- TExES 118 is Texas's Social Studies 4-8 certification exam, administered by Pearson for TEA.
- It has 100 selected-response questions across two domains, with a $116 fee and 240 passing score.
- Domain 1 (Social Studies Content) makes up 71% of the exam - the clear priority for study time.
- The 2024-25 statewide pass rate was 62% among 815 test takers, so preparation matters.
What Exactly Is a TExES 118?
"TExES 118" refers to a single, specific credential: TExES Social Studies 4-8 (118), one of the certification exams in the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) program. It is administered on behalf of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) by Pearson, and it exists to verify that a candidate has the content knowledge and pedagogical understanding needed to teach social studies to students in grades 4 through 8 in Texas public schools.
If you've searched "what is a TExES 118" while researching Texas teacher certification, this is the exam you've found. It is not a general teaching exam and it is not connected to any other credential that happens to share a similar name in a different state or industry - in Texas, TExES 118 means one thing: middle-grades social studies certification. For a broader breakdown of what the acronym and number actually stand for, see our companion piece on TExES 118 Meaning.
Who Needs to Take This Exam
Candidates pursuing certification to teach social studies at the middle-school level in Texas - typically grades 4 through 8 - take TExES 118 as part of finishing their educator preparation program (EPP) requirements. This includes:
- Traditional undergraduate education majors specializing in social studies or history
- Alternative certification candidates completing an approved post-baccalaureate program
- Out-of-state or out-of-country teachers seeking Texas-specific certification who are directed to this exam by TEA
Testing eligibility normally requires approval through a Texas educator preparation program or another TEA-authorized route - you generally cannot simply register on your own without that approval step. If you're unsure whether you qualify yet, our detailed TExES 118 Requirements guide walks through eligibility and prerequisite documentation in more depth.
Exam Format and Registration Mechanics
Understanding the exact structure of TExES 118 helps you plan your test day and your study pacing. Here's what the exam actually looks like:
- Format: 100 selected-response (multiple-choice) questions, some of which may be unscored field-test items used to develop future exams
- Delivery: Computer-administered at official test centers, available year-round by appointment
- Time: Total appointment length is 5 hours, which includes a 15-minute tutorial and compliance agreement plus 4 hours 45 minutes of actual testing time
- Fee: $116, paid at registration through Pearson
- Passing score: 240
Because the exam is offered year-round rather than on fixed testing windows, scheduling flexibility is generally in your favor - but you still need to plan around EPP deadlines and your own readiness. For a full walkthrough of scheduling logistics, registration deadlines, and appointment tips, see TExES 118 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling. If cost planning matters to your budget, the TExES 118 Certification Cost 2026 breakdown covers the full financial picture beyond just the exam fee.
Key Takeaway
Budget the full 5-hour appointment window, not just the testing time - arriving late or unprepared for the tutorial and agreement step can cost you valuable minutes.
Inside the Two Content Domains
TExES 118 is built around two domains, and they are not weighted equally. Knowing this weighting should directly shape how you divide your study hours.
Domain 1: Social Studies Content (71%)
This is by far the largest portion of the exam and covers the substantive academic content a middle-grades social studies teacher must know cold.
- U.S. history from colonization through the modern era
- World history, including major civilizations, revolutions, and global conflicts
- Geography concepts - physical, human, and regional
- Economics fundamentals, including scarcity, markets, and personal finance basics
- Government and civics, including the structure of U.S. and Texas government
- Culture and social science research skills
Domain 2: Social Studies Foundations, Skills and Instruction (29%)
This domain shifts from "what to teach" to "how to teach it" - pedagogy, instructional design, and skills specific to social studies education.
- Instructional strategies for teaching historical thinking and inquiry
- Using primary and secondary sources effectively in the classroom
- Assessment methods appropriate to social studies content
- Integrating reading, writing, and research skills into social studies instruction
Because Domain 1 carries more than twice the weight of Domain 2, most successful candidates spend the bulk of their review time on content knowledge rather than pedagogy - even though pedagogy questions still require careful preparation. For a question-by-question breakdown of competencies inside each domain, see our full TExES 118 Exam Domains 2026 guide.
| Domain | Weight | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Domain 1: Social Studies Content | 71% | History, geography, economics, government, culture |
| Domain 2: Foundations, Skills and Instruction | 29% | Pedagogy, primary sources, assessment, literacy integration |
Scoring and What Passing Means
TExES 118 uses a scaled score, and a candidate needs to reach 240 to pass. Because the exam blends questions across both domains rather than requiring you to pass each domain separately, a strong performance in the heavily-weighted Domain 1 can carry significant influence over your overall result - which is another reason content mastery deserves priority.
Statewide, the 2024-25 best-attempt pass rate was 62% among 815 test takers. That figure suggests the exam is passable with solid preparation, but it is far from automatic. If you want a deeper look at how that pass rate breaks down and what it implies about difficulty, read TExES 118 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows or the broader How Hard Is the TExES 118 Exam? guide. For the exact scoring mechanics and how the 240 threshold is calculated, see TExES 118 Passing Score 2026.
After You Pass: The Certificate Itself
Passing TExES 118 is one requirement toward earning a Texas standard classroom-teacher certificate in social studies for grades 4-8. Once issued, that standard certificate is valid for five years. Renewal is not automatic - it requires completing 150 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) within that five-year cycle, keeping certified teachers current on instructional practice and content standards.
This means passing the exam is a milestone, not a finish line. Teachers holding this certification continue building expertise throughout their careers via CPE credit, professional development, and often graduate coursework.
Building a Domain-Aware Study Plan
Generic study advice rarely accounts for how lopsided TExES 118's domain weighting actually is. A smarter approach allocates time in rough proportion to the 71/29 split, while still leaving room to review pedagogy concepts that show up throughout Domain 2.
Domain 1 Deep Dive
- Review U.S. and world history timelines and major turning points
- Build geography and economics vocabulary and concept maps
- Study U.S. and Texas government structures side by side
Domain 2 Pedagogy Review
- Practice analyzing primary source excerpts the way the exam presents them
- Review social studies-specific assessment and instructional strategies
Full-Length Practice and Review
- Take timed, full-length practice sets modeled on the 100-question format
- Identify weak content areas and revisit those specific topics
A structured, domain-weighted plan like this is covered in much greater detail in our TExES 118 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and pairing that plan with realistic practice questions on our practice test platform helps you get comfortable with the exact selected-response question style you'll see on test day. For a fast, last-minute review resource once you've done the deeper study work, the TExES 118 Cheat Sheet 2026 condenses must-know facts into a single reference page.
Where a TExES 118 Credential Leads
Earning TExES 118 certification qualifies you specifically to teach social studies in grades 4-8 in Texas public schools, opening positions in middle school history, geography, civics, and economics classrooms across Texas districts. Because the credential is Texas-specific and grade-band specific, it's worth understanding both the job market it opens up and whether the investment of time and testing fees makes sense for your career path.
If you're weighing whether to pursue this route at all, our Is the TExES 118 Certification Worth It? analysis and TExES 118 Salary Guide 2026 look at the return on investment question directly. For a look at the kinds of positions this certification typically leads to, see TExES 118 Jobs, and if you're still building foundational knowledge before diving into test prep, TExES 118 Training outlines preparation program options.
Key Takeaway
TExES 118 is a gateway credential - it certifies you for a specific grade band and subject, so confirm it matches the teaching role you actually want before you register.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. On this site, TExES 118 always refers specifically to TExES Social Studies 4-8 (118), administered by Pearson for the Texas Education Agency. Other exams or credentials with similar numbering in other states or fields are unrelated.
The exam contains 100 selected-response questions, some of which may be unscored field-test items. The full appointment is 5 hours, including a 15-minute tutorial and compliance agreement, leaving 4 hours 45 minutes of testing time.
You need a scaled score of 240 to pass. See our dedicated passing score guide for more on how scoring works.
Domain 1: Social Studies Content makes up 71% of the exam, compared to 29% for Domain 2: Social Studies Foundations, Skills and Instruction. Most of your study time should go toward content knowledge first.
Typically no - testing normally requires approval through a Texas educator preparation program or another TEA-authorized route. Check our requirements guide for the specific eligibility paths.