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Exam Overview
An Overview of the Exam
The TExES Principal as Instructional Leader (268) exam measures whether an entry-level principal has the knowledge and skills to lead a Texas public school campus. It is administered for the Texas Education Agency (TEA) through the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program, which is operated by Pearson.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Format | Computer-administered test (CAT) at Pearson VUE test centers |
| Questions | 70 selected-response questions and 4 constructed-response items; some items may be field-test questions that do not count |
| Appointment time | 5 hours total: 15 minutes for the tutorial and compliance agreement and 4 hours 45 minutes of testing time |
| Stimulus material | Data sets, documents, and classroom video; a headset is used for listening items |
| Score scale | 100–300 scaled score |
| Passing score | 240 |
| Score weighting | Selected-response about 60% and constructed-response about 40% (each constructed-response item about 10%) |
| Test fee | $200 (additional fees may apply) |
| Retakes | Wait 30 days between attempts; Texas allows five attempts per certification exam |
| Domain | Competencies | Selected-response | Constructed-response | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I. School Environment | 001–002 | 12% | 10% | 22% |
| II. Leading Learning | 003–004 | 17% | 25% | 42% |
| III. Human Capital | 005–006 | 13% | 5% | 18% |
| IV. Executive Leadership | 007–008 | 6% | — | 6% |
| V. Strategic Operations | 009–010 | 6% | — | 6% |
| VI. Ethics | 011 | 5% | — | 5% |
Share of the total score by domain
Leading Learning — 42%Domain II
School Environment — 22%Domain I
Human Capital — 18%Domain III
Other — 17%Domains IV, V, and VI
Certification Pathway
1
Meet eligibility
Hold a valid Texas classroom teaching certificate, two years of creditable teaching experience, and a master's degree (required for the standard certificate).
2
Complete a principal preparation program
An approved educator preparation program grants approval to test.
3
Pass the TExES 268 exam
Required before an intern or probationary certificate can be issued.
4
Complete the performance assessment
Candidates must also complete the Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL) for the standard certificate.
Confirm Current Details
Fees, policies, and registration procedures are set by TEA and Pearson and can change. Check the official Texas Educator Certification Examination Program website before you register.Finished reading?
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