- You need a scaled score of 240 out of 125 selected-response questions to pass.
- Genetics and Evolution carries the heaviest weight at 27% of the exam.
- The base exam fee is $106, paid through Pearson VUE registration.
- You must test and schedule within 170 days of registering.
Quick Facts Snapshot
Before diving into content specifics, bookmark this section as your one-glance reference. TX PACT: Life Science: Grades 7-12 (738) is a Texas Education Agency (TEA) pre-admission content test, administered by Pearson at Pearson VUE test centers across Texas and nationwide. It's not a teaching certification exam itself - it's the content-knowledge gate that Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) use to admit or transfer candidates into life science teaching tracks. For a deeper explanation of that distinction, see What Is TX PACT 738?
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Certifying body | Texas Education Agency (TEA) |
| Test administrator | Pearson (Pearson VUE test centers) |
| Base exam fee | $106 |
| Question count | 125 selected-response items (some field-test items unscored) |
| Testing time | 3 hours (3 hours 15 minutes total appointment) |
| Passing scaled score | 240 |
| Domains | 5 domains, 15 competencies |
| Calculator | On-screen scientific calculator provided |
| Scheduling window | Must test within 170 days of registration |
The Five Domains at a Glance
TX PACT 738's official framework organizes life science content into five domains and 15 competencies. The domain weights are approximate but consistently reported, and they tell you exactly where to invest study hours. If you want the full competency-level breakdown of each domain, cross-reference TX PACT 738 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas alongside this cheat sheet.
Domain 1: Nature of Science (20%)
Covers scientific inquiry, experimental design, lab safety, and how scientific knowledge is constructed and revised over time.
- Distinguishing hypothesis, theory, and law
- Variables, controls, and experimental validity
- Data interpretation and appropriate use of models
Domain 2: Biochemistry and Cell Biology (13%)
The smallest-weighted domain but still foundational - expect questions on macromolecules, cell structure, and energy transformation.
- Enzyme function and metabolic pathways
- Cell organelles and their specialized roles
- Photosynthesis and cellular respiration processes
Domain 3: Genetics and Evolution (27%)
The largest domain by weight, so it deserves proportionally more of your review time. This is where candidates most often underestimate depth.
- Mendelian and non-Mendelian inheritance patterns
- DNA replication, transcription, and translation
- Mechanisms of evolution, natural selection, and speciation
Domain 4: Biological Unity and Diversity (20%)
Focuses on classification, organism structure and function, and how diverse life forms share underlying biological principles.
- Taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships
- Comparative anatomy and physiology across kingdoms
- Plant and animal system structure-function relationships
Domain 5: Ecology and Environment (20%)
Tests understanding of ecosystems, energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, and human impact on environmental systems.
- Trophic levels and energy pyramids
- Population dynamics and carrying capacity
- Nutrient cycling and human environmental impact
Key Takeaway
Because Genetics and Evolution is weighted at 27%, plan roughly one-quarter to one-third more study time for that domain than for Biochemistry and Cell Biology, which sits at just 13%.
Question Format & Testing Experience
TX PACT 738 is a computer-administered exam consisting of 125 selected-response questions. Some unscored field-test items may be mixed in without being labeled, so treat every question as if it counts. You'll have 3 hours of actual testing time, with a total appointment length of 3 hours 15 minutes - the extra 15 minutes covers the tutorial and compliance agreement you complete before the clock starts on content.
An on-screen scientific calculator is provided within the testing platform, which matters for stoichiometry-adjacent calculations, population growth math, and any numeric reasoning tied to Ecology and Environment or Biochemistry and Cell Biology content. You won't need to bring your own device - familiarize yourself with the on-screen tool ahead of test day so it doesn't slow you down mid-exam.
If you're trying to gauge how challenging this format feels relative to your own science background, How Hard Is the TX PACT 738 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 walks through difficulty factors in more depth. And to understand exactly what a 240 scaled score represents, see TX PACT 738 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Registration, Fees, and Scheduling Windows
The base exam fee is $106. Registration happens through the Pearson VUE system, and testing is available year-round by appointment at Texas testing centers as well as nationwide locations - useful if you've relocated out of state but still need to complete admission requirements for a Texas EPP.
Once you register, you're not on an indefinite timeline: you must schedule and take the exam within 170 days of registration. Miss that window and you'll need to re-register and likely pay again, so lock in your test date as soon as you register rather than waiting for the "right moment" to feel ready.
- Fee: $106 base exam fee
- Testing model: computer-administered, available year-round by appointment
- Locations: Pearson VUE test centers in Texas and nationwide
- Registration-to-test deadline: 170 days
For a complete cost breakdown, including how retake fees factor in, check TX PACT 738 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you want to map out specific testing windows around your EPP admission deadlines, TX PACT 738 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling goes further into appointment logistics.
Eligibility, Attempt Limits, and Retakes
TX PACT 738 exists specifically for EPP-admission or transfer candidates. To qualify, you generally need a bachelor's degree or final-semester standing, plus a TEA ID. The exam becomes required for admission specifically when a candidate's GPA falls below 2.5 or when they have fewer than 15 relevant subject-area semester credits - individual EPPs may layer on additional requirements beyond this baseline.
If your first attempt doesn't go as planned, know the retake rules before you panic and rebook immediately:
- You must wait at least 30 days between exam attempts.
- Your prior results must post to ECOS before you can retest.
- Affiliated candidates need EPP retest approval before scheduling again.
- PACT used for EPP admission or charter-school assignments is exempt from the standard five-attempt limit, though intensive pre-service candidates remain subject to it.
These nuances matter because they affect how you plan your semester. If your EPP requires the exam before a specific enrollment deadline, a failed first attempt plus a mandatory 30-day gap can eat into your timeline fast. For the full eligibility rundown, see TX PACT 738 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Key Takeaway
Because retakes require a 30-day wait and posted ECOS results, treat your first attempt as the one that matters most - cramming is riskier here than in exams with faster retest turnaround.
A Compressed Week-Before Review Plan
If you're reading this cheat sheet close to your test date, don't try to relearn every competency from scratch. Instead, allocate your remaining days proportionally to domain weight, since that's the single most efficient lever you have.
Genetics and Evolution (27%)
- Drill inheritance pattern problems and Punnett square variations
- Rehearse the DNA replication-transcription-translation sequence
- Review evidence categories supporting natural selection and speciation
Nature of Science (20%) & Biological Unity and Diversity (20%)
- Practice identifying flawed experimental designs
- Review major taxonomic groups and phylogenetic tree reading
- Compare organ system function across plant and animal life
Ecology and Environment (20%) & Biochemistry and Cell Biology (13%)
- Practice energy pyramid and population growth calculations using an on-screen calculator
- Review organelle functions and cellular respiration/photosynthesis steps
- Skim biogeochemical cycle diagrams
Full-Length Practice & Logistics
- Take a timed practice run to build stamina for the 3-hour testing block
- Confirm your Pearson VUE appointment details and required ID
- Rest - don't cram new material the night before
This isn't a generic study template - it's built directly around TX PACT 738's own domain weighting, giving Genetics and Evolution roughly double the review time of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. For a longer-horizon version of this plan built around your full prep timeline, see TX PACT 738 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Who This Exam Actually Serves
It's worth being precise about what TX PACT 738 does and doesn't do. Passing it supports admission into an Educator Preparation Program's life science track - it is not itself a teaching certificate, and it doesn't hand you a classroom job on its own. Teaching certification in Texas is a separate process that follows EPP completion and additional state requirements.
That said, clearing this content-knowledge hurdle is often the difference between being admitted to a life science teacher preparation pathway or being asked to complete additional coursework first - particularly if your GPA or subject-area credit count falls below the thresholds noted earlier. If you're evaluating whether pursuing this pathway fits your career goals, Is the TX PACT 738 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and TX PACT 738 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis break down the broader picture beyond the exam itself.
Once you've cleared the exam and moved through your EPP, you can start exploring how life science teaching roles connect to your credential path - a topic covered in TX PACT 738 Jobs. And if you're still building foundational study habits before test day, running a few sets of timed questions on our practice test platform is one of the fastest ways to see where your domain gaps actually are, rather than guessing.
FAQ
The exam contains 125 selected-response questions, though some unscored field-test items may be included without being identified as such.
You need a passing scaled score of 240 to pass the exam.
The base exam fee is $106, paid during registration through Pearson VUE.
Genetics and Evolution, which makes up 27% of the exam - the largest of the five domains - followed by Nature of Science, Biological Unity and Diversity, and Ecology and Environment, each at 20%.
You must wait at least 30 days between attempts, and your prior results must post to ECOS first. Affiliated candidates also need EPP retest approval before rescheduling.