- TExES 235 is the TExES Mathematics 7-12 (235) certification test administered by Pearson for TEA.
- It has 100 selected-response questions over a 4-hour-45-minute testing window, with a $116 fee.
- Domain II, Patterns and Algebra, is 33% of the exam - nearly a third of every score.
- Passing score is 240 on a 100-300 scale; you get five attempts with a 30-day wait between them.
What TExES 235 Actually Is
TExES 235 is shorthand for the TExES Mathematics 7-12 (235) exam - the content certification test that verifies a candidate has the mathematical knowledge to teach grades 7 through 12 in Texas public schools. It is governed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the State Board for Educator Certification, and it is developed and administered by Pearson (Evaluation Systems) as a computer-administered test (CAT). You take it by appointment, year round, at Pearson VUE testing centers in Texas or elsewhere in the country.
This is a content-knowledge exam, not a general teaching-methods exam. It assumes you already understand secondary mathematics deeply and asks you to demonstrate that knowledge across a defined set of competencies. If you're still deciding whether this is the right credential to pursue, the TExES 235 Certification overview lays out how it fits into the broader Texas licensure pathway alongside the required pedagogy exam.
Exam Format, Fee, and Registration Mechanics
Understanding the logistics matters as much as knowing the math. Here's what the appointment actually looks like:
- Question count: 100 selected-response questions. Some are unscored field-test items mixed in to gather data for future forms - you won't know which ones, so every question deserves full attention.
- Time: The total appointment is 5 hours - 15 minutes for the CAT tutorial and compliance agreement, plus 4 hours 45 minutes of actual testing time.
- Fee: $116, flat, with no member or non-member pricing tiers.
- Eligibility to register: You must be approved to test either by an educator preparation program (EPP) or directly by TEA.
- Registration validity: Once registered, your window to test is 170 days.
- Withdrawals: If you withdraw, you're refunded the exam fee minus a $25 processing charge.
For a line-by-line breakdown of every cost associated with becoming certified - not just the exam fee - see TExES 235 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. And if scheduling logistics are your main concern right now, TExES 235 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling covers appointment availability and deadlines in more depth.
The Six Domains Tested
TExES 235 content is organized into six domains, each carrying a specific percentage weight of the exam. Knowing these weights before you open a single practice question changes how you allocate study time.
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Domain I: Number Concepts | 14% |
| Domain II: Patterns and Algebra | 33% |
| Domain III: Geometry and Measurement | 19% |
| Domain IV: Probability and Statistics | 14% |
| Domain V: Mathematical Processes and Perspectives | 10% |
| Domain VI: Mathematical Learning, Instruction and Assessment | 10% |
Domain II: Patterns and Algebra (33%)
This domain alone accounts for roughly a third of the exam - by far the dominant content area. Candidates must be fluent across a wide sweep of algebraic and analytic topics.
- Sequences, series, and mathematical induction
- Attributes of functions and relations
- Linear and quadratic functions
- Polynomial, rational, radical, absolute value, and piecewise functions
- Exponential and logarithmic functions
- Trigonometric and circular functions
- Differential and integral calculus
Because Domain II is so heavily weighted, it deserves proportionally more of your study calendar than the other five domains combined would suggest at first glance. A full breakdown of every competency inside all six domains - including the specific skills tested under Number Concepts, Geometry and Measurement, and Probability and Statistics - is available in TExES 235 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 6 Content Areas.
Key Takeaway
Spend more study hours on Domain II than any other single domain - it's worth roughly as much as Domains I, IV, V, and VI combined.
Calculator Rules and On-Screen Resources
TExES 235 is one of only three TExES exams where candidates must bring their own graphing calculator to the testing center. That single detail trips up more candidates than any content gap, because the approved-model list is narrow and strictly enforced:
- Texas Instruments TI-73
- Texas Instruments TI-83
- Texas Instruments TI-84
- Nspire handheld - but only when fitted with the TI-84 keypad
If you use an Nspire, the TI-84 keypad may not be removed during the exam. No other graphing calculator models, phone calculator apps, or online calculator tools are permitted. On the content side, the exam does supply a Definitions and Formulas page on screen, so you don't need to memorize every formula from scratch - but you do need to know which formulas exist and how to apply them quickly, since the reference page won't teach you the concept in the moment.
Who Takes TExES 235 and Why
Candidates sitting for this exam are almost always working toward a Texas secondary mathematics teaching certificate - either through a university-based educator preparation program or an alternative certification program. Approval to register comes from that program or from TEA directly, which means you can't simply walk up and pay the fee without being cleared first.
Passing TExES 235 is one certification requirement, but it is not the only one. A first Texas classroom certificate also requires passing the PPR EC-12 (160) pedagogy exam, which tests instructional practice rather than math content. Full eligibility rules, including program approval and any prerequisite coursework, are detailed in TExES 235 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
On the hiring side, Texas school districts and charter networks recruit certified secondary math teachers year-round, and demand tends to track general secondary-teacher hiring cycles. If you're weighing whether the credential pays off in terms of job availability and career trajectory, TExES 235 Jobs and Is the TExES 235 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 both dig into that question directly, and TExES 235 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis covers compensation specifics.
Scoring, Passing, and Retake Policy
TExES 235 uses a scaled score from 100 to 300, and the passing score is 240. Only scored questions - not the unscored field-test items mixed into the 100-question set - count toward that scaled result, which means you can't identify which questions "matter" in the moment and shouldn't try; treat every item as scored.
Scores post at 10:00 p.m. Central on the published score report date tied to your test appointment. If you don't pass on the first try, you're allowed up to five total attempts, with a mandatory 30-day wait between each attempt. Beyond five attempts, you'd need a TEA test-limit waiver to continue testing.
For the exact numbers behind the scaled score, how raw performance converts to the 100-300 scale, and what 240 actually represents in practice, see TExES 235 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass. If you want context on how other candidates statewide have performed, TExES 235 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows walks through the TEA program-year data without guesswork.
How to Prepare Without Wasting Time
Because Domain II carries a third of the exam weight, an efficient study plan front-loads algebra, functions, and calculus topics before moving to geometry, statistics, and the processes/pedagogy domains. A simple way to sequence this:
Domain II: Patterns and Algebra
- Drill functions, polynomial/rational/exponential/logarithmic behavior, and trig identities
- Work through sequences, series, and induction proofs
- Practice differential and integral calculus problems using your approved calculator
Domain III: Geometry and Measurement
- Review coordinate geometry, transformations, and measurement formulas on the on-screen reference page
Domains I and IV: Number Concepts, Probability and Statistics
- Refresh number systems, ratios, and probability/statistics reasoning
Domains V and VI: Processes and Instruction
- Review mathematical reasoning, communication, and instructional/assessment practices
- Take full-length timed practice sets under the 4-hour-45-minute limit
Spaced review across weeks - revisiting Domain II problems even during the weeks you're focused on other domains - helps retention more than cramming any single topic in one sitting. A more detailed week-by-week plan, including how to diagnose your weak areas before you start, is in TExES 235 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you're still trying to gauge how demanding this exam is relative to your current math background, How Hard Is the TExES 235 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks that down honestly.
Whatever plan you follow, the most reliable way to build exam-day speed is repeated timed practice under realistic conditions. Running full question sets on our TExES 235 practice test platform lets you rehearse pacing across all six domains before your actual appointment, and a quick TExES 235 Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts is useful for last-minute review the night before.
After You Pass
Passing TExES 235 clears one requirement toward a Texas secondary mathematics certificate; combined with the PPR EC-12 (160) exam and program completion, it leads to a standard certificate. Texas standard certificates are valid for five years and renew through ECOS, with classroom teachers needing 150 CPE clock hours within that renewal cycle to keep the certificate active. That renewal requirement is worth planning for early, since it's an ongoing commitment rather than a one-time task.
If you want a broader look at what the credential means for your career path and daily practice as a teacher, TExES 235 Meaning and What Does TExES 235 Mean? both unpack the credential's purpose in plain terms. You can also start rehearsing with practice questions here before diving into a full study plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
TExES 235 refers to the TExES Mathematics 7-12 (235) exam, the Texas certification test for secondary mathematics teaching credentials. See What Does TExES 235 Stand For? for more on the naming.
There are 100 selected-response questions, though some are unscored field-test items that don't count toward your final scaled score.
Only the TI-73, TI-83, TI-84, or an Nspire handheld fitted with a TI-84 keypad. The keypad cannot be removed during testing, and no other models are permitted.
You need a scaled score of 240 out of a 100-300 range. Details on how that score is calculated are in TExES 235 Passing Score 2026.
You get five attempts total, with a mandatory 30-day wait between attempts. A TEA test-limit waiver is required to test beyond five attempts.