So you’re taking the TExES Special Education EC-12 (161)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 Special Education EC-12 (161) exam!

TExES EC-12 (161) Video Overviews

Finding the right study material can be overwhelming. This video from 240 Tutoring offers helpful tips on finding the right kind of study guide for your specific needs:

For a quick look at a few TExES Special Education EC-12 practice questions, try this video from Mometrix:

First Thing to Know

TExES Special Education EC-12 is an abbreviation for the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards, Special Education Early Childhood to 12th grade exam. Anyone who wants to teach special education in Texas from preschool to 12th grade needs to pass the TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) exam.

Each one of the TExES exams has an assigned number, and the number for the Special Education EC-12 exam is 161. There are many different educator exams and these numbers exist to help the state keep track of the different tests.

TExES SPED EC-12 Exam Breakdown

The TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) lasts 5 hours and includes 150 multiple-choice questions. The exam covers four domains that are shown in the table below. You must pass the overall exam and must retake the entire examination if you fail.

Domain Approximate Percentage of Exam
  1. Understanding Individuals with Disabilities and Evaluating Their Needs
13%
  1. Promoting Student Learning and Development
33%
  1. Promoting Student Achievement in English Language Arts and Reading and in Mathematics
33%
  1. Foundations and Professional Roles and Responsibilities
20%

 

What is a Passing Score

A passing score on the TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) assessment is 220 or above out of 300.

How to Register for the TExES 161 Exam

New to Teaching?

You must be certified to teach in the state of Texas to take the TExES Special Education EC-12 (161). However, there are alternative certification programs available in Texas if you are not currently certified:

5 Best Alternative Certification Programs in Texas

 

Already Certified?

 

  • If you don’t already have a TExES account, you’ll need to create one here.
  • After you have logged in to your account, click the “register” tab at the top of the homepage.
  • Next, you’ll use a drop down menu to select the Special Education EC-12 exam.
  • Answer the required background questions and review your exam selection.
  • Pay the examination fee through credit, debit, or bank card.
  • After paying for your exam, you’ll have 170 days to schedule your testing appointment.

Once you pass the exam, you are qualified to teach special education in the state of Texas!

TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) Free Practice Test

What you really want to know about taking the TExES Special Education EC-12 is how to pass the test.

Taking a practice test is one of the best ways to start learning how to pass the exam.

That’s why we’ve found the best free and paid practice tests for the TExES Special Education EC-12 exam.

 

Best Free Practice Test

240 Tutoring’s TExES Special Education EC-12 Practice Test

240 Tutoring has been helping teachers pass their exams since 2011. 240 Tutoring offers an online, completely free practice test for TExES Special Education EC-12 (161). Each practice test will give you a free score breakdown, so you can see exactly what you need to study.

TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) Paid Practice Test

Best Paid Practice Test

240 Tutoring’s Study Guide and Practice Test

240 Tutoring also offers a longer practice test that comes with their paid study guide. The TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) Study Guide has 182 questions and 49 pages of content. So while it is a paid practice test, it also offers a lot of extra benefits.

If you use the study guide together with the practice test, you have the best chance to pass the exam. For example, the Special Education EC-12 exam covers four subareas. You can use the practice test to find out the subarea that gives you the most trouble, then spend your time focused on that portion of the study guide.

This 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 Special Education exam — for one monthly price of $39.99. So subscribing to one study guide gives you access to all study guides. This is a great deal, especially if you plan on taking multiple TExES exams.

TExES Special Education EC-12 Study Guide & Practice Test

 

Runner-Up for Practice Test

Exam Edge

Exam Edge offers practice tests bundles that focus on the Special Education EC-12 exam. You can buy bundles of 5, 10, or 15 practice tests. That’s a lot of good practice, although it is not the most affordable option: the bundles start at $49.99, and that’s even at the sale price. Also, there is no study guide or other material included — just the practice tests.

TExES Special Education Practice Test & Test Prep 

 

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 this might make a good starting point, it definitely won’t be enough practice to fully prepare you for the exam.

TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) Practice Test

TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) Free Study Guide

It’s time to start studying for the TExES Special Education EC-12 exam, but where do you even start? With all of the material to cover, and so many different options for study guides, it can quickly get overwhelming!

That’s why we’ve done the hard part for you and found the best free and paid study guides for the TExES Special Education EC-12 exam.

Best Free Study Guide

240 Tutoring’s TExES Special Education EC-12: 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 Special Education EC-12 (161) 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 Special Education EC-12 (161) Paid Study Guide

Best Paid Study Guide

240 Tutoring’s TExES Special Education EC-12 Study Guide & Practice Test

240 Tutoring also offers a full study guide. The TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) Study Guide has 182 questions and 49 pages of content. The questions have been developed by professionals with years of experience in the classroom and subject area experts with advanced degrees. Most important, the study material and questions are aligned with the testing standards, so you can be confident that you’re studying the right information.

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

240 Tutoring is a month-to-month subscription. You get all of the TExES study guides — including the Special Education exam — for just one monthly price of $39.99. So subscribing to one study guide gives you access to all study guides. This is a great deal, especially if you need to study for multiple TExES exams.

Runner-Up for Study Guide

Study.com

This guide provides great content coverage that includes study guides and interactive practice tests. However, this guide can be a little overwhelming: according to its website, it would take almost 39 hours just to go through all of the included 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 Special Education EC-12 (161): Study Guide & Practice Course – Online Video Lessons

 

Honorable Mention

Mometrix

Mometrix provides a study guide that includes comprehensive tricks and tips to pass the TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) exam. However, the focus seems to be more on how to game the system and exploit “secrets” of the test rather than on exploring the content. Also, it is only available as a paper book or ebook, which makes it less convenient to take its practice tests and study its material.

TExES Study Guide & Practice Test