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Exam Overview
The Educational Diagnostician exam is a computer-administered test (CAT) given by appointment at Pearson VUE test centers. Each appointment includes a short tutorial, the selected-response questions and the constructed-response question.
Key Facts About the TExES Educational Diagnostician Exam
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | TExES Educational Diagnostician |
| Exam code | 253 |
| Format | Computer-administered test (CAT) |
| Selected-response questions | 90 |
| Answer choices | Four (A to D) on every selected-response question |
| Constructed-response questions | 1 |
| Total appointment time | 5 hours |
| Testing time | 4 hours 45 minutes |
| Grade range covered | Early childhood to grade 12 |
| Score scale | 100 to 300 |
| Passing score | 240 |
| Fee | $200 |
Test Structure and Weights
The exam framework divides the content into four domains and eight competencies. Domains I to III are measured by the selected-response questions, and Domain IV is the constructed-response question.
Domains, Competencies and Approximate Weights
| Domain | Competencies | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| I Identification and Assessment | 001 Identification for Special Education Evaluation and Services; 002 Evaluation Planning, Selection and Administration; 003 Interpretation and Reporting of Evaluation Results | 34% |
| II Curriculum, Instruction, and Intervention | 004 Academic Instruction and Strategies; 005 Functional Skill Instruction and Strategies | 23% |
| III Professional Responsibilities | 006 Consultation and Collaboration; 007 Legal and Ethical Practice | 23% |
| IV Analysis and Response | 008 Analysis and Response (constructed response) | 20% |
Domain I alone is about a third of your score. The single constructed-response question is worth almost as much as all of Domain II.
TEA publishes percentages, not question counts. Because the 90 selected-response questions cover Domains I to III, you can expect roughly 38 questions from Domain I and roughly 26 each from Domains II and III.
Timing
Your appointment lasts 5 hours. About 15 minutes go to a tutorial and a compliance agreement, and the remaining 4 hours 45 minutes are for the exam itself. The time is shared between the two parts, so you decide how to divide it. A comfortable plan is about 2 minutes per selected-response question (about 3 hours) and about 60 to 75 minutes for the constructed response, with time left to review.
Scoring
Scores are reported on a scale of 100 to 300, and you need a scaled score of 240 to pass. Your score combines the selected-response questions and the constructed response according to the domain weights. Selected-response scoring is based on the number of questions you answer correctly, with no penalty for a wrong answer. Some questions may be unscored pilot items being tried out for future exams, and you will not know which ones they are.
The constructed response is scored holistically by trained Texas educators, as Section 8 explains.
Fees and Registration
The exam fee is $200, and additional fees may apply. Your educator preparation program must approve you to test before you register through your TExES account. Testing is offered in limited administrations within 2-week testing periods, and appointments are first-come, first-served, so register early.
What Kinds of Questions to Expect
- Scenarios about a student, parent, teacher or ARD committee, followed by a question about the best, first or most appropriate action
- Data questions built on exhibits: cognitive index scores, achievement clusters, percentile summaries, progress-monitoring data, STAAR and RtI results, behavior records and ARD summaries
- Legal and ethical questions about IDEA, Section 504, FERPA, the Texas Education Code, the Commissioner's rules, consent, notice and timelines
- Instruction and intervention questions on reading and dyslexia, writing, math, behavior, functional skills and transition
- One constructed-response question asking you to analyze one student's data, identify strengths and needs and whether a disability appears to be present, and recommend and explain one evidence-based intervention
Score Reports
- Scores are released at 10:00 p.m. Central time on the score report date for your testing period, after the constructed response has been scored.
- The report shows whether you passed, your scaled score and your performance in each domain.
- If you do not pass, use the domain results to target your study before you retest, and check the current retake rules with TEA.
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