So you’re taking the TExES English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 (217) exam and you’re asking some of the following questions:

  • Where do I find a free practice test?
  • An exam breakdown?
  • How do I register for the test?

Those are all great questions, and you’ve found the right place to get them answered!

My name is Deke Parsons, and at Best in Class we’ve got the answers to all of these questions about the TExES ELAR 4-8 (217) exam!

TExES ELAR 4-8 Video Overviews

Overwhelmed by the amount of study material available? This video from 240 Tutoring provides some helpful tips on finding the best study resources for you.

This collection of videos covers several elementary reading concepts that are likely to appear on the TExES ELAR 4-8 exam:

This video provides a quick look at some practice questions and answers for the TExES ELAR 4-8 exam:

First Thing to Know

TExES is an abbreviation for the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards. ELAR is an acronym for English Language Arts and Reading. Anyone who wants to teach 4th – 8th grade English in Texas must pass the TExES ELAR 4-8 (217) exam.

Each one of the TExES exams has an assigned number, and the number for the ELAR 4-8 exam is 217. There are many different educator exams and these numbers help the state keep track of the different tests. This number can also help you, the test taker, ensure that you are registering for the right exam and studying the right material.

TExES ELAR 4-8 Exam Breakdown

The TExES English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 (217) exam covers two domains and consists of 100 selected-response questions. You will have 5 hours to complete the exam. You must pass the overall exam and must retake the entire examination if you fail.

Domain Standards Assessed Approximate Percentage of Exam
  1. Language Arts, Part I: Oral Language, Early Literacy Development, Word Identification Skills and Reading Fluency
English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 I-III, VIII 33%
  1. Language Arts, Part II: Reading Comprehension and Assessment, Reading Applications, Written Language, Viewing and Representing and Study and Inquiry Skills
English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 IV-VIII 67%

What is a Passing Score

The TExES exams are graded using scaled scores. This means that instead of a percentage score, your score will range from 100 – 300 points. A passing score on the TExES Language Arts and Reading (217) assessment is 240 or above out of 300.

How to Register for the TExES ELAR 4-8 Exam

New to Teaching?

In order to take the TExES ELAR 4-8 exam, you’ll first need to complete an educator preparation program. If you’re planning on seeking alternative certification, check out the link below for some great options.

5 Best Alternative Certification Programs in Texas

Once you’ve completed an educator preparation program, you can register for your exam by following these steps:

  1. Visit the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program account information page to create an account.
  2. Once you have created an account and logged in, click the Register button near the top of the page.
  3. Next click on the AAFCS, TASC, TExES tab near the center of the page.
  4. Click the orange Register Now button.
  5. The system will now take you through a series of questions related to your testing needs. Among those questions will be an opportunity to select the ELAR 4-8 (217) exam from a list of your approved exams. You will not be able to schedule your test date and location until after you have paid for the test. After paying for your exam, you’ll have 170 days to register for a specific testing date.

Already Certified?

  1. Visit the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program website and log in with your existing username and password.
  2. Once you have logged in, click the Register button near the top of the page.
  3. Next click on the AAFCS, TASC, TExES tab near the center of the page.
  4. Click the orange Register Now button.
  5. The system will now take you through a series of questions related to your testing needs. Among those questions will be an opportunity to select the ELAR 4-8 (217) exam from a list of your approved exams. You will not be able to schedule your test date and location until after you have paid for the test. After paying for your exam, you’ll have 170 days to register for a specific testing date.

Once you pass the exam, you are qualified to teach ELA and Reading in the state of Texas!

Yay!

TExES English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 (217) Free Practice Test

Wondering what to expect on your TExES English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 (217) exam?

One of the best ways to find out is by taking a practice test.

There are many practice tests available, but how do you know that you’ve found a high-quality, reliable source? Luckily, we’ve done that part for you! Check out the best options for TExES ELAR 4-8 practice tests below.

Best Free Practice Test

240 Tutoring’s TExES ELAR Practice Test

240 Tutoring has been helping teachers pass their exams since 2011. They offer an online, completely free practice test for TExES English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 (217). Each practice test will give you a free score breakdown, so you can see exactly what you need to study.

TExES English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 (217) Paid Practice Test

Best Paid Practice Test

240 Tutoring’s TExES English Language Arts 4-8 Practice Test

240 Tutoring also offers a full study guide with practice questions. The TExES English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 (217) Study Guide has 278 questions and 62 pages of content. The questions have been developed by professionals with years of experience in the classroom. By combining your practice test results with the study guide, you can focus on the areas you need to work on the most.

So while it is a paid practice test, it also offers a lot of extra benefits. The study guide also comes with a money-back guarantee that you will pass the test.

BONUS: 240 Tutoring is a month-to-month subscription. You get all of the TExES study guides — including the ELAR 4-8 exam — for just one monthly price of $39.99. So subscribing to one study guide gives you access to all study guides.

Runner-Up for Practice Test

Exam Edge

Exam Edge offers practice tests for sale that focus on the TExES ELAR 4-8 exam. You can buy a bundle of 15 practice tests. That’s a lot of good practice, although it is not the most affordable option: the full price is over $300, and even the sale price is more than $100! Also, there is no study guide included or other material — just the practice tests. You can buy 1 practice test for $21.95, but again, this only comes with the practice test, not a study guide.

TExES English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 Practice Test

Honorable Mention

Mometrix

This website contains some useful information about the test and provides some free practice questions. However, the free practice test is only 10 questions long. While it might be a good place to start, it definitely won’t fulfill all of your studying needs.

English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 Practice Test 

TExES English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 (217) Free Study Guide

Searching for study guides for your teacher certification exam can be overwhelming. How do you know if the source is reliable? Can you get a preview of the content before making such a big purchase? Are there any free study guides out there?

We’ve found the answers to all of these questions and compiled a list of the best study guides available for the TExES English Language Arts and Reading exam.

Best Free Study Guide

240 Tutoring’s TExES ELAR 4-8 (217) Ultimate Guide

This free study guide is a great resource. It is clear and well-organized and provides an overview of each of the domains that are included in the TExES ELAR 4-8 (217) exam. Included in this overview are a handful of specifically chosen concepts from each domain with a few paragraphs of explanation. This is an excellent starting point for your studying!

TExES English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 (217) Paid Study Guide

Best Paid Study Guide

240 Tutoring’s TExES English Language Arts 4-8 Practice Test

240 Tutoring also offers a full study guide. The TExES English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 (117) Study Guide has 278 questions and 62 pages of content. The questions have been developed by professionals with years of experience in the classroom.

The study guide also includes a practice test that will help you tailor your study plan to meet your needs. Combining the practice test with the study guide will help you have the best chance at passing the exam.

Best of all? The study guide comes with a money-back guarantee that you will pass the test.

BONUS: 240 Tutoring is a month-to-month subscription. You get all of the TExES study guides — including the ELAR 4-8 exam — for just one monthly price of $39.99. So subscribing to one study guide gives you access to all study guides.

Runner-Up for Study Guide

Study.com

This guide provides great content that includes study guides and interactive practice tests. However, this guide can be a little overwhelming: according to its website it would take almost 31 hours just to go through all of the included video lessons just once! Considering that you may want to study many of the sections more than once, using this study guide would be a major investment of your time.

TExES English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 (117): Practice & Study Guide Course – Online Video Lessons

Honorable Mention

Mometrix

Mometrix provides a study guide that includes comprehensive tricks and tips to pass the TExES English Language Arts and Reading exam. However, the focus is more on how to game the system than on exploring the content of the test. Also, it is only available as a printed book or ebook, which makes it less convenient to take the practice tests and study the material.

TExES Study Guide & Practice Test

About the Author

Deke Parsons

Dr. Deke Parsons is an award-winning author and English Ph.D. with more than 27 years of teaching, writing, and editing experience.

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