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Exam Overview
The exam is part of the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) program, administered for the Texas Education Agency (TEA) by its testing contractor, Pearson, through the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program. Passing it is one of the requirements for the Texas Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources: Grades 6–12 certificate.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Test code and name | 272 · Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources 6–12 |
| Format | Computer-administered test (CAT) delivered at a test center |
| Questions | 100 selected-response questions, each with four answer choices |
| Appointment time | 5 hours total: 15 minutes for the tutorial and compliance agreement and 4 hours 45 minutes of testing time |
| Scoring | Scaled scores from 100 to 300; the passing score is 240 |
| Unscored items | Some questions are being tried out for future use and do not count toward the score; they are not identified |
| Guessing | No penalty for wrong answers; answer every question |
| Fee | $116 (additional fees may apply) |
| Where and when | By appointment year-round at test sites in Texas and nationwide; first come, first served |
The Seven Domains and Twenty Competencies
The framework divides the exam into seven domains. Each domain contains two to four competencies, numbered 001 through 020, and each competency is described by a list of statements that say what a beginning teacher must know and be able to do. The percentages are approximate shares of the scored questions.
| Domain | Weight | Competencies |
|---|---|---|
| I · Foundations of Agricultural Education | 18% | 001 Foundations and scope of agriculture · 002 Classroom and laboratory safety · 003 Careers and supervised agricultural experience · 004 Leadership development and FFA |
| II · Agribusiness and Economics | 12% | 005 Entrepreneurship and business management · 006 Economic principles and marketing |
| III · Plant and Soil Science | 14% | 007 Soil science · 008 Plant classification, structure, and genetics · 009 Crop production and management · 010 Horticulture and specialty plant production |
| IV · Animal Science | 16% | 011 Animal classification, physiology, and genetics · 012 Animal production and management · 013 Facilities, evaluation, and animal products |
| V · Agricultural Mechanics, Engineering, and Technology | 16% | 014 Mechanical principles and power systems · 015 Construction and metalworking · 016 Agricultural technology and biotechnology |
| VI · Natural Resources and Environmental Science | 12% | 017 Ecological principles and environmental impact · 018 Ecosystem management |
| VII · Food Science and Processing | 12% | 019 Food processing, packaging, and marketing · 020 Food science and safety |
- No single domain dominates. Domain I is the largest at about 18 questions in 100, and four domains carry about 12 each, so a weak domain cannot be skipped.
- Domains IV and V together are nearly a third of the test and hold most of the calculations: rations, feed conversion, mechanical advantage, board feet, concrete, and Ohm's law.
- Domain I rewards precise knowledge of FFA, SAE, safety rules, and child labor law, which is quick to learn and easy to lose points on.
Question Types You Will See
Scoring and Score Reports
Results are converted to a scaled score from 100 to 300, and 240 is passing. The scaled score is not a percentage: the number of correct answers needed varies slightly from one test form to another so that every form is equally difficult to pass. Score reports are posted to your online account on the score-report date published for your test date and show your overall result and your performance by domain and competency.
Registration and Retakes
Becoming a Certified Texas Agricultural Science Teacher
Passing the 272 content exam is one step. Candidates must also hold a bachelor's degree, complete an approved educator preparation program, pass the required pedagogy assessment for their certification route, and complete fingerprinting and a criminal history review. Confirm the current requirements with TEA and your preparation program, because certification rules are periodically revised.
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