- TExES Chemistry 7-12 (240) is a 100-question, computer-administered test run by Pearson for the Texas SBEC/TEA.
- Domain II, Matter and Energy, alone accounts for 41% of the exam and should anchor your study time.
- The passing scaled score is 240 on a 100-300 scale; the exam fee is $116.
- Candidates get five attempts total, with a mandatory 30-day wait between sittings.
What Is the TExES Chemistry 7-12 (240)?
The TExES Chemistry 7-12 (240) is a standardized certification exam that verifies a candidate's readiness to teach secondary chemistry in Texas public schools. It is developed under the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), and it is delivered by Pearson through the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program (TExES) at Pearson VUE testing centers across Texas and nationwide. The "240" in the exam's name is not a version number - it refers to the passing scaled score a candidate must reach, which is a detail worth remembering when you see the exam referenced elsewhere.
This exam exists to confirm that a prospective teacher has both deep content knowledge in chemistry and the pedagogical understanding required to teach it effectively to grades 7 through 12. If you're still mapping out the basics, our companion piece on What Is TExES Chemistry 7-12? covers the certification's purpose from a slightly different angle, and TExES Chemistry 7-12 Meaning breaks down what each part of the acronym actually refers to.
Who Administers It and How Registration Works
The exam is governed by TEA/SBEC but administered day-to-day by Pearson under the TExES program. Testing happens on computers at Pearson VUE sites, which means there's no paper-and-pencil version and no essay-grading delay - most selected-response results post quickly after the testing window closes.
To sit for the exam, a candidate must hold a TEA ID and typically needs to be admitted into an approved Texas educator preparation program (EPP) with authorization to test, though candidates can also qualify through certification by examination or an out-of-state credential review. The exam fee is a flat $116 with no separate member or non-member pricing tier, though Pearson may add service fees depending on how and where you register. For a full breakdown of what you'll actually pay from registration through certificate issuance, see TExES Chemistry 7-12 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. Eligibility specifics - including what counts as an approved pathway - are detailed in TExES Chemistry 7-12 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Exam Format: Question Style and Timing
The TExES Chemistry 7-12 exam consists of 100 selected-response questions. The total appointment runs five hours: 15 minutes are set aside for the computer-adaptive testing (CAT) tutorial and a compliance agreement, leaving 4 hours and 45 minutes of actual testing time. That's a generous window per question, but the density of content across chemistry's subfields means pacing still matters.
Some exam forms include unscored field-test questions that are being evaluated for future administrations. You won't be told which questions are scored and which aren't, so every item deserves your full attention - your final scaled score is calculated only from the scored items, regardless of how you perform on the unscored ones.
To help with the actual content, the testing platform provides an on-screen periodic table, a physical constants reference page, and an on-screen scientific calculator. This means you don't need to memorize atomic masses or fundamental constants, but you do need to know how and when to apply them quickly. Understanding this format in detail - including how selected-response items are typically constructed - is covered thoroughly in TExES Chemistry 7-12 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas.
Key Takeaway
Because a scientific calculator and periodic table are provided on-screen, your prep time is better spent on concept application and problem-solving speed than on memorizing tables you'll have in front of you anyway.
The Four Domains You'll Be Tested On
Content on the TExES Chemistry 7-12 exam is organized into four domains covering 17 competencies, aligned to the Physical Science 7-12 educator standards under a TEA framework carrying a 2022 copyright. Domains I through III cover chemistry content knowledge; Domain IV covers instructional practice.
Domain I: Scientific Inquiry and Processes (24%) - Competencies 001-004
Covers the nature of science, lab safety, experimental design, and data analysis as applied specifically to chemistry classrooms and coursework.
- Designing valid, safe chemistry investigations
- Interpreting and evaluating experimental data
Domain II: Matter and Energy (41%) - Competencies 005-011
By far the largest domain and the one that should anchor your entire study plan. It spans characteristics of matter, atomic structure, gas laws, chemical bonding, chemical notation and stoichiometry, solutions, and thermochemistry.
- Atomic theory and periodic trends
- Stoichiometric calculations and chemical notation
- Solution chemistry and thermochemical principles
Domain III: Chemical Reactions (23%) - Competencies 012-015
Focuses on reaction types, equilibrium, kinetics, and acid-base and redox chemistry as they show up in secondary-level coursework.
- Reaction rates and equilibrium concepts
- Acid-base and oxidation-reduction reactions
Domain IV: Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment (12%) - Competencies 016-017
The smallest domain, but it shifts focus entirely from chemistry content to pedagogy - how to plan instruction, differentiate for learners, and assess understanding in a chemistry classroom.
- Instructional planning and assessment design
- Supporting diverse learners in science classrooms
Because Domain II alone makes up 41% of the exam - nearly double the next-largest domain - it deserves proportionally more of your review time than a simple "study everything equally" approach would suggest. A full walkthrough of every competency in each domain, along with sample question patterns, is available in TExES Chemistry 7-12 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas.
| Domain | Weight | Competencies |
|---|---|---|
| I. Scientific Inquiry and Processes | 24% | 001-004 |
| II. Matter and Energy | 41% | 005-011 |
| III. Chemical Reactions | 23% | 012-015 |
| IV. Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment | 12% | 016-017 |
Scoring, Passing, and Retake Rules
Scores are reported on a 100-300 scale, and 240 is the minimum passing score - which, again, is where the exam gets its name. Scores are typically posted about seven days after your test date at 10:00 p.m. Central, on dates published in advance by the testing program.
If you don't pass on the first attempt, you're allowed up to five attempts total per certification exam, and you must wait 30 days between attempts. Statewide data reported by TEA for the 2024-2025 program year showed a 57% first-attempt pass rate and a 64% best-attempt pass rate among 81 examinees, an improvement over the 49% first-attempt and 52% best-attempt rates recorded the prior year among 71 examinees. These numbers make it clear that first-attempt preparation genuinely matters - repeat attempts are allowed, but they cost time and testing fees. For more context on what these numbers mean for your own prep strategy, read TExES Chemistry 7-12 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and TExES Chemistry 7-12 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Who Needs This Certification
The TExES Chemistry 7-12 (240) is required for anyone seeking to teach chemistry in Texas public middle or high schools under the Physical Science 7-12 certification structure. That typically includes candidates finishing an approved educator preparation program, career-changers pursuing certification by examination, and out-of-state teachers going through a credential review process to teach in Texas.
Passing this exam opens the door to full-time chemistry teaching positions, as well as related roles in STEM-focused schools, dual-credit chemistry instruction, and science department leadership tracks. If you're weighing whether pursuing this certification fits your career goals, Is the TExES Chemistry 7-12 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and TExES Chemistry 7-12 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis dig into the return on the time and testing investment. If you're specifically hunting for open positions once you're certified, TExES Chemistry 7-12 Jobs is a useful next stop.
Building a Domain-Aware Prep Plan
Generic study advice - flashcards, timed drills, spaced review sessions - only works well when it's mapped onto the exam's actual weighting. Since Domain II (Matter and Energy) represents 41% of the exam, it makes sense to schedule two or three dedicated review blocks on atomic structure, bonding, stoichiometry, and thermochemistry before moving deeply into Domain III's reaction chemistry. Domain I's inquiry and process skills and Domain IV's instructional/assessment competencies are smaller slices, but they shouldn't be skipped entirely - together they still account for over a third of the exam.
Domain II Deep Dive
- Atomic structure, periodic trends, and bonding
- Gas laws, stoichiometry, and solution chemistry
- Thermochemistry calculations under timed conditions
Domain III Reaction Chemistry
- Equilibrium and reaction rate problems
- Acid-base and redox reaction identification
Domains I & IV
- Experimental design and data interpretation
- Instructional planning and assessment scenarios
Full-Length Practice and Review
- Timed practice sets across all four domains
- Targeted review of weakest competencies
For a structured, week-by-week study path built specifically around these domain weights, see TExES Chemistry 7-12 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. And if you're still trying to gauge how much of a lift this exam really is compared to other certification tests, How Hard Is the TExES Chemistry 7-12 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 walks through that comparison in depth. You can also start practicing with realistic, domain-weighted questions right now on our TExES Chemistry 7-12 practice test platform.
Key Takeaway
Don't split study time evenly across all four domains - Domain II's 41% weight means it should take up nearly half of your total review hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exam contains 100 selected-response questions, some of which may be unscored field-test items used to evaluate future exam forms.
The full appointment is five hours, made up of a 15-minute tutorial and compliance agreement plus 4 hours 45 minutes of actual testing time.
You need a scaled score of 240 out of a 100-300 range, which is also where the exam's "240" designation comes from.
The exam fee is $116, with no member versus non-member pricing distinction, though Pearson may charge additional service fees in certain registration scenarios.
You can retake the exam, but you must wait 30 days between attempts and are limited to five total attempts for this certification exam.