- TX PACT 738 is the Life Science: Grades 7-12 exam used for Texas EPP admission, not a teaching license itself.
- The exam has 125 selected-response questions delivered in a 3-hour testing session at Pearson VUE centers.
- Genetics and Evolution carries the heaviest weight at approximately 27% of the test.
- A scaled score of 240 is required to pass, and the base exam fee is $106.
What TX PACT 738 Actually Is
TX PACT: Life Science: Grades 7-12 (738) is a content-knowledge exam administered under the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) program. It is delivered by Pearson through Pearson VUE test centers and exists to verify that a candidate knows enough life science subject matter to be admitted into a Texas educator preparation program (EPP) for secondary-level science teaching. It is not a certification exam in the sense of granting you a teaching credential - passing TX PACT 738 opens the door to an EPP, while classroom certification comes later through separate state requirements.
If you're trying to sort out exactly what this exam covers and how it's structured, the TX PACT 738 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas breaks down each content area in more depth than we can here. This article focuses on giving you the full picture of what the exam is, who takes it, and how the mechanics work.
Who Needs to Take TX PACT 738
Not every aspiring science teacher in Texas needs to sit for this exam. TEA requires PACT testing specifically for candidates seeking admission into an EPP (or transferring between programs) who have a GPA below 2.5, or who have fewer than 15 relevant subject-area semester credit hours in life science content. Candidates who already meet the GPA or credit-hour thresholds may be able to bypass the content test requirement, though individual EPPs can layer on their own additional admission requirements beyond what TEA mandates.
To register, you'll need either a bachelor's degree or final-semester standing, plus a TEA ID number. If you're unsure whether your academic history triggers the PACT requirement, the TX PACT 738 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify page walks through eligibility scenarios in detail.
Key Takeaway
Check your GPA and relevant credit hours before assuming you need PACT - EPPs apply the below-2.5 GPA and under-15-credit-hour thresholds specifically, and some EPPs add their own rules on top.
Exam Format and Question Style
TX PACT 738 is a computer-administered exam consisting of 125 selected-response questions. Some of these may be unscored field-test items used by the test developer to evaluate future questions - you won't know which ones count, so every question deserves full attention. The actual testing time allotted is 3 hours, but your total appointment runs 3 hours 15 minutes once you factor in the 15-minute tutorial and compliance agreement at the start.
Because the test is entirely selected-response, there's no essay or performance task component. Questions are designed to probe conceptual understanding, application of scientific reasoning, and interpretation of data or experimental scenarios rather than pure memorization. An on-screen scientific calculator is provided during the test, which matters for competencies involving quantitative reasoning in genetics, ecology, or biochemistry calculations.
The Five Domains You'll Be Tested On
The official TX PACT 738 framework organizes content into five domains and 15 competencies. Domain weights are approximate, but the distribution tells you where to invest your preparation time. Here's the breakdown:
Domain 1: Nature of Science (20%)
Covers scientific inquiry, experimental design, measurement, lab safety, and the process by which scientific knowledge is built and revised.
- Understand controls, variables, and hypothesis testing
- Interpret data tables, graphs, and experimental results
Domain 2: Biochemistry and Cell Biology (13%)
Focuses on cellular structure and function, biochemical processes, energy transformation, and molecular biology fundamentals.
- Know cell organelle functions and membrane transport
- Understand cellular respiration and photosynthesis pathways
Domain 3: Genetics and Evolution (27%)
The single largest domain on the exam, covering heredity, molecular genetics, and evolutionary theory and mechanisms.
- Master Mendelian genetics, inheritance patterns, and pedigree analysis
- Understand natural selection, speciation, and evidence for evolution
Domain 4: Biological Unity and Diversity (20%)
Addresses classification, comparative anatomy and physiology, and the diversity of life across kingdoms and taxa.
- Know major organism groups and their defining characteristics
- Understand structural and functional adaptations across taxa
Domain 5: Ecology and Environment (20%)
Covers ecosystems, population dynamics, energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, and human impact on the environment.
- Understand trophic levels, food webs, and energy pyramids
- Know nutrient cycles and human-environment interactions
Given that Genetics and Evolution alone accounts for roughly 27% of the exam - more than double the smallest domain - candidates should plan disproportionate study time there. For a full competency-by-competency breakdown, the TX PACT 738 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas is the resource built specifically for that purpose.
Registration, Fees, and Scheduling
The base exam fee for TX PACT 738 is $106. Testing is available year-round by appointment, both at Pearson VUE centers throughout Texas and at locations nationwide, which is useful if you're preparing from out of state or relocating during your EPP application process.
One scheduling detail candidates frequently overlook: once you register, you must schedule and take the exam within 170 days. Missing that window means you'll need to re-register and likely pay the fee again. For a complete look at how fees, retake costs, and related expenses add up, see the TX PACT 738 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown article. If you want a calendar-style view of testing windows and deadlines, check the TX PACT 738 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling guide.
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Base exam fee | $106 |
| Question count | 125 selected-response items |
| Testing time | 3 hours (3 hrs 15 min total appointment) |
| Passing scaled score | 240 |
| Registration-to-test window | Within 170 days of registration |
| Minimum time between retakes | 30 days |
Scoring and Retake Rules
To pass TX PACT 738, you need a scaled score of 240. If you don't reach that threshold on your first try, you can retake the exam, but you must wait at least 30 days between attempts, and your prior results need to have posted to ECOS before you can register again. If you're testing as part of an affiliated EPP, you'll also need approval from that program before scheduling a retest.
One nuance worth knowing: PACT taken for EPP admission or for charter-school assignment purposes is exempt from the standard five-attempt limit that applies to many Texas educator tests. However, if you're an intensive pre-service candidate, you remain subject to that five-attempt cap, so it's worth clarifying your candidate category before assuming unlimited retakes.
For statewide performance context - without guessing at numbers that aren't verified - the TX PACT 738 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows article reviews the official best-attempt pass rate data reported by TEA. And if you want the exact scoring mechanics spelled out on their own, visit TX PACT 738 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Don't schedule a retake impulsively - you need 30 days minimum, posted ECOS results, and possibly EPP retest approval before you can sit again.
Building a Domain-Aware Study Timeline
Rather than studying life science topics in a generic order, structure your prep around the domain weights. Because Genetics and Evolution makes up the largest share of the test at roughly 27%, it deserves the most calendar time - not a proportionally equal slice with the other four domains.
Genetics and Evolution
- Work through Mendelian inheritance, pedigrees, and molecular genetics
- Review evolutionary mechanisms, speciation, and evidence for natural selection
Nature of Science & Biological Unity and Diversity
- Practice interpreting experimental designs and data sets
- Study organism classification and comparative structures
Ecology and Environment & Biochemistry/Cell Biology
- Review energy flow, nutrient cycles, and population dynamics
- Revisit cellular processes and biochemical pathways
Full-Length Practice and Review
- Take timed practice sessions on ../ to build stamina for the 3-hour format
- Identify weak competencies and do targeted review across all five domains
If you'd rather follow a fully built-out week-by-week plan instead of assembling your own, the TX PACT 738 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt lays out a complete preparation sequence. And if you're still wondering how challenging the exam actually is relative to your background, How Hard Is the TX PACT 738 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 addresses that question directly using the exam's actual structure and content demands.
What Happens After You Pass
Passing TX PACT 738 satisfies the content-knowledge admission requirement for your EPP - it does not by itself make you a certified teacher. From there, you'll continue through your EPP's coursework, clinical or field-based training, and the state's separate certification testing and application process before you're eligible to hold a Texas teaching certificate in life science.
If you're weighing whether pursuing this pathway is worth the time and cost investment, the Is the TX PACT 738 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 article looks at the broader picture. For those wondering what the job market looks like on the other side of certification, TX PACT 738 Jobs and TX PACT 738 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis cover employment and earnings considerations for life science educators in Texas secondary schools.
For a condensed, at-a-glance reference you can review right before test day, bookmark the TX PACT 738 Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts. And if you're still building foundational understanding of the terminology itself, the TX PACT 738 Meaning and What Does TX PACT 738 Stand For? pages clarify the naming and acronym in plain terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. TX PACT 738 is a content-knowledge test used for admission into a Texas educator preparation program. Teaching certification is a separate process that follows program completion and additional state requirements.
The exam contains 125 selected-response questions, though some may be unscored field-test items included for future test development purposes.
You need a scaled score of 240 to pass. Full details on how scoring works are covered in the TX PACT 738 Passing Score guide.
You must schedule and take TX PACT 738 within 170 days of registering, or you'll need to register again.
Genetics and Evolution, at approximately 27% of the exam, is the largest domain and warrants the most study time relative to the other four domains.
Whatever stage of preparation you're at, working through targeted practice questions on our TX PACT 738 practice test platform alongside the domain-specific guides above will give you the clearest picture of where you stand before test day.