TExES Core Subjects EC-6 (391) study guide
TExES Core Subjects EC-6 (391) · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Core Subjects EC–6 (391) exam is one of the Texas educator certification exams administered through the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program. It is intended for candidates preparing to teach in elementary classrooms in Texas, and the state requires candidates seeking certification in this area to take both this exam and the Science of Teaching Reading (293) exam. The 391 exam is organized into five separate Subject Exams: English Language Arts and Reading (901), Mathematics (902), Social Studies (903), Science (904), and Fine Arts, Health and Physical Education (905). Each Subject Exam is scored on its own, and results for the overall exam are reported as Passed or Not Passed because there is no total passing score for the combined exam. The TExES Core Subjects EC-6 (391) study guide has 5 sections and about 1,667 words.
01English Language Arts and Reading
ELA/Reading items on EC-6 exams cluster around foundational skills (phonological awareness, phonics, fluency), comprehension, vocabulary, and writing conventions. Know the developmental sequence: phonological awareness (rhyming, syllables, onset-rime) precedes phonics; phonics builds letter-sound correspondence; fluency (accuracy, rate, prosody) supports comprehension.
304 words, about 2 min02Mathematics
Math items test number sense, operations, fractions and decimals, proportional reasoning, algebraic thinking, geometry, measurement, data/probability, and-critically-the pedagogy of how children build these ideas. Expect questions on place value, the meaning of operations, and developmental progressions (concrete → representational → abstract).
270 words, about 1 min03Social Studies
Social studies items span history, geography, economics, government/civics, and culture, plus the skills of using maps, timelines, and primary sources. and Texas history milestones, the structure of government, and basic economic concepts.
292 words, about 1 min04Science
Science items cover life, physical, and Earth/space science plus scientific inquiry and safety. Expect questions on the scientific method, measurement, energy, matter, ecosystems, and Earth systems, with an emphasis on process skills and safe classroom practice.
279 words, about 1 min05Fine Arts
Fine arts items cover the four disciplines-music, visual art, drama/theatre, and dance-with emphasis on the elements, principles, and appropriate grade-level integration. Expect questions on the elements of each art form, vocabulary, and how to connect arts to other content.
522 words, about 3 min