Unofficial practice for Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160): classroom scenarios, Texas school law and the educators' code of ethics.
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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Texas Education Agency or Pearson. Bank checked October 12, 2026.
A fifth grader is rated intermediate in speaking English and beginning in writing it. What do the English Language Proficiency Standards say about such a mixed profile?19 Texas Administrative Code §120.21, English Language Proficiency Standards, Grades 4-12, Adopted 2024 (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 002
A lesson objective reads: "Students will appreciate fractions." By the criteria in competency 003, what is its main weakness?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 003
A lesson plan fills every minute with new material and stops when the bell rings, mid-activity. Which element of a lesson named in competency 003 is missing?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 003
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Designing instruction and assessment, continued
A second grader can sort blocks by size and reason about objects she can see and handle, but not yet about purely hypothetical cases. Which of Piaget's stages does this describe?Wikipedia, "Piaget's theory of cognitive development". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 001
A student who often arrives hungry and short of sleep cannot keep her attention on lessons. In Maslow's hierarchy, which needs come first?Wikipedia, "Maslow's hierarchy of needs". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 001
A teacher is new to a community and knows little about her students' lives outside school. Which step fits competency 002?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 002
A teacher learns that several students have no internet access at home. Which planning response fits competency 002?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 002
A teacher models a long-division problem, works several with the class, then steps back as students work alone. What is this gradual removal of support called?Wikipedia, "Instructional scaffolding". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 004
According to Erikson, which conflict do children typically face during the elementary school years, when success at schoolwork builds a sense of competence?Wikipedia, "Erikson's stages of psychosocial development". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 001
After a test, students write which study strategies they used and how well each one worked. Which learning strategy named in competency 004 does this build?Wikipedia, "Metacognition". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 004
After a year in Texas, a seventh grader jokes with teammates in English at practice, yet the wording of her history textbook still defeats her. In the terms of the proficiency standards, which kind of language does she still need to build?19 Texas Administrative Code §120.21, English Language Proficiency Standards, Grades 4-12, Adopted 2024 (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 002
Ana's percentile rank on a norm-referenced test is 85. Her father asks whether she got 85 percent of the questions right. What should the teacher say?Wikipedia, "Percentile rank". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 003
At the sand table two prekindergartners dig next to each other with matching shovels, yet neither speaks to the other or joins in the other's digging. Which stage of play in Parten's sequence is this?Wikipedia, "Parten's stages of play". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 001
Before planning a unit on multiplying fractions, a teacher checks whether students can already multiply whole numbers and name equivalent fractions. What is she checking?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 003
Competency 004 says young children think concretely and lean on direct experience and what they sense and do. Which kindergarten lesson on counting fits that best?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 004
The English Language Proficiency Standards adopted in 2024, which districts implement from the 2026-2027 school year, describe five proficiency levels. Which is the lowest?19 Texas Administrative Code §120.21, English Language Proficiency Standards, Grades 4-12, Adopted 2024 (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 002
In backward design, what does a teacher set first, ahead of teaching methods and kinds of assessment?Wikipedia, "Backward design". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 003
In one semester a ninth grader joins and quits three clubs, changes how he dresses and announces two different career plans. Which of Erikson's stages does this exploration belong to?Wikipedia, "Erikson's stages of psychosocial development". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 001
Vygotsky described the range of tasks a learner cannot yet complete alone but can complete with guidance from a more knowledgeable person. What is it called?Wikipedia, "Zone of proximal development". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 004
Which finding about teacher expectations is known as the Pygmalion effect?Wikipedia, "Pygmalion effect". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain I, competency 004
Classroom environment 8
A student who uses a wheelchair joins a class whose desks are packed into tight rows. What does competency 005 expect the teacher to do with the room?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain II, competency 005
A teacher cancels Friday's homework because the class stayed on task all week, hoping the class will keep working that way. In operant conditioning, what is this?Wikipedia, "Operant conditioning". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain II, competency 006
A teacher loses several minutes of every period to roll call. Which approach fits competency 006?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain II, competency 006
A teacher removes a disruptive student from class under Texas Education Code §37.002(b) and does not consent in writing to the student's return. Which body must find that returning the student to that class is the best or only alternative available?Texas Education Code §37.002. Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain II, competency 006
At the start of the year, which practice does competency 006 list for promoting appropriate behavior?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain II, competency 006
In a group project, one student does nearly all the work while the others watch. Which feature of well-run group work, named in competency 006, is missing?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain II, competency 006
Under Texas Education Code §37.0832, can one act by a student count as bullying?Texas Education Code §37.0832. Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain II, competency 005
Which classroom practice does competency 005 name as part of a positive climate for middle-level students?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain II, competency 005
Instruction and assessment in practice 20
A class discussion keeps stalling because every question has a one-word answer. Which change fits competency 007?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 007
A colleague claims that fair use covers anything a school does. Which purpose does section 107 of the Copyright Act actually name?17 U.S.C. §107 (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 009
A science unit opens with a puzzling question that students investigate, instead of a lecture that presents the facts. Which instructional approach is this?Wikipedia, "Inquiry-based learning". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 008
A teacher hands out the scoring rubric on the day a project is assigned. Which part of competency 010 does this serve?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 010
A teacher offers three texts at different reading levels on one topic and lets students show what they learned in different ways. What is this practice called?Wikipedia, "Differentiated instruction". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 008
A teacher wants fifth graders to sign up for an online tool that collects personal information. The federal children's online privacy rule defines a child as a person under what age?16 CFR §312.2 (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 009
A test reports whether each student met a fixed standard, no matter how classmates scored. What kind of test is it?Wikipedia, "Criterion-referenced test". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 010
Before students cite a website in a report, which habit does competency 009 expect a teacher to build?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 009
Each member of a home group studies a different part of a topic in an "expert" group, then returns to teach it to teammates. Which cooperative technique is this?Wikipedia, "Jigsaw (teaching technique)". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 008
Instead of a multiple-choice test on budgeting, students plan a real class trip within a set amount of money. What is this kind of assessment called?Wikipedia, "Authentic assessment". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 010
Mary Budd Rowe found that teachers waited less than a second, on average, for an answer to a question. At about what wait time did her studies find that student performance improved?Wikipedia, "Mary Budd Rowe". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 007
Midway through a lesson, a quick check shows that half the class has mastered the skill and half has not. Which response fits competency 008?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 008
Students answer two questions on a slip of paper before leaving, and the teacher uses the answers to plan tomorrow's lesson. What kind of assessment is this?Wikipedia, "Formative assessment". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 010
Students look lost after a teacher explains photosynthesis in technical terms. Which adjustment does competency 007 name?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 007
Students spend three weeks investigating how to cut cafeteria waste and present a plan to the principal. Which approach, named in competency 009, is this?Wikipedia, "Project-based learning". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 009
Students think alone about a prompt, discuss it with a partner, then report to the class. What is this discussion routine called?Wikipedia, "Think-pair-share". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 007
Students who loved free reading begin to read only when prizes are offered. Which effect describes how an expected external reward can weaken intrinsic motivation?Wikipedia, "Overjustification effect". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 008
What is Bandura's term for a student's belief in her own ability to succeed at a particular task?Wikipedia, "Self-efficacy". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 008
What is the document called in which a school sets out the rules a user must agree to before using its network and devices?Wikipedia, "Acceptable use policy". Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 009
Which written comment on an essay best matches the feedback competency 010 calls for?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain III, competency 010
Professional roles and the law 12
A parent asks to see the unit test her son took last week. What does Texas Education Code §26.006 provide?Texas Education Code §26.006. Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain IV, competency 011
A parent gives a teacher a written statement removing her child from one class activity that conflicts with the family's religious beliefs. Under Texas Education Code §26.010, what limits this right?Texas Education Code §26.010. Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain IV, competency 011
A teacher asks to read the education records of a student who joins her class next week. Under FERPA, when may the school share them with her without a parent's consent?34 CFR §99.31 (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain IV, competency 013
A teacher tells the principal she suspects a student is being abused, and the principal offers to "take it from here." What does Texas Family Code §261.101(b) say about her duty?Texas Family Code §261.101. Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain IV, competency 013
After receiving a written copy of an appraisal, what is a teacher entitled to under Texas Education Code §21.352(c)?Texas Education Code §21.352. Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain IV, competency 012
At 9 a.m. on Monday a teacher first has reasonable cause to believe a student may be abused. Under Texas Family Code §261.101(b), what is the latest time for her report?Texas Family Code §261.101. Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain IV, competency 013
At the end of the year a parent openly gives a teacher a small gift in thanks. How does Standard 1.5 of the Code of Ethics treat it?19 Texas Administrative Code §247.2, Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain IV, competency 013
How much planning and preparation time does Texas Education Code §21.404 guarantee a classroom teacher?Texas Education Code §21.404. Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain IV, competency 012
IDEA requires the team that writes a student's individualized education program to include the parents, a special education teacher and which of these, if the child may take part in regular classes?34 CFR §300.321 (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain IV, competency 013
Under Texas Education Code §21.458, a district may assign a mentor to a classroom teacher who has less than how much teaching experience in the assigned subject or grade level?Texas Education Code §21.458. Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain IV, competency 012
Under the Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators, which factor may be weighed in judging whether a teacher's text messages to a student were inappropriate?19 Texas Administrative Code §247.2, Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain IV, competency 013
Which plan for a parent conference best fits competency 011?Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) Domain IV, competency 011
How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the exam framework of TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) 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_160.htm (copyright Texas Education Agency), read 2026-10-12: 100 selected-response questions in four domains, Designing Instruction and Assessment to Promote Student Learning about 34%, Creating a Positive, Productive Classroom Environment 13%, Implementing Effective, Responsive Instruction and Assessment 33%, and Fulfilling Professional Roles and Responsibilities 20%. This bank holds 60: 20, 8, 20 and 12. Every fact was read on the public page named under its question, each opened 2026-10-12: the competency statements of that framework; the Texas Education Code and the Texas Family Code on tcss.legis.texas.gov; 19 Texas Administrative Code §247.2 and §120.21, 34 CFR Parts 99 and 300, 16 CFR §312.2 and 17 U.S.C. §107 in the Legal Information Institute copies; and Wikipedia articles on named theories and methods of teaching. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.
How it works
A free TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12 practice test: 60 questions of our own across the four domains of exam 160, each with its source. Unofficial, and not affiliated with or endorsed by the Texas Education Agency or Pearson.
Read the full guide
Four domains, weighted like the exam
Designing instruction and assessment is about 34% of the exam, the classroom environment 13%, instruction and assessment in practice 33%, and professional roles and responsibilities 20%. The 60 questions here split 20, 8, 20 and 12.
Timed at the exam's pace
Exam mode gives these 60 questions 171 minutes, the pace of the real exam.
Texas law as it reads now
Law questions were read in the statutes on 12 October 2026. A teacher reports suspected abuse not later than the 24th hour, and the proficiency standards for English learners adopted in 2024 name five levels where the exam framework still lists four.
Each scenario question is keyed to one competency statement. After a miss, read that competency in Section 3 of the free preparation manual.
The framework covers early childhood through grade 12, so expect a kindergarten room in one question and a high school class in the next.
Questions and answers
What is on the TExES PPR EC-12 exam?
Thirteen competencies: how students develop and differ, planning lessons to clear goals, how learning works, classroom climate and behavior, communication, engaging instruction, technology, assessment and feedback, families, professional growth, and the legal and ethical requirements for Texas educators.
How many questions are on the TExES PPR?
The exam's page lists 100 selected-response questions in 4 hours 45 minutes of testing. It adds that an exam may include questions tried out for later use that do not count toward the score.
What is a passing score on the TExES PPR?
The exam's page lists 240. That is a scaled score, not a count or a percent of right answers, so this page reports how many you got right and gives no pass or fail verdict.
Is the PPR the same as Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12?
Yes. PPR is the short name candidates use for Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12, which the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program lists as exam 160.
Are these real TExES PPR questions?
No. Each one was written for this site from a competency statement and the public source named under it. The real exam and the sample questions of the preparation manual were not copied or reworded.