News About New Pre-Kindergarten - Grade 3 Certificate

The Texas Education Code 21.0489 requires the SBEC (State Board for Educator Certification) to add a certificate for Prekindergarten - Grade 3. However, we have not heard when the new exam will be offered. This new certification area will allow educators to show expertise in knowledge of early childhood education. However, this exam will NOTE BE REQUIRED to teach Pre-K thru Grade 3. The Core Subjects EC-6 exam will still allow educators to teach Pre-K thru 6th Grade. It is not yet clear if the new Pre-K thru Grade 3 exam by itself will allow people to teach those grades, or if this exam must be paired with the Core Subjects EC-6. The new certification area will not be available until January 2020. To see the law code, refer to Sec. 21.0489 at this site: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.21.htm

Texas Early Childhood: Prekindergarten-3 or EC-3 Certificate

The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) of Texas passed an amendment in 2017 to add a new certification area, the Early Childhood: Prekindergarten-3 or EC-3 Certificate. This will not take effect immediately. October 21, 2018 is the proposed date for the amendment to become effective, so we assume that is when the test will become available. The actual EC-3 certificate cannot be granted until January 2020. The state has passed this legislation to ensure teachers are highly qualified to meet the unique needs of early childhood students. More emphasis will be placed on research-based methods on how to teach reading. It appears this new certification area will be in addition to, not instead of, the Core Subjects EC-6 test. Right now there is still confusion regarding how this will work. As more information becomes available, we will be sure to keep you posted.

Re-taking the Core Subjects EC-6 Exam

The TExES Core Subjects EC-6 291 exam is composed of five sections. In order to pass the exam, you must earn a 240 or higher on EACH section. 300 is the perfect score.

As you likely know, you only have FIVE attempts to pass the test.

Let's say you take it once and pass Science, Social Studies, and Fine Arts. You fail Math and English Language Arts. You can either take the entire exam again, or take those 2 individual tests again.

***I always recommend that if you fail more than one section, you re-take the entire exam. This is because if you take an individual section (like only Math), it still counts as an attempt. So, if you re-take the Math and ELAR sections individually, you now have 3 attempts (one from the first attempt, and one for each individual section you re-took). However, if you re-take the entire exam, that only counts as 2 attempts.

If you re-take the entire exam, you can skip over the questions in the sections you passed, so you would skip over the Science, Social Studies, and Fine Arts, and still have a passing score for those sections because they count your passing score from before. You would only need to answer the questions for Math and ELAR.

We offer study guides, sample tests, and digital courses for individual sections of the Core Subjects EC-6 exam. Questions? Please email me at schonefeldcourtney@gmail.com

Explaining the Five Attempts

Many people ask me about the five attempt limit.

If you take the Core Subjects EC-6 exam five times and do not pass it, you can apply for a waiver with the state. However, there is no guarantee they will grant you a waiver to re-take the exam. If they do approve you to re-take it, you have to take a certain number of hours to get approval to re-test.

If you fail the Core Subjects EC-6 exam five times and cannot get a waiver or choose not to apply for one, you can still take a DIFFERENT TExES exam and have the opportunity to teach something.

If you fail more than one section of the Core Subjects EC-6 exam, it is best to re-take the ENTIRE exam. When you take an individual test, it counts as an entire attempt. So, if you fail Math and Science, and re-take those separately, you then have THREE ATTEMPTS. Instead, re-take the whole exam, and then you only have two attempts.

Still have questions? Please comment here or email me at schonefeldcourtney@gmail.com

We have study material and sample tests at www.coresubjects.net

News About the 5 Attempts

ETS just announced a change regarding the Core Subjects EC-6 291 exam.

Right now all attempts taken before September 1, 2015 all count as only ONE attempt. So, if you took it 3 times before September 1, 2015 all of those attempts just count as ONE attempt.

However, effective September 1, 2018, ALL attempts will count, regardless of the date. So, if you took it 3 times before September 1, 2015, all 3 of those attempts will count effective September 1, 2018.

Let's say you took it 3 times before September 1, 2015 and twice after. RIGHT NOW that only counts as 3 attempts (because all attempts before Sept 1, 2015 count as just one attempt), and you have 2 more attempts left. However, starting September 1, 2018 this will count as all 5 attempts, and you are no longer eligible to take the exam. That's why if you took the exam more than once before before September 1, 2018, you probably want to study hard and re-take it soon.

Keep in mind we have study guides, sample tests, digital courses, and offer phone tutoring. We're here to help! Email us at schonefeldcourtney@gmail.com

All About the TExES Core Subjects EC-6 291 Exam

All About the Core Subjects EC-6 Exam

*It costs $131 to register for the exam. You register at www.texes.ets.org

*It is a computer administered test (CAT)

*It is offered year-round at test centers throughout the state and some other locations as well.

*You have 5 hours to take the exam, and there are 267 multiple choice questions.

*A perfect score is 300, but 240 is needed to pass. In order to pass, you have to pass EACH SECTION, including English Language Arts and the Science of Teaching Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Fine Arts/Health/PE/Theatre.

*Scores are usually released on Tuesdays and Fridays.

*You are allowed 5 attempts to pass the exam. If you fail 5 times, you MIGHT be able to get a waiver from the state.

*If you have to re-test, you must wait 45 days to re-take the exam.

*We offer study guides, sample tests, digital courses, and phone tutoring. Both of our tutors have passed the Core Subjects EC-6 and are ready to help you! The author of our study guides, sample tests, and digital courses has also pass the Core Subjects EC-6 exam.

*There are cluster questions that are grouped together and involve the same passage or topic. There are also sometimes some drag and drop questions where you drag a certain part of a map to the right area.

*Usually 20 to 25 percent of the test questions are situational or scenario based, and the rest are content questions.

Free Tips for the Core Subjects EC-6 Exam

As you probably already know, the TExES Core Subjects EC-6 exam is challenging!

Most successful test takers spend hours preparing. However, there are some tips to help you gain a few extra points and quickly improve your score. Below you will learn what I have figured out after having passed the test and after helping many test takers pass it as well. The most important thing to do is buy quality study material and memorize the concepts and terms. Below are some strategies to help you as you study.

*Keep in mind that about 20 to 25 percent of the questions will be SITUATIONAL, or scenario-based. These are almost impossible to study for, so you have to learn strategies on how to answer them. These are the types of questions that say "Mrs. Watkins teaches 5th Grade Science. What is the best way to introduce insulators and conductors?" Out of four answer choices, there are usually two that are easy to eliminate. However, the remaining two both "sound right." Choose the answer choice that is most ON TOPIC, THOROUGH, and STUDENT-CENTERED. The students must be actively engaged and participating in the learning process. Our sample tests include situational questions.

*Think in "ideal" terms. The test assumes perfect conditions. The students want to learn, the parents support you and the kids, the administration is able to assist you, and you have all necessary supplies. Don't think in realistic terms, but perfect world terms.

*Buy good study material and PERUSE it. Don't just skim it. Read it, take notes, make flash cards, and memorize the terms and concepts.

*As you study and read your guide, use METACOGNITIVE STRATEGIES. Metacognitive means "thinking about your thinking." You need to pause often as you read and ask yourself if you understood what you just read. If you did not understand, go back and re-read the text. Check your understanding. Re-word what you just read and write notes to help you remember.

*Google and take released STAAR tests. When you miss questions, look up additional information about those topics or concepts.

*We also sell sample tests. This is not a way to study, but is a great way to assess yourself. Again, when you miss questions, go back to your study guide or do a Google search to learn more about those topics and concepts. If you miss a question about the War of 1812, go back and learn more about it.

*Think positive! After you study hard, go in to the test with confidence. Replace negative thoughts with positive, realistic ones. Remind yourself of your hard work.

*Questions? Email me at schonefeldcourtney@gmail.com

*Need tutoring? We offer phone tutoring!