- 91 total questions (90 selected-response + 1 constructed-response), 4 hours 45 minutes of testing time.
- Passing score is 240; selected-response carries 72 points and constructed-response carries 8 points.
- Domain II, Health Skills for Reducing Risks, is worth 30% - the single heaviest domain.
- Exam fee is $136, registration stays valid 170 days, and refunds on withdrawal equal the fee minus $25.
Exam Format at a Glance
If you only have ten minutes before your Pearson VUE appointment, this is the section to reread. The TExES Health EC-12 (257) exam is a computer-administered test (CAT) developed and administered by Pearson (Evaluation Systems) under the authority of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the State Board for Educator Certification. It is delivered at Pearson VUE test centers across Texas and nationwide by appointment, year round - there are no fixed "testing windows" the way there are for some paper-based exams.
The test itself contains 90 selected-response questions plus one constructed-response question, for 91 total items. Some administrations may also slip in unscored field-test questions used to validate future forms, but those never count toward your scaled score - only the scored selected-response and constructed-response items do.
For a section-by-section walkthrough of question types and pacing strategy, see the TExES 257 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you're still weighing how tough this exam really is relative to your background, the How Hard Is the TExES 257 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks that down in more depth.
The Five Domains, Ranked by Weight
The exam blueprint is organized into five domains, and knowing their relative weight tells you exactly where to spend your limited study hours. Here they are, heaviest to lightest:
Domain 2: Health Skills for Reducing Risks - 30%
This is the single biggest domain on the exam and deserves the most repetition in your review. It covers the practical, applied side of health education rather than pure content recall.
- Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) prevention strategies
- Interpersonal and family communication skills
- Injury prevention and safety practices
- Bullying response protocols
- Mandatory reporting obligations and crisis response
- Building students' personal health efficacy and decision-making skills
Domain 1: Health and Wellness - 22%
Foundational content knowledge on physical, mental, emotional, and social wellness across the EC-12 developmental span. Expect questions that test your grasp of health concepts themselves, not just how to teach them.
Domain 3: Health Literacy and Health Education - 14%
Focuses on how health information is accessed, evaluated, and communicated, plus instructional strategies specific to health education pedagogy.
Domain 4: Educating All Learners and Professional Practice - 13%
Covers differentiation for diverse learners, legal and ethical responsibilities, and the professional obligations of a certified health educator in a Texas classroom.
Domain 5: Constructed Response - 20%
A single written response of 400-600 words, worth a full 20% on its own. Because it's scored separately from the selected-response items, it deserves dedicated practice time rather than last-minute cramming.
For the complete content breakdown with sample scenarios for each competency, read the TExES 257 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas. Because Domain II and Domain V together account for half of your total score, most candidates should weight their practice sessions accordingly rather than spreading effort evenly across all five domains.
Registration, Fees & Scheduling
Before you can sit for the exam, you need approval to test - either through an educator preparation program (EPP) or directly through TEA. Full eligibility mechanics, including who qualifies and what documentation is required, are covered in the TExES 257 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify guide.
Once you're approved, here's what to expect financially and logistically:
- Exam fee: $136 for TExES Health EC-12 (257), with no separate member or non-member pricing tiers.
- Registration validity: Your registration stays valid for 170 days from the date you register.
- Withdrawal refund: If you withdraw before testing, you get the exam fee back minus a $25 processing charge.
- Scoring turnaround: Because Domain V includes a hand-scored written response, results typically post on a roughly four-week cycle rather than instantly.
For exact scheduling logistics - how far in advance to book, blackout considerations, and appointment availability patterns - check the TExES 257 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling article.
Passing Score Math
The passing standard for TExES Health EC-12 (257) is 240 on a 100-300 scaled score range. Under 19 TAC 151.1001, the two exam sections are weighted and cut differently:
| Section | Point Value | Average Raw Cut |
|---|---|---|
| Selected-Response (90 questions) | 72 points | 41 |
| Constructed-Response (1 question) | 8 points | 5 |
These figures apply to administrations beginning September 2, 2025. Notice that the constructed-response question, despite being just one item, carries real weight - a raw cut of 5 out of 8 points means you need a genuinely strong written response, not a rushed afterthought. For a deeper breakdown of how raw points convert to the 240 scaled score and what that means for your study plan, see the TExES 257 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Don't treat the constructed-response item as a bonus round. At 20% of your total score and its own separate cut score, a weak written response can sink an otherwise strong selected-response performance.
Attempt Limits & Retake Rules
If your first attempt doesn't go as planned, here's the retake structure to know:
- You get up to five attempts at TExES Health EC-12 (257).
- There's a mandatory 30-day wait between attempts.
- Need more than five attempts? You'll need a TEA test-limit waiver before scheduling again.
Because scores take roughly four weeks to report, plan your 30-day retake window with that lag in mind - you may not receive your prior score before your next attempt is technically eligible. If you're deciding whether to retake immediately or spend extra weeks studying first, the TExES 257 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows article puts this exam's outcomes in context using official TEA figures.
Legacy 157 to 257 Transition
If you're finding this page while searching for information on TExES Health EC-12 (157), here's the essential fact: 257 is the redeveloped replacement exam. The 157 was last administered September 1, 2024, and could no longer be used for certification after September 1, 2025. Any preparation materials, domain breakdowns, or scoring information still referencing 157 are outdated - all current candidates should be studying for 257 exclusively, using the domain weights and passing score outlined above.
After You Pass: Certification & Renewal
Passing the selected-response and constructed-response sections is a major milestone, but it's one part of a larger certification pathway. If this is your first Texas classroom certificate, you'll also need to pass the PPR EC-12 (160) pedagogy exam - TExES 257 alone doesn't complete the certification requirement for most candidates.
Once certified, a few facts to keep on your radar for the long term:
- Texas standard certificates are valid for five years.
- Renewal happens through ECOS (the Educator Certification Online System).
- Classroom teachers need 150 CPE clock hours to renew.
Curious what roles this certification actually opens up, or whether the time and cost are worth it compared to other paths? Read TExES 257 Jobs, the TExES 257 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis, and Is the TExES 257 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 for the fuller picture beyond exam day.
One-Week Final Review Timeline
If you're in the final stretch before your appointment, don't try to relearn everything evenly. Sequence your last week around domain weight and where the biggest point swings live.
Domain 2: Health Skills for Reducing Risks
- Drill ATOD prevention scenarios and mandatory reporting rules - this is 30% of your score
- Review bullying response and crisis protocol question stems
Domain 1 & Domain 3
- Refresh core wellness content (Domain 1, 22%)
- Review health literacy and instructional strategy items (Domain 3, 14%)
Domain 4: Professional Practice
- Review differentiation strategies and legal/ethical responsibilities (13%)
Domain 5: Constructed Response
- Practice writing full 400-600 word responses under timed conditions
- Take a full timed practice run at the main practice test site to rehearse the 4-hour-45-minute pace
This sequencing isn't arbitrary - it front-loads the domain worth the most points (Domain 2) while your energy is freshest, and it ends with the constructed response so your written practice happens close to test day when the format is most memorable. For a longer-range version of this plan spanning several weeks, see the full TExES 257 Study Guide 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
91 total: 90 selected-response questions plus 1 constructed-response question. Unscored field-test items may also appear but don't count toward your score.
240 on a 100-300 scale. The selected-response section carries 72 points with an average raw cut of 41, and the constructed-response section carries 8 points with a cut of 5.
The exam fee is $136, with no separate member or non-member pricing. Withdrawing before testing refunds the fee minus a $25 processing charge.
No. The 157 exam was last administered September 1, 2024, and could not be used for certification after September 1, 2025. All current candidates should prepare for TExES 257 exclusively.
You get five attempts with a mandatory 30-day wait between each. Beyond five attempts, you need a TEA test-limit waiver to test again.
For more foundational explainers on this credential - including What Does TExES 257 Stand For? and TExES 257 Training options - browse the related articles linked throughout this guide, or head to the main practice test site to start applying these facts under real exam conditions.