• 46 questions

Early Childhood Education TExES Practice Test

Our own questions and written-response prompts for TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292), by domain.

Which grouping of children is an essential element of a Montessori classroom?

Pick an answer, then press Check answer. Then you see Correct or Not quite, with the reason. Keys: A to D pick, Enter checks.

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Exam mode: 46 questions, no time limit.

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Texas Education Agency or Pearson. Bank checked October 12, 2026.

Written-response prompts to print 11 lines, made to print

TExES Early Childhood: PK–3: written-response practice

Name ____ Date ____

Choose one student. Read the notes, then write a response that covers the five parts listed first. Unofficial practice prompts; the students are invented and none is from the real exam.

What a response covers

  • One significant strength or need the data show in a foundational skill in English language arts, mathematics or science.
  • One instructional strategy, intervention or enrichment that builds on the strength or addresses the need.
  • Why that strategy would be effective for this student, reasoned from what you know of the skill.
  • One informal assessment you would use to monitor the student's progress toward the skill.
  • How the same skill could be worked into another area of the curriculum, so that it carries over.

Student 1: kindergarten, mathematics

  • Observation notes, October Mateo counts aloud from 1 to 20 without a slip. Asked to count out 8 counters from a pile of 15, he slides counters quickly, says some numbers twice on one counter, and hands over 11.
  • Teacher interview Shown a row of 6 bears and asked "How many?", Mateo points and counts 1 to 6. Asked again "So how many bears are there?", he starts over at 1. He names the numerals 0 to 5 on cards.

Student 2: grade 1, writing

  • Writing sample, January "I WNT TO THE PRK WF MI DG WE PLAD BL." Aaliyah read it back as: I went to the park with my dog. We played ball. She filled the page without help and added a drawing.
  • Spelling check On ten dictated three-letter words Aaliyah wrote 9 first sounds and 8 last sounds correctly, and 2 of the 10 middle vowels.

Student 3: grade 2, science

  • Science notebook, March Noah measured his bean plant each Monday with a ruler and recorded 2 cm, 5 cm and 9 cm in a neat table with dates.
  • Teacher interview Asked what the table shows about next Monday, Noah said, "I don't know, plants just grow." Asked why the plant by the window is taller than the one kept in the closet, he said, "That one is older." Both were planted on the same day.

Source: Own prompts and own student profiles. The real exam has 1 constructed-response question (https://www.tx.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/TX292_TestPage.html); the five parts follow competency 014, Analysis and Response, of the exam framework (https://www.tx.nesinc.com/Content/StudyGuide/TX_SG_obj_292.htm); both read 2026-10-12. Checked October 12, 2026.

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All 46 questions

Child development 11

  • A first grader works out 3 + 2 by drawing three dots and two dots and counting them. Which of Bruner's modes of representation is the child using? Wikipedia, Jerome Bruner, Educational psychology. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain I, competency 001
  • A kindergartner cannot yet zip a coat alone but manages it when a teacher talks through each step. In Vygotsky's terms, where does this skill sit? Wikipedia, Zone of proximal development, lead section. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain I, competency 001
  • A kindergartner's parents speak only Vietnamese and are coming to an IEP Team meeting. What does IDEA require the school to do? 34 CFR §300.322, Parent participation, paragraph (e). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain I, competency 003
  • According to the Center on the Developing Child, which situation produces a positive stress response, not a toxic one? Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, Toxic Stress, Fast Facts. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain I, competency 002
Show all 46 questions (42 more)

Child development, continued

  • Four-year-olds at the sand table pass shovels back and forth and chat about what they are making, but each builds a separate castle and there is no shared plan. Which of Parten's stages of play is this? Wikipedia, Parten's stages of play, lead section. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain I, competency 002
  • How do the guiding principles of the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines describe families? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), Guiding Principles. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain I, competency 002
  • How does Texas Education Code §26.001 describe the place of parents in their children's education? Texas Education Code, Chapter 26, Parental Rights and Responsibilities, §26.001(a-1). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain I, competency 003
  • Under 19 TAC §102.1003, which of these must a district's prekindergarten family engagement plan do? 19 TAC §102.1003, High-Quality Prekindergarten Program, subsection (h). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain I, competency 003
  • Which early childhood approach calls the physical environment the "third teacher", alongside adults and peers? Wikipedia, Reggio Emilia approach, Role of the environment. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain I, competency 001
  • Which grouping of children is an essential element of a Montessori classroom? Wikipedia, Montessori education, Methods. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain I, competency 001
  • Why do the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines say isolated skill instruction is not an appropriate way to support learning in prekindergarten? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), Organization of the Prekindergarten Guidelines. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain I, competency 002

The instructional setting 7

  • A campus defines three schoolwide expectations with families, teaches them to every student and acknowledges students who meet them. Which tier of PBIS is this? Center on PBIS, Tier 1, What is Tier 1 Support?. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain II, competency 004
  • A PK4 child puts the blocks back on the labeled shelf at clean-up time without being asked. Which outcome of the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines does this show? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), outcome PK4.I.B.1.b. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain II, competency 005
  • According to the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines, in what context do all young children learn and thrive? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), Guiding Principles. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain II, competency 004
  • In the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines, what is a PK4 child expected to do when in a conflict with a classmate? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), outcome PK4.I.C.5. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain II, competency 004
  • The Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines divide self-regulation into three subskills. Which list names them? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), Domain I, B. Self-Regulation. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain II, competency 004
  • What do the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines expect of multilingual learners when they show their speaking and communication skills? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), Domain II, Language and Communication. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain II, competency 005
  • What do the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines say helps prekindergarten children feel safer in the classroom and do better there? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), Domain I, B. Self-Regulation. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain II, competency 005

Educating all learners 7

  • A second grader with an IEP takes the same spelling test as classmates, but in a quiet room. A classmate with an IEP is given a shorter list of easier words. Which is the modification? Center for Parent Information and Resources, Supports, Modifications, and Accommodations for Students. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain III, competency 006
  • A teacher lets each child pick one of three book baskets and ties the read-aloud to what the children said they wonder about. Which principle of Universal Design for Learning is at work? CAST, Universal Design for Learning Guidelines. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain III, competency 006
  • A Texas district must offer a bilingual program in the elementary grades once it enrolls how many emergent bilingual students of one language classification in the same grade level district-wide? 19 TAC §89.1205, Required Bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) Programs, subsection (a). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain III, competency 007
  • According to the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines, when should a child with a disability be removed from the general education classroom? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), Learning Supports, Children with Disabilities. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain III, competency 006
  • In Texas, which group decides the least restrictive environment for a child who receives special education services? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), Learning Supports, Children with Disabilities. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain III, competency 007
  • The Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines name three areas as critical for a child with a disability to take part meaningfully in school. Which of these is one of them? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), Learning Supports, Children with Disabilities. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain III, competency 006
  • The Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines use the term multilingual learner for students from two or more language backgrounds. Which other students does the term include? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), Learning Supports, Multilingual Learners. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain III, competency 007

Data-driven practice and assessment 7

  • A report says a first grader scored at the 60th percentile compared with children of the same age across the country. What kind of test gives a score like that? Wikipedia, Norm-referenced test, lead section. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain IV, competency 008
  • A volunteer asks a teacher for a list of students' assessment scores with names. Under the FERPA regulations, what is generally needed before a school discloses that information? U.S. Department of Education, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act regulations, 34 CFR Part 99, §99.30(a). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain IV, competency 008
  • According to the guiding principles of the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines, what does the systematic monitoring of children's progress reveal? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), Guiding Principles. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain IV, competency 009
  • How do the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines say their outcomes and child behaviors are meant to be used? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), Organization of the Prekindergarten Guidelines. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain IV, competency 008
  • In Response to Intervention, which tier is the broadest, given to all general education students? Wikipedia, Response to intervention, Description. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain IV, competency 009
  • In the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines, an outcome labeled PK4 describes the knowledge and skills expected of a child at which point? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), Organization of the Prekindergarten Guidelines. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain IV, competency 009
  • Under Texas Education Code §28.006, when does a district use the commissioner's reading instrument with kindergarten students? Texas Education Code, Chapter 28, Courses of Study; Advancement, §28.006(b). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain IV, competency 008

Learning across the curriculum 14

  • A child points to five blocks one at a time, saying "one, two, three, four, five." Asked "How many?", the child counts them all again. Which idea is not yet in place? Institute of Education Sciences, What Works Clearinghouse, Teaching Math to Young Children, Recommendation 1. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain V, competency 011
  • A prekindergartner fills a page with scribbles and letter-like shapes and "reads" it aloud as a note to a friend. What do the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines say about efforts like this? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), Domain IV, A. Motivation to Write. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain V, competency 010
  • A third-grade class is learning about the Bill of Rights. What is it? National Archives, The Bill of Rights: What Does it Say?. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain V, competency 010
  • In the Grade 1 mathematics TEKS, up to what number do students represent numbers with objects, pictures, and expanded and standard forms? Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, 19 TAC §111.3, Mathematics, Grade 1, subsection (b)(2). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain V, competency 011
  • In the kindergarten English language arts TEKS, in what forms do students develop drafts? Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, 19 TAC §110.2, English Language Arts and Reading, Kindergarten, subsection (b)(10). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain V, competency 010
  • In the kindergarten science TEKS, what are students expected to do with magnets? Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, 19 TAC §112.2, Science, Kindergarten, subsection (b)(7). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain V, competency 012
  • The technology applications TEKS are built on five strands. Which of these is one of them? Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, 19 TAC §126.1, Technology Applications, Kindergarten, subsection (b)(2). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain V, competency 012
  • The Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines expect a PK4 child to subitize, to see how many objects are in a small group without counting. Up to how many objects? Texas Education Agency, Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 comprehensive update), outcome PK4.V.A.4. Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain V, competency 011
  • Which elements of art do the kindergarten art TEKS expect students to identify in the environment? Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, 19 TAC §117.102, Art, Kindergarten, subsection (b)(1). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain V, competency 013
  • Which of these is a personal financial literacy expectation in the kindergarten mathematics TEKS? Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, 19 TAC §111.2, Mathematics, Kindergarten, subsection (b)(9). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain V, competency 011
  • Which pair of tools do the kindergarten science TEKS list for students to use in observing and investigating? Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, 19 TAC §112.2, Science, Kindergarten, subsection (b)(1). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain V, competency 012
  • Which set of skills do the kindergarten physical education TEKS list as locomotor skills? Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, 19 TAC §116.12, Physical Education, Kindergarten, subsection (b)(1). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain V, competency 013
  • Which three basic human needs do the kindergarten social studies TEKS name? Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, 19 TAC §113.11, Social Studies, Kindergarten, subsection (c)(5). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain V, competency 010
  • Which types of food do the kindergarten health TEKS name as foods that help the body grow? Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, 19 TAC §115.12, Health Education, Kindergarten, subsection (b)(6). Written to TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) Domain V, competency 013

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the exam framework of TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 (292) in Section 3 of the preparation manual on the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program website, https://www.tx.nesinc.com/Content/StudyGuide/TX_SG_obj_292.htm (copyright Texas Education Agency), read 2026-10-12: 90 selected-response questions and 1 constructed-response question in six domains, Child Development about 19%, The Instructional Setting 12%, Educating All Learners 12%, Data-Driven Practice and Formal/Informal Assessment 12%, Learning Across the Curriculum 25%, and Analysis and Response, the written response, 20%. This bank holds 46 questions in the shares of the five selected-response domains: 11, 7, 7, 7 and 14, with all 13 of their competencies covered. Every fact was read on the public page named under its question (29 pages, each opened 2026-10-12): the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (2022 update) and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for kindergarten and Grade 1, the Texas Education Code and Texas Administrative Code, the federal IDEA and FERPA regulations, CAST, the Center on PBIS, the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, the Center for Parent Information and Resources, the What Works Clearinghouse, the National Archives and Wikipedia. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.

How it works

An early childhood education TExES practice test for Early Childhood: PK–3 (292): 46 questions of our own and three written-response prompts. Unofficial: not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the Texas Education Agency or Pearson.

Read the full guide

What TExES Early Childhood: PK–3 covers

Child Development is about 19% of the exam, The Instructional Setting 12%, Educating All Learners 12%, Data-Driven Practice and Assessment 12%, Learning Across the Curriculum 25%, and the written response 20%. The 46 questions split 11, 7, 7, 7 and 14.

Timing

The exam page gives one testing time for the questions and the written response together, so the exam run here sets 46 questions with no clock.

The written response

Competency 014 asks for a written analysis of one student's data: a strength or need, a strategy, why it fits, how to monitor progress and a link to another subject. Three prompts of our own print from under the questions.

  • By the exam's page, this certificate takes the Science of Teaching Reading (293) exam as well as 292.
  • Seventeen questions rest on the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines and ten on the kindergarten and Grade 1 TEKS.

Questions and answers

What is the TExES early childhood education exam called?

Early Childhood: PK–3, exam code 292. It covers prekindergarten to grade 3, and its framework draws on pedagogy standards written for teachers of children from birth through age eight.

How many questions are on TExES Early Childhood PK-3?

90 selected-response and 1 constructed-response question, by the exam's page on the program site. The appointment is 5 hours, of which 4 hours 45 minutes is testing time.

What score passes TExES 292?

A scaled score of 240, by the exam's page. About a fifth of the exam is the written response, which this page cannot mark, so the 46 questions here are scored without a pass mark.

Are these real TExES 292 questions?

No. Each question and each written-response prompt was written for this page from one competency of the published framework. The students in the prompts are invented, and the manual's sample questions were not used.

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