About the exam
TExES Core EC-6 Exam structure
TExES Core Subjects EC-6 (391) prep with 601 individually authored practice questions, 150 flashcards, official-count 210-question mocks, and detailed answer rationales.
Issuer and path
TExES Core Subjects EC-6 Exam Prep is administered through Texas Education Agency / Pearson. Check official resources before booking, retesting, or relying on a stale requirement.
English Language Arts and Reading
45 scored + 0 pretest
Grades 4–6 oral language, complex word analysis, fluency, literary and informational comprehension, writing, inquiry, media literacy, assessment, and instruction.
Mathematics
40 scored + 0 pretest
Number concepts, operations, algebraic reasoning, geometry, measurement, data analysis, probability, mathematical processes, and EC-6 math instruction.
Social Studies
40 scored + 0 pretest
History, geography, economics, government, citizenship, culture, social studies skills, sources, and interdisciplinary instruction.
Science
45 scored + 0 pretest
Scientific inquiry, lab safety, life science, earth and space science, physical science, engineering practices, and elementary science instruction.
Fine Arts, Health and Physical Education
40 scored + 0 pretest
Visual art, music, theatre, dance, health education, wellness, safety, movement skills, physical activity, and integrated EC-6 instruction.
Before you register
Confirm that your educator-preparation program still authorizes 391 and STR 293, and plan around TEA's transition: 391 is currently scheduled to be offered through August 31, 2027 and usable for certification through September 1, 2028. Before paying, verify whether you need the overall exam or an eligible single-subject retake, the current fee, Pearson account and ID rules, the separate subject timing blocks, attempt limits, accommodations, and your program's completion deadline.
Official Outline Coverage Map
Coverage is mapped to official outline item counts so content depth can be checked without hard-coding a single exam.
| Topic | Official outline items | Your questions | Your flashcards | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Language, Word Analysis, and Fluency | 15 | 43 | 10 | Priority |
| Reading Comprehension, Literary Texts, and Informational Texts | 15 | 43 | 10 | Priority |
| Writing, Language, Inquiry, and Media Literacy | 15 | 43 | 10 | Good |
| Number, Operations, and Algebraic Reasoning | 14 | 39 | 10 | Priority |
| Geometry and Measurement | 13 | 38 | 10 | Priority |
| Data, Probability, and Mathematical Processes | 13 | 38 | 10 | Good |
| History, Geography, and Culture | 14 | 38 | 10 | Priority |
| Government, Citizenship, and Economics | 13 | 38 | 10 | Priority |
| Social Studies Skills and Instruction | 13 | 38 | 10 | Good |
| Scientific Inquiry, Engineering, and Safety | 15 | 43 | 10 | Priority |
| Life, Earth, and Space Science | 15 | 43 | 10 | Priority |
| Physical Science and Science Instruction | 15 | 43 | 10 | Good |
| Fine Arts | 14 | 38 | 10 | Good |
| Health Education | 13 | 38 | 10 | Good |
| Physical Education | 13 | 38 | 10 | Good |
How to use this guide
How to study for TExES Core Subjects EC-6
Use the five official 391 subject exams as your map: learn the disciplinary content, analyze student thinking and evidence, then practice the separate timed blocks.
1. Identify the subject and skill
Name the content area, grade-level skill, misconception, or process standard being tested.
2. Match the representation
Choose the model, text, source, tool, or activity that best fits the concept and learner need.
3. Use evidence and standards
Connect the response to student evidence, Texas standards, safety, or accurate disciplinary practice.
4. Choose the teachable next step
Prefer feedback, scaffolded practice, inquiry, or assessment that advances the specific learning goal.
Oral Language, Word Analysis, and Fluency
ELAR questions test grades 4–6 listening and speaking, academic language, morphology, multisyllabic word analysis, fluency, and targeted literacy assessment.
Key rules
Rule 1
Grades 4–6 oral language includes purposeful listening, discussion, presentation, register, pragmatics, and use of precise academic language.
Exam cue: Match register, evidence, and delivery to audience and purpose.
Rule 2
Advanced word analysis integrates syllable patterns, roots, affixes, morphology, context, and flexible decoding of unfamiliar multisyllabic words.
Exam cue: When a word is unfamiliar, inspect meaningful parts and pronunciation together rather than relying on one surface clue.
Rule 3
Fluency is accurate, appropriately paced, expressive reading that supports comprehension; assessment should separate accuracy, rate, phrasing, and meaning.
Exam cue: Use oral-reading evidence to identify whether the need is decoding, automaticity, phrasing, vocabulary, or comprehension.
Common traps
Treating informal conversational fluency as mastery of academic discussion and presentation.
Prevention: Avoid answers that rely only on habit, ignore the stated source, skip safety or compliance steps, or choose convenience over the professional standard.
Reducing upper-elementary word analysis to initial-sound phonics or guessing from pictures.
Prevention: Avoid answers that rely only on habit, ignore the stated source, skip safety or compliance steps, or choose convenience over the professional standard.
Treating maximum reading speed as the goal even when accuracy, prosody, or comprehension declines.
Prevention: Avoid answers that rely only on habit, ignore the stated source, skip safety or compliance steps, or choose convenience over the professional standard.
Memory anchors
Academic Register
Speakers adapt vocabulary, syntax, evidence, and tone to audience, purpose, and setting.
Collaborative Discussion
Productive discussion uses active listening, relevant evidence, turn building, clarification, and respectful challenge.
Pragmatics
Pragmatics concerns how context and social expectations shape language meaning and use.
Morphology
Roots and affixes carry meaning and support decoding, spelling, and vocabulary.
Multisyllabic Analysis
Flexible readers combine syllable patterns, morphemes, pronunciation, and context when solving long words.
Fluency
Fluency integrates accuracy, appropriate rate, phrasing, expression, and comprehension.
Prosody
Prosody uses stress, phrasing, pace, and intonation to reflect syntax and meaning.
Oral Presentation
An effective presentation organizes ideas, cites evidence, uses suitable visuals, and engages the audience.
Diagnostic Reading
Error patterns and oral-reading behavior identify the specific component that needs instruction.
Language Scaffold
Sentence frames, models, visuals, and word banks can support expression without lowering the reasoning goal.
Next best moves
Quick check-up
Use a short quiz to confirm the rule pattern is actually sticking.
Check-up Questions
A sixth-grade student gives an oral report using precise facts but speaks in the same casual register used with friends. Which instruction would best address the need?
During a discussion, several multilingual students understand the topic but hesitate to speak before the whole class. Which structure best supports oral-language growth?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Open another topic next
Official resources
Verify the details with the official sources
Use these links for eligibility, scheduling, handbook rules, and issuer updates. Our guide helps you study; official sources tell you what the testing partner currently requires.
Pearson TExES Core Subjects EC-6 (391) test details
Current official page for subject-exam codes, question counts, time blocks, passing standard, fees, delivery, and retake registration.
TExES Core Subjects EC-6 Preparation Materials
Official preparation page with the online manual, printable framework, sample questions, and practice-exam link.
TExES Core Subjects EC-6 Exam Framework
Official online framework listing exam code, time, 210 questions, five subject exams, and question counts.
Pearson Texas testing policies
Official Texas educator-testing navigation for registration, test-day requirements, scores, retakes, and policy links.
TEA educator testing and exam transitions
Current TEA transition table listing the 391 last-offered date, certification-use deadline, and targeted launch of subject exams 811–815.
TEA approved educator standards
Official Texas standards hub for educator preparation and certification alignment.
Pearson Science of Teaching Reading (293)
Official companion exam page; Pearson states that candidates seeking Core Subjects EC-6 certification must also take STR 293.
FAQ
Common TExES Core EC-6 questions
Is this the official TExES Core Subjects EC-6 exam?
No. These are original practice questions aligned to the public TExES Core Subjects EC-6 (391) framework. They are not copied from secure exam material.
How many questions and how much time are on TExES Core Subjects EC-6?
The official exam has 210 selected-response questions in a five-hour appointment. The 15-minute tutorial is followed by 70 minutes for ELAR, 70 for Mathematics, 50 for Social Studies, 55 for Science, and 35 for Fine Arts/Health/PE.
Which subject exams are included?
The 391 exam includes English Language Arts and Reading, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, and Fine Arts, Health and Physical Education.
How is the 210-question mock weighted?
The mock follows the official question counts: 45 ELAR, 40 Mathematics, 40 Social Studies, 45 Science, and 40 Fine Arts/Health/PE.
What score is required to pass 391?
Pearson lists 240 as the passing score for each subject exam. A strong total cannot compensate for a score below 240 in another subject.
Do Core Subjects EC-6 candidates also need STR 293?
Pearson states that candidates seeking certification in this field must take both Core Subjects EC-6 (391) and Science of Teaching Reading (293). Confirm your exact authorization and sequencing with your educator-preparation program.
Can I retake just one failed subject exam?
If you passed four subject exams and failed one, Pearson says you may register for that single subject. If you failed two or more, you must register for the overall 391 exam again, and each appointment counts as an attempt.
When will TExES 391 be replaced?
TEA currently lists August 31, 2027 as the last date 391 will be offered and September 1, 2028 as the certification-use deadline. New subject exams 811 through 815 are targeted no earlier than September 2027.
Does the official exam use only ordinary four-choice questions?
No. Official sample materials include clustered stimuli and selected-response variations such as choosing multiple statements. This product uses one supported interaction—four choices with one correct answer—while preserving the content, calculations, source analysis, and classroom reasoning.
How should I use the 601 questions and 150 flashcards?
Use flashcards for retrieval, topic drills for content and misconception repair, and explanations for error analysis. Move to 210-question weighted mocks after each subject is near the 240-level standard in timed practice.