically need a biology or life science specialist rather than a generalist. If you're weighing whether this certification path makes sense for your career goals, Is the TExES 238 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and TExES 238 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis dig into the return-on-investment question. To see the kinds of positions this credential opens up, browse TExES 238 Jobs.
Building a TExES 238-Specific Prep Plan
Generic study advice ("review a little every day," "use flashcards") only gets you so far on a content-heavy exam like this one. What actually moves your score is allocating study time in proportion to domain weight and matching your review format to the exam's selected-response style.
- Weight your calendar to domain weight. Since Cell Structure and Processes, Heredity and Evolution of Life, and Diversity of Life each carry 20%, they should collectively receive more study hours than Domains 1, 5, and 6 combined.
- Practice without a calculator. Since no calculator or reference sheet is provided, drill genetics ratios, dilution problems, and any other quantitative reasoning by hand until it's automatic.
- Simulate the real timing. With 4 hours 45 minutes of actual testing time across 100 questions, you have roughly 2.75 minutes per question - practice under that pacing constraint, not open-ended review sessions.
- Treat Domain 6 as instructional application, not general pedagogy. It's only 10% of the exam, but the questions test how you'd teach life science concepts specifically, not classroom management theory.
For a week-by-week structured plan built around these six domains and the 240 passing threshold, see TExES 238 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you want an honest assessment of where candidates typically struggle before you commit to a study timeline, How Hard Is the TExES 238 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks down the difficulty by domain. And when you're closer to test day, a condensed reference like TExES 238 Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts can help with final review.
Practicing with realistic, domain-aligned questions on our TExES 238 practice test platform is one of the most direct ways to translate content review into exam-day performance, since it exposes you to the selected-response format and pacing you'll actually face at the Pearson VUE center. Structured coursework can also help - see TExES 238 Training for options beyond self-study.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. TExES 238 is specifically the Life Science 7-12 exam, focused on biology-related content across six domains. It is distinct from composite science certifications that cover physics, chemistry, and earth science content as well.
Yes. A first Texas classroom certificate also requires passing the PPR EC-12 (160) pedagogy exam in addition to TExES 238, since one covers content knowledge and the other covers instructional practice.
Candidates get five attempts, with a mandatory 30-day wait between each attempt. Beyond five attempts, you need a test-limit waiver from TEA to continue testing.
The exam fee is $116, with no member or non-member pricing tiers. Withdrawing after registration returns the fee minus a $25 processing charge.
Cell Structure and Processes, Heredity and Evolution of Life, and Diversity of Life each carry 20% weight and together make up roughly 60% of the exam, making them the highest-priority domains for study time.