TExES 237 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows

The Only Verified Pass Rate Data

Anyone researching the TExES Physical Science 6-12 (237) exam eventually runs into pass rate claims scattered across forums, prep-course landing pages, and outdated blog posts. Most of that chatter is unsourced. The one figure that can actually be traced to an official reporting period comes from Pearson's administration data covering September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2024: 31 passes out of 77 administrations, or 40.26%.

That is the number to anchor your expectations to. It is not a rumor, not a guess pulled from a different Texas certification test, and not a marketing figure designed to sell a course. It is a historical administration count for this specific exam code, tied to a defined 12-month window.

What 40.26% Actually Means (and Doesn't)

It's worth being precise about what an "administration-level" rate captures, because it's easy to misread. The 77 administrations in that reporting year include every test session recorded - first attempts, retakes, and any other sitting - not a cohort of unique candidates tracked from their first try. That means the 40.26% figure cannot be read as "40% of people pass the first time they sit for TExES 237," because retakes by candidates who didn't pass initially are folded into the same denominator. It also cannot be projected forward as a guaranteed 2026 outcome. Pass rates for any certification exam can shift from one reporting period to the next based on candidate pool composition, changes in educator preparation program cohorts, and other factors that aren't published alongside the raw pass/fail count. Treat 40.26% as a useful historical reference point, not a forecast.

If you want a broader read on how challenging candidates generally find this exam relative to its structure and content load, see How Hard Is the TExES 237 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.

Why Domain Weighting Drives Outcomes

TExES 237 is built around four content domains, and their weighting is not evenly distributed. That imbalance is one of the most practical things a pass-rate discussion can highlight, because it tells you where preparation time should actually go.

A pass rate in the low-40s percent range starts to make more sense once you see that nearly four-fifths of the exam sits in two dense science content domains. Candidates who treat Physics and Chemistry as a combined priority - rather than splitting attention evenly across all four domains - tend to align their prep with how the test is actually built. For a full walkthrough of objectives inside each domain, the TExES 237 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt is a useful companion to this article.

Format and Fee Mechanics That Shape Results

Pass rates don't exist in a vacuum - they're a product of how the test is delivered and how much room candidates have to demonstrate what they know. TExES 237 is administered as a computer-administered test (CAT) through Pearson VUE test centers, under Texas Education Agency and State Board for Educator Certification oversight.

• Format: 100 selected-response questions
• Time: 4 hours 45 minutes of actual testing time, within a 5-hour total appointment that includes 15 minutes for the tutorial and compliance agreement
• Fee: $116 standard registration fee
• Passing score: 240 on the scaled-score system
• Provided resources: an on-screen scientific calculator, a Periodic Table, and a Definitions and Physical Constants reference

The provided reference materials matter for pass-rate context: candidates aren't expected to memorize every constant or the full periodic table from scratch, which shifts the real challenge toward applying concepts correctly under time pressure rather than pure recall. If you want the exact scoring mechanics behind the 240 threshold, see TExES 237 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.

Quick Facts at a Glance

For the full breakdown of what candidates pay across registration, retakes, and background checks, see TExES 237 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.

Retake Policy: What Happens After a Non-Pass

Given that roughly 6 in 10 administrations in the reported period did not result in a pass, understanding the retake structure is not optional context - it's practical planning. Candidates who don't clear 240 must wait 30 days before their next attempt, and the standard limit is five total attempts, with a waiver process available for candidates who need to exceed that cap.

It's also worth remembering that passing the exam is one step in a larger certification pathway. Initial classroom-teacher certification in Texas normally requires a bachelor's degree, completion of an approved educator preparation program, program approval to test, the required certification examinations, a completed application, and fingerprint/background checks. Existing certificate holders pursuing an additional certification follow a separate route. For the complete eligibility picture, see TExES 237 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.

Building a Timeline Around the Real Weights

Generic study advice - spaced repetition, timed practice blocks, active recall - works, but only if it's applied against the actual weight distribution of this exam. Given that Chemistry and Physics together make up 77% of scored content, a preparation timeline should reflect that imbalance rather than spend equal time on all four domains.

Run at least one full practice session under real time constraints before test day - pacing across 100 questions in under five hours is its own skill, separate from content mastery. Our TExES 237 practice test platform lets you rehearse that pacing with domain-weighted question sets that mirror the real distribution.

Who Is Actually Taking This Exam

TExES 237 is the certification pathway for candidates seeking to teach physical science to Texas secondary students, typically grades 6 through 12. School districts hiring for chemistry, physics, or integrated physical science positions look for this specific credential as proof of content readiness. That hiring context is part of why the pass rate matters practically: districts rely on the 240 passing standard as a baseline signal of subject-matter competence before a teacher enters a physical science classroom.

Once earned, the resulting standard classroom-teacher certificate renews every five years through 150 hours of continuing professional education - the exam itself does not expire on a five-year cycle, only the certificate built on top of it does. For a look at how this credential translates into hiring demand and pay ranges, see TExES 237 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis and TExES 237 Jobs. If you're still deciding whether the investment of time and the $116 fee is worthwhile relative to career outcomes, Is the TExES 237 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 walks through that calculation directly.

Frequently Asked Questions