United States · Teacher certification examsWhere can you take a practice TExES test?
Pearson’s interactive practice exams are built to feel like the real computer-administered exam, with questions representative of it. You can pause and come back, and when you submit it, which you can do once, you see right away how you did on the selected-response questions in each competency. There’s one version of each, so renewing your access doesn’t change the questions.
Pearson offers them for these exams:
- Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental (165), as a bundle of one practice exam per subtest
- Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) Spanish (190)
- Deafblind EC-12 (185)
- Early Childhood: PK-3 (292)
- Educational Diagnostician (253)
- English Language Arts and Reading 4‑8 (217) and 7‑12 (331)
- Health EC-12 (257) and Physical Education EC-12 (258)
- Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Spanish (613)
- Mathematics 7‑12 (235) and Science 7‑12 (236)
- PPR EC-12 (160) and PPR for Trade and Industrial Education 6‑12 (370)
- Principal as Instructional Leader (268)
- School Counselor (252)
- Science of Teaching Reading (293)
- Special Education Specialist EC-12 (186)
EC means early childhood, so EC-12 runs from early childhood to grade 12. Core Subjects EC-6 (391), English as a Second Language (ESL) Supplemental (154) and Bilingual Education Supplemental (164) aren’t on Pearson’s list, so for those the sample questions in the manual are the official practice.
TExES study options compared
| Option | Price | Free to use | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official | |||
TExES preparation manualsOfficial manual for every examPearson’s manuals are the only TExES study materials the Texas Education Agency endorses. Each lists the domains and competencies, explains the question types and gives sample questions with answers and rationales. | Free | Every manual, online and as a printable PDF | |
TExES interactive practice examsOfficial online practice examSold by Pearson for 18 TExES exams, including PPR EC-12 (160), Science of Teaching Reading (293), Special Education Specialist EC-12 (186) and Principal as Instructional Leader (268). You can pause it, submit it once for scoring and review it until your access ends. The Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental (165) bundle has one practice exam per subtest for the same $10. | $10 per exam, with 120 days of access | A sample practice exam to try the format | |
Computer-administered testing tutorialsOfficial tutorials and test center videosThe web-based tutorial previews the screens you see before the exam starts. The interactive one lets you practice navigating, answering, highlighting, striking through and using the on-screen calculators. Pearson also links a tour of a Pearson Professional Center and short videos on what to expect. | Free | Web-based and interactive tutorials, a test center tour and videos | |
| Courses and study guides | |||
240 TutoringOnline study guides and practice testsIts PPR EC-12 (160) guide lists 89 lessons and 1,116 practice questions, with full-length practice tests. Its guarantee refunds up to two months of subscription if you score at least 90% on one of the guide’s practice tests and don’t pass, provided you test within 30 days of your subscription ending and ask within three months of the exam. | $49.99 a month for every TExES study guide; cancel any time | A free practice test | |
Certify TeacherOnline practice tests by examThe one-time fee gives access for up to 3 years or until you pass, whichever comes first, and Certify Teacher offers a money-back guarantee on it. It says preparation programs can give candidates a promo code that lowers the one-time price to $50. | $75 one time for one exam, or $50 a month for all its content | A short free practice test for each exam | |
| Books | |||
Mometrix TExES SecretsStudy guide books by examSeparate books for TExES exams such as PPR EC-12 (160), with a one-year money-back guarantee on the book’s price. | Ebooks $19.99 to $39.99 and printed books $24.99 to $44.99 on its TExES page | Not listed | |
Prices and ratings checked October 2026.
What each preparation manual gives you
Every exam has a manual on Pearson’s site. Each one breaks the exam down, lists the domains and competencies tested, explains how to approach selected-response questions and gives sample questions with the correct answers and rationales. Manuals for exams with written or spoken tasks add sample constructed-response assignments.
| Exam | Sample questions | Practice exam |
|---|---|---|
| PPR EC-12 (160) | Selected-response | $10 |
| ESL Supplemental (154) | Selected-response | None listed |
| Core Subjects EC-6 (391) | A set for each subject exam | None listed |
| Science of Teaching Reading (293) | Both kinds | $10 |
| Bilingual Education (164) | Selected-response | None listed |
| Bilingual Spanish (165) | Both kinds, by subtest | $10 bundle |
| Special Education (186) | Both kinds | $10 |
| Principal (268) | Both kinds, plus key terms | $10 |
Each manual has a printable PDF of the framework and sample questions, with the answers placed after the questions so you can try them first. Pearson says manuals may be copied for educational purposes but not for commercial use.
A study path for PPR, ESL and Core Subjects
Pearson’s scoring FAQ says the best preparation is the training you get in your college, university or alternative certification program. Around that, this order uses the official material first:
- Read your exam’s framework and mark the competencies you’ve covered least in your program.
- Fill in Pearson’s Student Profile Worksheet and use its Developing a Study Plan guide to set a schedule.
- Work through the manual’s sample questions, then read the rationales for every one you missed.
- Watch the computer-administered testing tutorial so the screens are familiar on the day.
- If your exam has one, take Pearson’s $10 practice exam a few weeks out, while there’s time to act on the results.
If you don’t pass, your score report shows how many scored questions you got right in each domain and competency. Pearson warns that counts based on fewer than about 10 questions aren’t reliable on their own, so look at whole domains first. For help preparing, TEA points to educator preparation programs, school districts and the regional education service centers.
Choosing a paid TExES course or book
Pearson notes that materials other than its manuals may not reflect the exam’s content or the program’s policies. So match the exact exam name and number before you pay. Texas has retired and replaced several exams: the Special Education Specialist EC-12 (186) took over from the 161 and 163, and the Core Subjects EC-6 (391) from the 291, so a guide for an old number covers a different exam.
Read any pass guarantee before you rely on it. The ones listed here set conditions, such as a score on the company’s own practice tests or a time limit for asking for a refund.
Sources: Pearson, Texas Educator Certification Examination Program · Texas Education Agency and 6 more. Checked October 2026.
- Pearson, Texas Educator Certification Examination Program: Interactive Practice Exams ↗
- Pearson, Texas Educator Certification Examination Program: Preparation Manuals ↗
- Pearson, Texas Educator Certification Examination Program: Preparation Materials ↗
- Pearson, Texas Educator Certification Examination Program: Frequently Asked Questions About Exam Scores ↗
- Pearson, Texas Educator Certification Examination Program: Understanding Your Exam Results ↗
- Pearson, Texas Educator Certification Examination Program: Retake Policy ↗
- Texas Education Agency: Educator Candidate / Test-Taker Information ↗
- Texas Education Agency: Special Education Specialist EC-12 (186) one-pager, updated October 2024 (PDF) ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.