- Exam Overview and Format
- Domain 1: Scientific Inquiry and Processes (14%)
- Domain 2: Physics (36%)
- Domain 3: Chemistry (41%)
- Domain 4: Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment (9%)
- Why Domain Weighting Should Drive Your Prep
- Mapping a Study Schedule to the Domains
- Registration, Fees, and Retakes
- Who Needs This Certification
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Chemistry is the largest domain at 41%, followed by Physics at 36% - together nearly 80% of the exam.
- The test has 100 selected-response questions delivered as a computer-administered test (CAT) through Pearson VUE.
- You get 4 hours 45 minutes of testing time plus an on-screen calculator, Periodic Table, and physical constants reference.
- A scaled score of 240 is required to pass; retakes require a 30-day wait with a five-attempt limit.
Exam Overview and Format
The TExES Physical Science 6-12 (237) exam is a computer-administered test (CAT) built around four content domains defined by the Texas Education Agency and delivered through Pearson VUE testing centers. Candidates answer 100 selected-response items within a testing window of 4 hours 45 minutes, inside a total appointment of 5 hours that also covers a tutorial and the compliance agreement. Because the exam is scored on a scaled system with 240 as the passing score, every domain contributes proportionally to whether you clear that bar - there's no separate pass/fail per section.
Understanding how the exam is structured domain-by-domain is the single most useful thing you can do before you start studying content. If you haven't already, it's worth pairing this breakdown with a full TExES 237 study guide that walks through first-attempt strategy, and with a look at exactly what the 240 passing score means in practice.
Domain 1: Scientific Inquiry and Processes (14%)
Domain 1 anchors the exam in how science actually works - not as trivia, but as a way of reasoning. Expect items that ask you to evaluate experimental design, identify variables, interpret data tables and graphs, and reason about measurement, error, and safety in a science classroom setting.
Scientific Inquiry and Processes
Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the nature of science, laboratory safety, and how to design and evaluate investigations appropriate for secondary students.
- Formulating testable hypotheses and identifying controlled variables
- Selecting appropriate tools, units, and measurement precision (SI units)
- Interpreting graphs, tables, and data sets to draw valid conclusions
- Laboratory and field safety procedures, including chemical handling and disposal
- Distinguishing between scientific theories, laws, and models
Although Domain 1 carries the smallest single-digit-adjacent weight at 14%, its concepts resurface inside Physics and Chemistry questions that embed a mini-experiment or data set. Treat it as a lens you apply throughout the test, not an isolated study unit.
Domain 2: Physics (36%)
Physics is the second-largest domain and covers a wide span of secondary-level content - from kinematics and forces through energy, waves, electricity, and magnetism. Because this domain represents more than a third of the exam, gaps here are costly.
Physics
Candidates must apply quantitative and conceptual reasoning to mechanics, energy, waves, electricity, and modern physics topics appropriate for grades 6-12 instruction.
- Motion, forces, and Newton's laws, including free-body diagrams
- Work, energy, power, and conservation of energy problems
- Wave properties: frequency, wavelength, amplitude, and behavior (reflection, refraction, interference)
- Electric circuits, Ohm's law, and magnetic fields
- Thermodynamics and heat transfer mechanisms
- Basic concepts in modern/nuclear physics relevant to secondary curricula
Because Physics questions often blend numeric problem-solving with conceptual multiple-choice reasoning, it helps to review how tough this section tends to feel for candidates in a dedicated breakdown like this difficulty guide before you commit a study schedule.
Domain 3: Chemistry (41%)
Chemistry is the single largest domain on the TExES 237, accounting for 41% of the exam - meaning roughly two out of every five questions you see will draw on chemistry content. This makes it the highest-leverage domain for moving your scaled score toward and past 240.
Chemistry
Candidates must understand atomic structure, the Periodic Table, bonding, reactions, stoichiometry, solutions, and chemical thermodynamics.
- Atomic structure, electron configuration, and periodic trends
- Ionic, covalent, and metallic bonding
- Balancing chemical equations and stoichiometric calculations
- Acids, bases, pH, and solution chemistry
- Reaction types, rates, and equilibrium concepts
- Gas laws and states of matter
Key Takeaway
Because Chemistry alone represents 41% of the test, candidates who are strong in Physics but weak in Chemistry should rebalance their study time toward stoichiometry, bonding, and the Periodic Table well before test day.
The exam provides an on-screen Periodic Table and constants reference specifically because Chemistry questions expect you to apply data rather than recall it from memory - so your prep time is better spent on interpretation and calculation practice than rote memorization.
Domain 4: Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment (9%)
The smallest domain shifts from content knowledge to pedagogy: how students learn science, how to plan instruction, and how to assess understanding. Even at 9%, this domain can be the difference between a marginal pass and a comfortable one, since its concepts are usually more about recognizing best practice than solving problems.
Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment
Candidates must apply principles of science pedagogy, including instructional planning, differentiation, and formative/summative assessment design.
- Aligning instruction with state science standards
- Selecting instructional strategies for diverse learners
- Designing formative and summative assessments
- Addressing misconceptions common in physical science topics
- Integrating safety and inquiry-based learning into lesson design
Because this domain is smaller, many candidates under-review it - but its questions are often quick wins if you understand basic instructional design principles rather than deep science content.
Why Domain Weighting Should Drive Your Prep
With four domains weighted so differently - 14%, 36%, 41%, and 9% - your study plan shouldn't allocate equal time to each. Chemistry and Physics together make up 77% of the exam, so the bulk of your review hours belongs there.
| Domain | Weight | Relative Study Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Inquiry and Processes | 14% | Moderate - review once, apply throughout |
| Physics | 36% | High |
| Chemistry | 41% | Highest |
| Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment | 9% | Lower - efficient review, high per-hour return |
If you want a broader picture of how this weighting connects to overall exam difficulty and reported outcomes, see the analysis in TExES 237 pass rate data, which discusses the administration-level historical results reported by Pearson.
Mapping a Study Schedule to the Domains
Rather than a generic weekly template, your schedule should mirror the exam's own weighting. A practical approach spreads more weeks across Chemistry and Physics, with shorter dedicated blocks for Inquiry and Pedagogy woven in throughout.
Chemistry Foundations
- Atomic structure, periodic trends, and bonding
- Stoichiometry and balancing equations practice
Chemistry Applications + Physics Start
- Acids/bases, solutions, gas laws
- Begin kinematics and forces in Physics
Physics Core
- Energy, work, and power problems
- Waves, circuits, and thermodynamics
Scientific Inquiry Integration
- Data interpretation and experimental design
- Lab safety review
Pedagogy + Full Review
- Instructional planning and assessment design
- Full-length timed practice under 4 hours 45 minutes conditions
For a condensed reference you can revisit in the final days before your appointment, a one-page cheat sheet of must-know facts is often more useful than re-reading full chapters.
Registration, Fees, and Retakes
The TExES 237 carries a standard exam fee of $116, paid when you register through the Evaluation Systems/Pearson platform for a Pearson VUE testing center appointment. If your first attempt doesn't reach the passing score of 240, Texas requires a 30-day wait before retesting, and there is a standard limit of five total attempts (with a waiver process for exceptions).
For a full breakdown of fees, materials, and the total investment required to earn certification, see the detailed TExES 237 certification cost guide. If you're still confirming eligibility before you register, the requirements article covers the bachelor's degree, educator preparation program, and background check steps required for classroom-teacher certification.
Who Needs This Certification
The TExES Physical Science 6-12 (237) is used within Texas's classroom-teacher certification pathway for candidates seeking to teach physical science, chemistry, or physics at the secondary level. It's typically pursued after completing an approved educator preparation program and receiving approval to test, then finalized alongside an application and fingerprint/background check. Existing certificate holders pursuing an additional certification area follow a separate route.
Once certified, the standard classroom-teacher certificate must be renewed every five years with 150 continuing professional education (CPE) hours - the exam itself does not expire, but the resulting certificate is tied to ongoing renewal requirements. If you're weighing whether this certification path fits your career goals, the ROI analysis and earnings guide both dig into that question in more depth, and you can explore additional practice resources to gauge your current readiness before committing to a test date.
Many candidates also compare this route against general questions like what the credential actually represents - if you're new to the exam entirely, start with What Is TExES 237? or browse the main practice test hub for topic-specific quizzes aligned to each domain above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most candidates benefit from starting with Chemistry, since it's the largest domain at 41% and its foundational concepts (atomic structure, bonding) also support later Physics topics.
Domain 1 is only 14% on its own, but its skills - data interpretation, experimental design, lab safety - appear embedded inside Physics and Chemistry questions, so reviewing it pays off across the whole test.
The exam consists of 100 selected-response questions administered as a computer-administered test (CAT) through Pearson VUE, within a 4 hour 45 minute testing period.
You need a scaled score of 240 to pass. If you don't reach it, you must wait 30 days before retesting, up to a standard limit of five total attempts.
Yes. The exam provides an on-screen scientific calculator, a Periodic Table, and a Definitions and Physical Constants reference for use during testing.