Test Results and Score Reporting

Test Scores and Passing Standards

TExES and ExCET test results are reported using a total test scaled score as follows:

Your results for each TExES test are reported as a score in the range of 100-300, with a total test scaled score of 240 as the minimum passing score.
Your results for each ExCET test are reported as a score in the range of 0-100, with a total test scaled score of 70 as the minimum passing score.

Your total test scaled score shows how you performed on the test as a whole and whether you passsed the test. Scaled scores are used to allow for comparison of scores on the same content-area test taken on different administration dates. Scaled scores also allow for comparison across test fields. Minimum passing standards for the tests were established by SBEC with input from committees of Texas educators. For both the TExES and ExCET tests, the minimum passing score represents the minimum level of competency required to be an entry-level educator in Texas public schools in the field in which you tested.

NOTE: Your test may include some questions that are being pilot tested and will not count toward your score. New test questions are pilot tested by including them on the test in order to collect information about how these questions will perform under actual testing conditions.

On-Site Scoring for Computer-Administered Tests

On-site scoring for CAT tests is no longer available. The TEA made the decision to eliminate this score report because of candidate confusion. The end-of-test score report indicated the number of questions answered correctly and served as proof that an examinee had taken a TExES computer-administered test. It did not indicate the examinee's scaled score or passing status and was not intended to be an official report of final scores.

April 8, 2008, was the last CAT administration where on-site scoring was available. Final scores for CAT testing are mailed and posted on this website within seven days of the test date.

Reporting Your Test Scores

Your test scores will be reported directly to you. They are also automatically added to your certification file and made available to the TEA and to your Educator Preparation Program (if applicable). Your score report is for your information only; do not submit it with your application for certification. Keep a copy for your permanent records.

Please note that application for certification does not proceed automatically based upon receipt of your scores by the TEA. To apply for certification, you must go to the SBEC website and follow the application for certification instructions.

Delay of Test Scores

Under some circumstances, scores may be delayed.

Scores for newly developed tests may be delayed in order to set passing scores.
Scores may be delayed due to problems with registration, failure to comply with the policies and procedures set forth in the Registration Bulletin, and/or with instructions given by test center personnel.
Scores will be delayed if there are problems with your payment. See Fees for Tests and Related Services for more information.
Your scores may be permanently voided if you are completing certification requirements through an Educator Preparation Program and you have not provided proof that you have approval to test (i.e., a TEA ID number from your Educator Preparation Program). See Approval to Test for more information.

Online Score Reports

Your final scores are available to you through the online registration system as an Unofficial Score Report. Score reports for paper-based tests are posted by 5:00 p.m. Central time on the score reporting date. Score reports for computer-administered tests are posted on the same day that score reports are mailed. See Score Reporting Dates. Score reports are viewable for 90 days.

Online scores are available regardless of your registration method. To access your online scores go to View Scores and follow the instructions provided. If you have not already established an account in the ETS online registration system, you will need to do so in order to access your scores.

Official Score Reports

Your official score report will be mailed to you by U.S. mail on the date indicated in Score Reporting Dates. Your score report will be mailed to the address that you provided during the registration process. If you wish to have your official score report sent to a different address, you will need to update the address in your SBEC Educator Profile. See Correcting or Updating Your Educator Profile. If the information in your SBEC Educator Profile is not current, ETS assumes no responsibility if you do not receive your official score report.

Your score report provides information about your passing status and other performance information. With each score report, you will receive an explanation of how to read your score report. See Test Scores and Passing Standards for information on the passing requirements for TExES and ExCET tests.

If you have not received your test results two weeks after the score report date, call Customer Service at 1-800-205-2626. Under no circumstances will ETS or the TEA release your official score information by telephone, fax, e-mail, or in person.

Score Reporting Dates

Paper-Based Tests

Test Date	Score Reporting Date for Multiple-Choice Tests Only*	Score Reporting Date Multiple-Choice and Written-Response Tests**
10/13/2007	11/2/2007	11/9/2007
12/8/2007	12/28/2007	1/4/2008
2/23/2008	3/14/2008	3/21/2008
4/19/2008	5/9/2008	5/16/2008
6/21/2008	7/11/2008	7/18/2008
8/2/2008	8/22/2008	8/29/2008

*Scores for the new TExES tests will be reported after passing scores are approved.
**Written-response tests (English Language Arts and Reading 8-12 and Braille)

Computer-Administered Tests

Official score reports will be mailed weekly. You should receive your official score report(s) within approximately two weeks of testing.

Scoring Services

Score Report Reprints
You may request additional copies of your score report beginning two weeks after the score reporting date. Additional copies may be sent only to you. Additional score reports are available for up to five years after the test administration date. Please allow two to four weeks from the receipt of the request for delivery.

Score report reprints can be ordered through the online registration system or by completing the Score Report Reprint Request Form in the back of the Registration Bulletin. Mail the form and correct payment to the address on the form. The Score Report Reprint Request form is also available in the Download Library.

See Fees for Tests and Related Services for information about fees and payment policies.

Score Verification (available for paper-based tests only)
All multiple-choice answer sheets are scored by computer. If you accurately follow directions and mark your answer sheet properly, the computer scoring process is virtually error free. However, if you wish, you may request a review of your paper answer sheet document.

All written and brailled responses are scored according to standardized procedures. Scorers with relevant professional backgrounds are oriented to these procedures and are carefully monitored during scoring sessions. As part of the scoring process, written and brailled responses are scored by multiple scorers. However, as with the multiple-choice items, if you wish, you may have the written response section of TExES English Language Arts and Reading 8-12 (test 131) or the brailled response section of TExES Braille (test 183) reevaluated.

To request score verification, go to the online registration system or complete the Score Verification Request Form in the back of the Registration Bulletin and mail it to the address on the form with the correct payment. The Score Verification Request form is also available in the Download Library. Requests are limited to a one-time score verification for any one test. See Fees for Tests and Related Services for information about payment. Your request must be postmarked within six months of the score report date.

The results of the score verification process will be available for multiple-choice tests within two to three weeks after the receipt of the request. Results for tests that also contain a written-response section will be available within four to six weeks after receipt of the request.

In the event that the score verification process results in a change in your score, you will be issued a corrected score report, the score verification fee will be refunded, and your records will be updated. If the original score is confirmed, you will be sent a letter indicating that the score has been confirmed. In this case, your fee will not be refunded.

Cancellation of Test Scores by You

Paper-Based Tests
If, after taking a test, you do not want your score reported, you may cancel your test score. The TExES or ExCET program will cancel your score upon receipt of a written request (include your name, signature, TEA ID number, customer number, date of birth, administration date, and the test for which you wish to have your score canceled). Mail your request to:

ETS-Texas Educator Certification Program
PO Box 6001
Princeton, NJ 08541-6001

Your cancellation request must be received within five business days of the date on which you took the test. If you choose to cancel your score, you will not receive a refund or credit of any kind.

If you request that your score be canceled, your test performance will not be reported to you, to the TEA, or to any Educator Preparation Program. Your score will not be entered into any TExES or ExCET records; therefore, after the cancellation of your score, you will not be able to have your score reported for any purpose.

Computer-Administered Tests
Once you have completed a computer-administered test, the computer gives you the option of canceling your score or having your test scored. Once your test has been scored, your score cannot be canceled. If you choose to cancel your score, you cannot view it on the computer screen and it cannot be reinstated. You will not receive a refund if you cancel your score.

You may also choose to stop taking the test (quit). If you select the Quit option during the test, you will receive no score and no refund. If you cancel your score, your score will not be entered on any of your records. Your performance will not be reported to the TEA or to your Educator Preparation Program. If you would like to retake the test, you must wait at least 60 days before taking the TExES test on computer again.

Cancellation of Test Scores by ETS and the TEA

ETS takes reasonable security precautions in developing and administering TExES and ExCET tests and processing test scores with a view to ensuring that no test taker has an unfair advantage over other test takers. Accordingly, the TEA and ETS reserve the right to withhold and ultimately cancel your scores due to misconduct and/or if the TEA deems there is reason to question your scores' validity or legitimacy (including, but not limited to, a violation of the rules set forth in the current Registration Bulletin, including the Test Center Procedures and Regulations, and the procedures communicated to you, orally or in writing, at the test administration).

In such cases, ETS will notify relevant parties of the TEA's decision.

Further action may be taken, including denying, revoking, and/or suspending a teaching credential or certificate. Other actions, as described in Test Center Procedures and Regulations may be taken as deemed appropriate by the TEA and/or ETS.

Testing Irregularities
"Testing irregularities" refers to test administration problems that may affect an individual or groups of test takers, including without limitation, administrative errors (such as improper timing, improper seating, defective materials, and defective equipment); improper access to test content; and other disruptions of test administrations (such as natural disasters or other emergencies). When testing irregularities occur, ETS may decline to score the test, or cancel the test score at the TEA's discretion. When, in the TEA's sole judgment it is appropriate to do so, test takers will be given the opportunity to take the test again as soon as possible without charge.

Identification Discrepancies
When, in ETS's judgment, or the judgment of test center personnel, there is a discrepancy in a test taker's identification, the test taker may be dismissed from the test center and/or ETS may decline to score the test, or cancel the test score.

Misconduct
When ETS or test center personnel find that there is misconduct in connection with a test, the test taker may be dismissed from the test center and/or ETS may decline to score the test, or withhold and ultimately cancel the test score. Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, noncompliance with the Test Center Procedures and Regulations.

Invalid Scores
ETS may also cancel scores if, in its judgment, there is substantial evidence that they are invalid for any other reason. Evidence of invalid scores may include, without limitation, discrepant handwriting, unusual answer patterns, and inconsistent performance on different parts of the test. Before canceling scores pursuant to this paragraph, ETS notifies the test taker in writing about its concerns, gives the test taker an opportunity to submit information that addresses ETS's concerns, considers any such information submitted, and offers the test taker a choice of options. The options include voluntary score cancellation, a free retest, or arbitration in accordance with ETS's standard Arbitration Agreement. In addition, the test taker is sent a copy of a booklet, Why and How Educational Testing Service Questions Test Scores, which explains this process in greater detail. (This booklet is available to any test taker at any time on request from the ETS Office of Testing Integrity. Call 1-800-353-8570 or e-mail TSReturns@ets.org.)

Confidentiality of Information

For both computer-administered and paper-based tests, the TEA and ETS recognize your right to control the information about you that is stored by the TEA and ETS. Their policies are designed to safeguard that information from unauthorized disclosure.

Your score information is intended only for you and your Educator Preparation Program (if applicable). However, background information, as noted on the registration form, is reported to the state of Texas and some institutions.

ETS will not release your scores at the request of institutions or agencies except:

for use in research studies, scoring, and statistical analyses approved by the TEA and that preserve your anonymity
when information is required under compulsion of legal processes (Your score record and the documents you completed that are retained at ETS may be released to 3rd parties, e.g., government agencies, parties to a lawsuit, etc., if requested pursuant to a subpoena.)
Under the Higher Education Act Title II section 207 of 1998, the U.S. Department of Education requires all states that require testing for licensure to provide that agency with annual performance data for students completing their state-approved teacher preparation programs. If you complete your preparation program in a given cohort year, your preparing institution will collect and forward your score information to the state for inclusion in the federally mandated educator preparation performance report. The report will contain aggregate data only, and will not include any information that identifies examinees.

Note that whenever ETS has confirmed that you have submitted a TExES or ExCET score directly to an educational institution, agency, or district in satisfaction of one of its requirements, ETS will respond to requests for score verification from that recipient.

ExCET - Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas