The TExES PREP Center at TWU
Preparation and Review for Educator Proficiencies
What resources are available and how do I use them?
1. Resource: Preparation review books (Maximum of two hours, if documented by signing in and out of Center)*
What?
These consist of a range of published books and materials on preparing and reviewing for TExES
exams. They are in a variety of formats, some have flashcards and some have several practice
exams. Most also review the content of the specific exam.
Exams Addressed: There are some TExES exams, such as the PPR and EC-6 Generalist, for which
there are many such books and some exams that have much fewer resources available. We attempt
to have copies of all review materials that have been published and we have at least some material
for most TExES exams. But, if you know of some we do not have, please let us know.
When?
These are good resources to explore and use after you have taken the practice exam one time and
have identified some of the areas where you are weak and need more review.
How?
Why?
Come into the Resource Center and tell a staff member which exam you are trying to pass. She/He
can help direct you to appropriate materials. Review those materials that are available and try to find
one that has a format and structure that best fits with your learning style and needs. You may then
check it out for up to two weeks at a time. Set up a daily or weekly study schedule to review the
material on a regular basis. Remember that distributed study is more effective than mass study. In
other words, studying 30 minutes or an hour every day or five days a week is more effective than
studying 3 or 4 hours once or twice a week. If you did poorly on the practice exam you should
consider retaking it after following your study schedule for about a month.
This will allow you to review a variety of materials to find one that best fits your needs without
paying to buy books or other materials that aren’t as useful for you.
Where? You will need to come to the Resource Center, 218 Stoddard Hall to see these materials and you can
either check them out for home or study them in the Resource Center.
2. Resource: Understanding the Land of TExES videos (One hour if Bb exam taken with videos)
What?
This is a three-video series that gives an overview of the TExES exams. Each video is
approximately 15 minutes in length. The first one, The History of TExESLand, discusses how the
exams are developed, structured and formatted. The second, the Language of TExESLand, provides
information on how to read and process the language of the exams. And, the third, The Culture of
TExESLand, explains some of the principles, beliefs and biases of the exams.
Exams Addressed: These videos are a good resource for all TExES exams.
When?
This is a good resource to use before you take a practice TExES exam for the first time.
How?
Go to the TExES PREP Center Blackboard site (if you’re not already in the site, go to the website
www. twu.edu/texes-prep, and view the video on self-enrolling in it). Once on the Bb site click on
PREP Workshops and then open the folder “Understanding the Land of TExES.”
Why?
This resource will give you a basic orientation and introduction to the TExES exams.
Where?
You can access this resource anywhere you have an Internet connection and can log on to
Blackboard.
*Amount of time toward required six hours of TExES exam preparation
The TExES PREP Resource Center is in 218 Stoddard Hall. Our website is www.twu.edu/texes-prep.
3. Resource: TExES Success Strategies Workshops (Two hours if Bb exam taken with videos)*
What?
These are face-to-face workshops on specific TExES exams that are provided on the TWU Denton
campus. Workshops are currently being offered on the EC-12 PPR, the EC-6 Generalist, the 4-8
Generalist and the Special Education Supplemental. Each workshop is approximately two and a
half hours long and provides an explanation of specific content on the exams and practice on
typical questions that will be encountered on that particular exam. The workshops allow you an
opportunity to process questions and practice specific exam strategies.
Exams Addressed: The PPR exam, the EC-6 and 4-8 Generalist exams, and the Special Education
exam.
When?
This is a good resource to use before you take the TExES practice exam the first time, or after you
have taken it once and not done well on it.
How?
You will need to register for a workshop by going to the website, www.twu.edu/texes-prep and
clicking on Register for a TExES Workshop. Workshops are offered several times each semester.
Why?
These face-to-face workshops will allow you to ask questions, expand on explanations, explore
strategies and exam concepts in more detail and interact with other students and the instructor.
Where? Workshops are usually held in the PREP Resource Center, 218 Stoddard Hall.
4. Resource: TExES Success Strategies Videos (One hour for each video series if Bb exam taken)*
What?
These are video versions of the face-to-face PPR and EC-6 Generalist workshops described above.
Currently, there are no videos for the 4-8 Generalist or Special Education workshops. The video
workshops include the same information as the face-to-face workshops, but segments the
workshops into short videos of approximately 15-20 minutes to make them easier to download and
view. There are five videos for the PPR workshop and eight for the EC-6 Generalist. Although both
series cover the same content as in the face-to-face workshops, this video format does not allow for
the interaction and expanded discussions possible in the face-to-face workshops.
Exams Addressed: the PPR exam and the EC-6 Generalist exam
When?
These videos are useful to view before you take the practice exam (PPR or EC-6 Generalist) or
when you have taken the practice exam and plan to take it again. They are also useful if you have
attended the face-to-face workshop, but it has been some time and you want to review the
workshop content again before taking your actual TExES exam.
How?
These videos can be accessed through the TExES PREP Center Blackboard site. Click on PREP
Workshops and then the appropriate folder for the video series you wish to view.
Why?
These videos will give you practice on recognizing and understanding exam content and applying
effective exam strategies. While it would be better to participate in the actual face-to-face
workshops, they may not be offered at a time or day that is possible for you to attend, or there may
not be one scheduled in time for you to attend before you take your exam.
Where? You may view these videos anywhere you have Internet access and can log on to Blackboard.
Although you can link to them from Blackboard they are actually located on the Vimeo.com video
sharing site and can be downloaded to mobile devices through the Vimeo app.
*Amount of time toward required six hours of TExES exam preparation
The TExES PREP Resource Center is in 218 Stoddard Hall. Our website is www.twu.edu/texes-prep.
5. Resource: PowerPoint Workshops (One hour for each PowerPoint)*
What?
These are PowerPoints used in face-to-face workshops for TExES exams. They discuss exam
strategies and provide sample exam questions with explanations. They do not have the detail and
expanded explanations that are available in the f2f workshops or in the videos. However, they are
useful for reviewing content and strategies after attending a workshop. In addition to a PowerPoint
on the PPR workshop, there are several other PowerPoints that provide further discussion of PPR
content and principles.
Exams Available: PowerPoints are available for the PPR, EC-6 Generalist, 4-8 Generalist, and
Special Education Supplemental.
When?
These PowerPoints are useful to review prior to taking your practice exam for the first time. It is
recommended that you attend a f2f workshop first and then use the PowerPoint to review and
process the workshop information.
How?
You can access the PowerPoints through the PREP Workshops link on the TExES PREP Center
Blackboard site.
Why?
These PowerPoints will allow you to go through the content discussed in the TExES Success
Strategies workshop a little slower and to better process and review exam strategies prior to taking
the exam.
Where?
You can download these PowerPoints to your own computer and study them anywhere you like.
6. Resource: Official TExES Practice Exams (Two hours for each exam)*
What?
These are full-length versions of actual TExES exams. They were developed by Educational Testing
Service, the same company that administers the TExES exam program for the State Board of
Educator Certification. Texas Woman’s University purchased a license from ETS to use these
exams to help our students prepare for their TExES exams. The Official TExES Practice Exams are
administered under similar conditions as the actual TExES exams.
Exams Available: Practice exams are available in most content fields, as well as the PPR.
When?
You are required to take at least one official practice exam before you will be approved to take the
state TExES exam. If you don’t do well on the practice exam you should determine your areas of
weakness and do some additional review and study and retake the practice exam. You will probably
be required to take the practice PPR exam in your EDUC 3003 class.
How?
These exams are given one Saturday a month, usually on the first Saturday. There is no limit to the
number of people who take practice exams on a Saturday administration. Practice exams are also
given twice a week, on Mondays from 9:00 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from Noon to 3:00 p.m., but
there is a limit of 15 people per day for the Monday and Thursday exam administrations. There is a
$10 charge each time you take a TExES practice exam ( you can take the PPR exam one time
without charge the semester you take EDUC 3003).
Why?
This will give you excellent feedback on what your actual TExES exam will be like and is the best
practice and preparation you can get for your actual exams. It will allow you to analyze areas in
which you may need more review and preparation.
To register for a practice exam go to the website, www.twu.edu/texes-prep and click on Register for
Where? a TExES Practice Exam.
*Amount of time toward required six hours of TExES exam preparation
The TExES PREP Resource Center is in 218 Stoddard Hall. Our website is www.twu.edu/texes-prep.
7. Resource: Unofficial TExES Practice Exams (One hour for each exam)*
What?
These are full-length versions of actual TExES exams, developed by Educational Testing Service.
They are the same length and include the same type of questions you will find on the actual TExES
exams. The difference between these exams and the “official” practice exams is that the grade levels
for these exams are not the same as the grade levels currently covered by official TExES exams.
Exams Available: These are older TExES exams such as the EC-4, EC-6, 4-8, 8-12 PPR exams, as
well as the older EC-12 PPR exam. The old EC-4 Generalist exam is also available, but these are the
only exams available through this resource.
When? You should take these exams after you have taken your practice exam and are getting ready to take
your actual state PPR or EC-6 exam.
How?
You may take one of these exams anytime that the Resource Center is open. Just tell a staff member
that you would like to take one. They are under Practice Exams in the Blackboard site and then in the
folder labeled Representative Form Exams, but you will not be able to open the exams on your own
as they are password protected.
Why?
Because these are actual versions of former TExES exams they were developed in much the same
way as the current exams, so they are an excellent source of high quality questions that do a better
job of mirroring actual TExES exam questions than do other resources. The more you practice on
actual TExES exam questions the more skilled and confident you will become in processing,
analyzing and answering them.
Where? These are in Blackboard, but because they are still technically owned by the state, they have to be
monitored and are password protected. Therefore, these exams must be taken on one of the
computers in the PREP Resource Center.
8. Resource: Other TExES Practice Exams (30 minutes for each exam)*
What? Other high quality TExES exam questions are available in the Preparation Manuals that ETS
publishes and has available through their website. These are not full-length exams and the number of
questions on them varies from manual to manual. We have taken these shorter practice exams and put
them in Blackboard so that you can take them as you would an actual TExES exam and Blackboard
will score it for you. In addition to the Preparation Manual practice exams currently available, we also
have those from older Preparation Manuals that are no longer available through the ETS website.
Exams Available: Currently only the PPR, Special Education, EC-6 Generalist and the 4-8 Generalist
have practice exams available through this resource. However, additional content exams are being
added, so check on this if your content field is different than the Generalist.
When? You should take one or more of these exams before you take your actual TExES exams. If you have
trouble on your practice exam you may also want to take one or more of these exams before retaking
your practice exam.
How?
These practice exams can be taken anytime and anywhere you have Internet access and can log on to
Blackboard as they are not password protected. Go to the TExES PREP Center Blackboard site click
on Practice Exams and then open the folder “ETS Practice Exams.”
Why?
This will give you great feedback on what your actual TExES exam will be like and is the excellent
practice you can get for your exams. The more you practice on actual TExES exam questions the
more skilled and confident you will become in processing, analyzing and answering them.
Where? These exams can be accessed anywhere you have an Internet connection and can log on to
Blackboard.
*Amount of time toward required six hours of TExES exam preparation
9. Resource: PREP Analysis (One hour)*
What? A PREP Analysis gives you feedback on competencies and principles that are giving you problems
on the practice exam. We currently have two ways to do this. For the PPR you can identify questions
you missed on your PPR exam and Blackboard will give you an explanation of the teaching concept
or principle that particular question addresses. For other exams you can link the questions you
missed to the concepts addressed by that question by use of the specific exam’s framework.
Exams Available: Currently, the PREP Analysis is available on Blackboard for the PPR and the EC6 Generalist, but other content exams are being added weekly, so keep checking.
When? You should do a PREP Analysis when you have taken your Practice TExES exam once and are
planning on taking it a second time.
How?
Why?
For the PPR come to the Resource Center and tell a staff member you would like to do a PREP
Analysis on your practice exam. She/He will log you on to the PREP Analysis program on
Blackboard for the PPR. For other exams you can take the e-mailed results of your practice exam
and go to the appropriate folder in the Bb site to complete your analysis. The PREP Analysis does
not give you the correct answers to exam questions, just the principle or content involved or
addressed in each question. If you do not plan to take this practice exam again you should do a PREP
Review instead of a PREP Analysis.
The PREP Analysis will give you specific feedback on what you need to know and review to do
better on your practice exam. This should help you improve your performance when you retake the
practice exam and when you take your actual exam.
You must take the PREP Analysis for the PPR in the Resource Center as it is password protected.
Where? But the analysis for other exams can be done through the Bb site on your own.
10. Resource: PREP Review (One hour)*
What?
A PREP Review is a program in the TExES PREP Center Blackboard site to give you feedback on
how you did on your practice TExES PPR exam and allow you to review explanations for right and
wrong answers on the exam. The PPR exam is the only TExES exam right now for which an online
PREP Review with explanations is available.
Exams Available: Currently, the online PREP Review with specific feedback is available only for
the PPR exam. However, you can review the hard copy of your content practice exam without an
explanation of answers so that you can see the exact questions you missed.
When?
You should do a PREP Review when you have taken your Practice TExES exam and are planning
to take your actual state TExES exam.
How?
Come to the Resource Center and you will be given the scantron(s) from your practice exam and a
staff member will log you on to the PREP Review program on Blackboard or give you a copy of
your content exam. For the PPR you will take the exam again on Blackboard and be able to view
results of that exam, compare them with the results from your previous practice exam scantron and
read explanations of all questions and answers. For your content exams you will be given the hard
copy of the exam and the scantron(s) from your attempts at taking the exam so that you can analyze
and process how you did on the exam and use the information to prepare for your actual exam.
Why?
The PREP Review allows you to analyze and process the correct and incorrect answers on your
practice exam so that you can better understand how to improve your exam performance when you
take the state TExES exam.
Where? You must take the PREP Review in the Resource Center as it is password protected.
*Amount of time toward required six hours of TExES exam preparation
The TExES PREP Resource Center is in 218 Stoddard Hall. Our website is www.twu.edu/texes-prep.
11. Resource: Online Review Programs (Two hours total if documented)*
What?
CertifyTeacher and 240 Tutoring are companies that provide online practice TExES exams along
with online review and study materials for the exams. The programs allow users to track, analyze
and document progress as they work through full-length practice TExES exams. Subscriptions cost
around $60 for the CertifyTeacher programs and $80 for the 240Tutoring programs. However, we
have purchased a group of subscriptions from both companies and can provide them to students who
qualify at no cost.
Exams Available: The programs available vary between the two programs. CertifyTeacher has
programs on the PPR, Generalist and most of the content and supplemental exams (ESL, Special
Education, etc.) 240Tutoring's programs are limited to the PPR, Generalist (EC-6 and Generalist),
the Bilingual, the ESL and Special Education.
When?
You can use one of these programs at any time, but you’re more likely to use them when you have
already taken your actual TExES exam and did not pass it.
How?
Why?
Since we have a limited number of subscriptions to these programs we only make them available to
students with the greatest need. If you have taken your TExES exam twice and failed it both times or
taken it once and failed it by at least 20 points you can send an e-mail to texesprep@twu.com and
request an access code to one of these programs. You can also, of course, go to their website and
purchase an access code on your own.
Both companies offer several full length practice exams for most TExES exams and provide
excellent analysis and feedback on your progress, as well as a good review of exam concepts.
Where? Once you have an access code the programs can be accessed on any computer from any location.
The websites for the two companies are www.certifyteacher.com and www.240tutoring.com.
12. Resource: Modified CertifyTeacher Software (One hour for each exam)*
What?
Computer workstation versions of the CertifyTeacher software programs described above are
available in the PREP Resource Center to anyone who wishes to use them. They contain
approximately a third of the practice questions and flashcards that are available on the full-length
versions. These are available for the PPR exam as well as most of the content TExES exams.
When?
This would be a good resource to use after taking your practice exam and before taking your
actual TExES exam.
How?
The workstation licenses on these programs allow us to load the program on a computer and
anyone can access it on that particular computer. So, you would need to come to the PREP
Resources Center in 218 Stoddard Hall and ask to use one of these programs. You will be directed
to the appropriate computer to use for that particular exam. An access code is not required to use
this version of the software.
Why?
This will provide you with additional practice on TExES type questions. The CertifyTeacher
programs will give you feedback on the practice questions telling you why the correct answers are
correct and why the incorrect answers are incorrect.
Where?
Because these are workstation versions of the software they can only be used on one computer and
once they are installed on that computer cannot be used on another computer. Therefore, you will
need to use this resource in the Resource Center.
*Amount of time toward required six hours of TExES exam preparation
The TExES PREP Resource Center is in 218 Stoddard Hall. Our website is www.twu.edu/texes-prep.
13. Resource: Online Flashcards (30 minutes if documented)*
What?
When?
How?
Online flashcards allow you to review concepts and content you will encounter on TExES exams.
These flashcards can be developed by anyone who wishes to do so and they can be used by anyone
else if the developer makes them available.
Exams Available: Currently, the TWU TExES PREP Center has developed flashcard stacks on the
Quizlet website for the five domains of the EC-6 Generalist. However, stacks for other TExES
exams are being developed. You can also find stacks on the Quizlet website for other TExES exams
that have been developed by others.
These flashcards will be helpful to use and study before you take either your practice or your actual
TExES exam. They will allow you to review concepts, terminology, and content you are likely to
encounter on your TExES exam.
Although there are several online flashcard websites, one that has a number of flashcard stacks on
TExES exams is www.quizlet.com. You can type in an identifier in the search box such as "TExES"
or the name of an exam (EC-6 Generalist) and you can pull up a variety of flashcard stacks
developed by different individuals. If you type TExES PREP in the search box it will pull up stacks
that we have developed for the TExES PREP Center. We are updating and expanding these on a
regular basis, so keep checking.
Why?
This is an excellent way to strengthen your knowledge of specific content and terminology you will
encounter on your TExES exam.
Where?
You can access online flashcards from anywhere. A number of Quizlet apps for iPhone, iPad and
Android phones have been developed and are available for download. Check the Quizlet website.
14. Resource: TExES PREP Center Blackboard Site (One hour maximum)*
What?
In addition to the resources described above, the TExES PREP Center Blackboard site has other
resources that you may find useful in your quest to do well on your TExES exams. In the
Resources link in the main menu on the left you will find a number of helpful resources, such as:
 A spreadsheet of the books, manuals and other materials available in the Resource Center;
 Information on dealing with test stress and test anxiety, and a summary of learning theories;
 A list of additional TExES preparation resources available from outside sources such as ETS,
TEA, other universities, educational resource centers and websites;
 Copies of ETS TExES Preparation Manuals.
Exams Available: These resources will be of help to you on all TExES exams.
When?
You should investigate these resources at any point in your exam preparation process when you
have tried other avenues and still need additional help.
How?
You can self-enroll yourself in the TExES PREP Center Blackboard site by going to our website,
www.twu.edu/texes-prep, and clicking on the link to the short video in the right-hand column of the
home page.
Why?
You will find some information in the Blackboard site that you will not be able to find other places
and, by being enrolled in the Blackboard site, you will receive e-mails regarding new resources and
other TExES PREP updates and information.
Where?
You can access the Blackboard site from anywhere you have an Internet connection, although some
of the resources, such as the practice exams, will require you to be in the Resource Center while
using them since they are password protected.
*Amount of time toward required six hours of TExES exam preparation
The TExES PREP Resource Center is in 218 Stoddard Hall. Our website is www.twu.edu/texes-prep.
Quick PREP Planner
Use this chart to help plan your TExES preparation program. Numbers beside resources indicate the number
of that resource in this document where that resource is described in more detail. Resources without numbers
are not available through the TWU TExES PREP Center, but can be found in other places as noted.
Where I Am
Have not yet taken
my practice exam
Resources I Need
-Understanding the Land of TExES
videos 2
-Other TExES Practice Exams 7
-TExES Success Strategies
workshop/video 3 and 4 (PPR and
EC-6 Generalist only)
Have taken my
-PREP Analysis 8
practice exam, but did -Preparation/Review book 1
poorly on it
-TExES Success Strategies
workshop/video 3 and 4 (PPR and
EC-6 Generalist only)
-Unofficial TExES Practice Exam 6
(PPR and EC-6 Generalist only)
Have taken my
practice exam and did
well on it (70% or
better)
-PREP Review 9
-Preparation/Review book 1
Have registered for
my actual TExES
exam
-Preparation/Review book 1
-Modified CertifyTeacher Software 11
-Unofficial TExES Practice Exam 6
(PPR and EC-6 Generalist only)
-Other TExES Practice Exams 7
-Online Flashcards 12
Took my state TExES -Online Review Programs 10
exam, but did not
-Preparation Review book 1
pass it.
-TExES PREP Center Bb site 14
-Content textbooks
Took my state TExES Congratulations!
exam and passed it.
Celebrate (responsibly)
Strategies to Use
View the TExESLand videos in Bb regardless of
the practice exam you are taking. Take the
appropriate practice exam in Bb (Other TExES
Practice Exams). If you are taking the PPR or EC-6
Generalist practice exam register for a F2F Success
Strategies workshop and if you can’t make it to a
workshop in time view the video version through
Bb. Register for an official practice exam.
Come into the Resource Center and ask to do a
PREP Analysis which will tell you the
competencies that gave you problems on your
practice exam. Find a review book in the Resource
Center that addresses the content for those
competencies. If you took the PPR or EC-6
Generalist practice exam attend one of the Success
Strategies workshops or view one of the videos and
take an Unofficial TExES Practice Exam in Bb.
Retake the practice exam.
Come into the Resource Center and ask to do a
PREP Review. This will allow you to see your
practice exam and results. Read through all of the
questions and answers carefully to make sure you
understand why the correct answers are correct and
why the incorrect answers are incorrect. Find a
review book in the Resource Center that you like
and establish a regular schedule to study the book.
Register for your state TExES exam.
Continue studying your review book on a regular
basis (establish a schedule and stick to it). Come to
the Resource Center and go through the Modified
CertifyTeacher software. Take the available
practice exams on Bb concentrating on
understanding why correct answers are correct and
studying the way questions and answers are written.
Go to Quizlet and review flashcard sets on the
content for your exam.
Purchase an access code for one of the
CertifyTeacher or 240Tutoring programs (you may
qualify for a free one from the Resource Center,
check and see). Locate another review book from
the Resource Center and begin studying. Check the
Bb site for additional review resources and visit the
websites that are listed there. If you are student
teaching consider borrowing and reviewing content
in the student textbooks from the school in the
grade levels and content of your exam.
Retake your state TExES exam.
Obtain a copy of your score.
Prepare and take other required TExES exams.