- TX PACT 738 is a 125-item, selected-response exam administered by Pearson VUE for the Texas Education Agency.
- Genetics and Evolution is the largest domain at 27% of the exam.
- The passing scaled score is 240, with a $106 base exam fee.
- You must schedule and test within 170 days of registering.
What TX PACT 738 Actually Is
TX PACT: Life Science: Grades 7-12 (738) is a pre-admission content test developed under the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) PACT program and administered through Pearson VUE testing centers. Its job is narrow and specific: it confirms that a candidate has the science content knowledge needed to enter an Educator Preparation Program (EPP) with a Life Science 7-12 concentration, before that candidate ever sets foot in front of a classroom as part of certification coursework.
This is an important distinction that trips people up. TX PACT 738 is not a teaching certificate, and passing it does not make you a certified Texas teacher. It is a gatekeeping content assessment used at the admission stage. If you're trying to understand the bigger picture of how this exam fits into your certification path, the overview in TX PACT 738 Certification and the plain-language explainer at What Is TX PACT 738? are good companions to this article.
Who Needs This Certification
Not every aspiring life science teacher in Texas has to take TX PACT 738. According to TEA policy, the test is required for EPP admission when a candidate's overall GPA falls below 2.5, or when they have fewer than 15 relevant subject-area semester credit hours in life science content. Candidates who already meet those academic thresholds through transcripted coursework or a strong GPA may bypass the requirement entirely - though individual EPPs are allowed to layer on additional admission requirements beyond what TEA mandates statewide.
To sit for the exam as part of EPP admission or transfer, you'll need a bachelor's degree (or be in your final semester of one) and a TEA ID number. If you're unsure whether your specific academic history triggers the PACT requirement, the breakdown in TX PACT 738 Requirements walks through the eligibility rules in more detail.
Because this exam gates entry into preparation programs rather than final certification, the people who ultimately rely on it are aspiring middle and high school science teachers - specifically those planning to teach life science, biology, or related coursework in grades 7 through 12. EPPs and the districts that eventually hire their graduates are the downstream stakeholders in this test's outcomes.
Key Takeaway
If your GPA is 2.5 or higher and you already have 15+ relevant semester credit hours, ask your EPP whether PACT is even required for you before you invest prep time.
Exam Format and Registration Mechanics
TX PACT 738 is delivered as a computer-administered test consisting of 125 selected-response questions. Some of these may be unscored field-test items that Pearson and TEA use to evaluate future exam content - you won't be able to tell which items are scored and which aren't, so every question deserves full attention.
You're given 3 hours of actual testing time, but plan for a 3-hour-15-minute total appointment, since the extra 15 minutes covers the tutorial and compliance agreement you'll complete before the clock starts on the real questions. An on-screen scientific calculator is provided, so you don't need to bring your own - and you shouldn't rely on one that behaves differently from what you'll see on test day.
The base exam fee is $106. Testing is available year-round by appointment, both at Texas test centers and at Pearson VUE locations nationwide, which is useful if you're completing coursework out of state. One firm deadline to keep in mind: you must schedule and take the exam within 170 days of registering. For a full rundown of appointment logistics and how to plan around that window, see TX PACT 738 Exam Dates, and for a complete cost breakdown including what factors into your total spend, check TX PACT 738 Certification Cost.
| Exam Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Question format | 125 selected-response items (plus possible unscored field-test items) |
| Testing time | 3 hours (3 hrs 15 min total appointment) |
| Base fee | $106 |
| Passing scaled score | 240 |
| Registration window | Must test within 170 days of registering |
| Delivery | Computer-administered via Pearson VUE, year-round by appointment |
The Five Content Domains
The official TX PACT 738 framework organizes content into five domains built from 15 competencies. Domain weights are approximate, but they tell you clearly where to concentrate your effort. Genetics and Evolution carries the heaviest weight at 27%, making it the single most important content area to master.
Domain 1: Nature of Science (20%)
Covers scientific inquiry, experimental design, lab safety, measurement, and the process of how scientific knowledge is built and revised.
- Understand controls, variables, and valid experimental design
- Interpret data representations and identify sources of error
Domain 2: Biochemistry and Cell Biology (13%)
Focuses on molecular biology, cell structure and function, energy transformation, and biochemical processes at the cellular level.
- Know cellular respiration and photosynthesis pathways
- Understand macromolecule structure and enzyme function
Domain 3: Genetics and Evolution (27%)
The largest domain by far, spanning heredity, molecular genetics, and evolutionary mechanisms and evidence.
- Master Mendelian and non-Mendelian inheritance patterns
- Understand natural selection, speciation, and phylogenetics
Domain 4: Biological Unity and Diversity (20%)
Examines classification systems, organism structure and function across taxa, and comparative biology.
- Know major taxonomic groups and their defining characteristics
- Compare organ systems and physiological adaptations across kingdoms
Domain 5: Ecology and Environment (20%)
Covers ecosystems, population dynamics, energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, and human impact on environments.
- Understand trophic levels and energy transfer efficiency
- Know nutrient cycling and human-environment interactions
Because Genetics and Evolution alone accounts for more than a quarter of the exam, candidates who shortchange this domain in favor of broader review often leave points on the table. For a competency-by-competency breakdown of all five domains, the dedicated guide at TX PACT 738 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas goes deeper than what's practical to cover here.
Scoring, Retakes, and Attempt Limits
TX PACT 738 uses a scaled scoring system, and you need to reach 240 to pass. This scaled score reflects your performance across the full item set, weighted according to domain difficulty rather than raw percentage correct - a detail that's worth understanding before you obsess over any single practice-test percentage. The exact mechanics of how raw performance converts to that scaled number are explained in TX PACT 738 Passing Score.
If you don't pass on your first attempt, retake rules apply: you must wait at least 30 days between exam attempts, and your prior results need to be posted to ECOS before you can register again. If you're testing as part of an affiliated EPP, you'll also need EPP retest approval before scheduling another sitting.
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 exams. However, if you're testing as part of an intensive pre-service candidate pathway, you remain subject to that five-attempt cap - so confirm which category applies to your situation before assuming you have unlimited retakes.
If you want the full statistical picture before you sit for the exam, TX PACT 738 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows covers the historical statewide best-attempt pass rate and what it suggests about first-attempt preparation.
A Domain-Aware Approach to Preparation
Generic study advice - flashcards, spaced repetition, timed drills - only helps if it's pointed at the right targets. For TX PACT 738 specifically, that means allocating your prep time in rough proportion to domain weight rather than splitting effort evenly across all five areas.
Genetics and Evolution
- Build a deep review of inheritance patterns, molecular genetics, and evolutionary evidence - this is 27% of the exam
- Practice pedigree analysis and probability-based genetics problems
Biological Unity and Diversity, and Ecology
- Review taxonomy, comparative physiology, and ecosystem dynamics
- Work through energy-flow and nutrient-cycle diagrams until they're second nature
Nature of Science
- Practice interpreting experimental designs and identifying confounding variables
- Review lab safety and data-analysis conventions
Biochemistry and Cell Biology, plus Full Review
- Reinforce cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and macromolecule structure
- Take full-length timed practice sessions using the on-screen calculator setup
This isn't the only valid schedule, but it reflects a core principle: the domain worth 27% of your score deserves more than double the study time of the domain worth 13%. For a more complete week-by-week plan and specific resource recommendations, see TX PACT 738 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. And if you're still gauging how challenging this particular exam is relative to your current knowledge base, How Hard Is the TX PACT 738 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 offers an honest assessment based on domain complexity and format.
You can also build familiarity with the question style and pacing demands well before test day using realistic practice questions on our practice test platform, which mirrors the selected-response format you'll encounter at the Pearson VUE test center.
What Happens After You Pass
Passing TX PACT 738 clears your path into an EPP's life science 7-12 track - it's an admission milestone, not a finish line. From there, you'll complete your EPP's coursework and clinical requirements, and pursue the separate certification exams and processes required for actual Texas teacher certification. Understanding this sequencing matters because candidates sometimes assume PACT is the certification test itself, when it's really the door you walk through to start the certification pipeline.
Once you're certified and working in a classroom, the credential's relevance shifts toward employability and compensation conversations, which are covered separately in TX PACT 738 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis and TX PACT 738 Jobs. If you're still deciding whether the entire pathway is worth pursuing given the time and fee investment, Is the TX PACT 738 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 weighs those considerations directly.
For candidates who want a condensed reference to keep handy during final review, the TX PACT 738 Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts distills domain weights, scoring, and logistics into a single-page format. And if formal coursework support would help you shore up weaker domains before test day, TX PACT 738 Training outlines available options.
Key Takeaway
Treat PACT as step one of a multi-stage certification journey - passing it opens EPP admission, but classroom certification requires additional exams and program completion afterward.
Whichever stage of preparation you're at, working through realistic item sets on our practice exam site before your Pearson VUE appointment is one of the most direct ways to confirm you're ready for the actual 125-question format and 3-hour pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. TX PACT 738 is a pre-admission content test used to qualify candidates for entry into an Educator Preparation Program. Actual Texas teacher certification requires completing the EPP and separate certification exams beyond PACT.
No. It's required specifically for candidates whose GPA is below 2.5 or who have fewer than 15 relevant subject-area semester credit hours. Individual EPPs may add further requirements on top of this baseline.
Genetics and Evolution is the largest domain at 27% of the exam. Given its weight, it deserves proportionally more study time than smaller domains like Biochemistry and Cell Biology at 13%.
You must schedule and take the exam within 170 days of registration, so don't register before you're genuinely ready to commit to a study timeline.
You must wait at least 30 days before retesting, and your prior results need to post to ECOS first. If you're affiliated with an EPP, you'll also need EPP retest approval before scheduling again.