• 60 questions

TExES Counselor Practice Test

Unofficial practice for TExES School Counselor (252): the Texas Model, counseling approaches and the Texas laws a counselor works under.

A counselor starts a monthly call between a student's foster parent and his teachers so that home and school give him the same message. In Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, which system is the counselor strengthening?

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

Next step More on how students develop: TExES PPR EC–12GACE School Counseling practice test

All 60 questions

Knowledge of learners 13

  • A counselor starts a monthly call between a student's foster parent and his teachers so that home and school give him the same message. In Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, which system is the counselor strengthening? Wikipedia, "Ecological systems theory". Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain I, competency 001
  • A family loses its apartment and moves in with relatives because of economic hardship. Under the McKinney-Vento definition, are the children homeless? 42 U.S.C. §11434a (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain I, competency 002
  • A fifth grader's grades began to fall in the month his parents separated. What does competency 001 call on the counselor to understand about this? School Counselor (252) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain I, competency 001
  • A new student watches classmates line up quietly and then does the same without being told. Which theory explains learning by observing and imitating others? Wikipedia, "Social learning theory". Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain I, competency 001
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Knowledge of learners, continued

  • A seventh grader says cheating is wrong "because good students follow the rules and people expect that of me." Which level of Kohlberg's stages of moral development does this reasoning fit? Wikipedia, "Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development". Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain I, competency 001
  • A student is cyberbullied from a classmate's home on a weekend. When does Texas Education Code §37.0832 apply to it? Texas Education Code §37.0832. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain I, competency 002
  • After a hallway fight, a counselor brings the two students together to talk about the harm done and how to repair the relationship. Which approach, named in competency 002, is this? School Counselor (252) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain I, competency 002
  • Under Texas Education Code §29.081(d), which student meets a criterion for being at risk of dropping out of school? Texas Education Code §29.081. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain I, competency 001
  • Under Texas Education Code §33.006(b)(1), the counselor's guidance program addresses the special needs of gifted and talented students with emphasis on which group? Texas Education Code §33.006. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain I, competency 001
  • Under Texas Education Code §33.006(b)(7), what role does a school counselor play in conflicts between students, including accusations of bullying? Texas Education Code §33.006. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain I, competency 002
  • Which approach to learners' differences do the Texas school counselor certificate standards require? 19 Texas Administrative Code §239.15, Standards Required for the School Counselor Certificate (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain I, competency 002
  • Which practice fits competency 002's description of a learning community in which students assume responsibility and take part in decisions? School Counselor (252) preparation manual, Section 3, Domains and Competencies (Texas Educator Certification Examination Program). Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain I, competency 002
  • Which theory, developed by John Bowlby, holds that an infant needs a close bond with one or more primary caregivers to develop healthy social and emotional functioning? Wikipedia, "Attachment theory". Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain I, competency 001

Guidance curriculum 6

  • A counselor gives a short questionnaire before and after a lesson on study skills to see what students learned. In the Texas Model, which type of data is this? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section IV. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 003
  • According to the Texas Model, what does full implementation of the guidance curriculum require? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section IV. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 003
  • In the Texas Model's pyramid of program services, what does Tier One depict? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section IV. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 003
  • The Texas Model organizes the guidance curriculum into four content areas: intrapersonal effectiveness, interpersonal effectiveness, personal health and safety, and which other? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section V. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 003
  • Under which content area of the Texas Model do effective conflict resolution skills fall? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section V. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 003
  • Which student competency does the Texas Model place under Personal Health and Safety? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section V. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 003

Responsive services 9

  • A counselor reports suspected abuse in good faith, and the investigation later rules the abuse out. What does Texas Family Code §261.106 provide for the counselor? Texas Family Code §261.106. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 004
  • A counselor using solution-focused brief therapy asks, "Tell me about a day last week when the arguing did not start. What was different?" What does the approach call such a time? Wikipedia, "Solution-focused brief therapy". Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 004
  • A student comes back to campus from a placement at the alternative school. The counselor meets with him to identify what led to the placement and to build a plan. Which level of responsive services is this? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section IV. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 004
  • A student says, "I failed one quiz, so I am stupid." Which approach centers on challenging and changing distorted thoughts like this one? Wikipedia, "Cognitive behavioral therapy". Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 004
  • According to the Texas Model, what does a counselor do when a student needs more than the school counselor's duties or competencies cover? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section IV. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 004
  • In the third session of a counseling group, members begin to voice opinions and conflict arises among them. Which of Tuckman's stages of group development is this? Wikipedia, "Tuckman's stages of group development". Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 004
  • Texas Family Code §32.004 lets a child consent to counseling in three situations. Which is one of them? Texas Family Code §32.004. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 004
  • The Texas Model describes responsive services at three levels. Which list is correct? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section IV. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 004
  • Under Texas Education Code §33.006(b)(2), how does a school counselor make referrals? Texas Education Code §33.006. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 004

Individual planning 7

  • A junior who runs the student store says she is happiest when persuading people and leading a team. Which of Holland's six types does that fit? Wikipedia, "Holland Codes". Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 005
  • How often must a school counselor give a high school student and the student's parent information about postsecondary education under Texas Education Code §33.007(b)? Texas Education Code §33.007. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 005
  • Texas Education Code §28.0256 requires a FAFSA or TASFA before graduation. Which of these excuses a student from it? Texas Education Code §28.0256. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 005
  • Under Texas Education Code §28.02121(c), with whom are personal graduation plan options reviewed for a student entering grade nine? Texas Education Code §28.02121. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 005
  • Under Texas Education Code §28.025(b), when may a student graduate under the foundation high school program without earning an endorsement? Texas Education Code §28.025. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 005
  • Under Texas Education Code §33.007(a), what do counselors at elementary and middle schools advise students and their parents about? Texas Education Code §33.007. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 005
  • What share of program time does the Texas Model recommend for individual planning in a high school? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section IV. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 005

Systems support and program management 11

  • A counselor reports that five small-group meetings were held for 40 eighth graders. In the Texas Model, which type of data is this? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section IV. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 007
  • According to the Texas Model, how should the mission statement of the school counseling program relate to those of the school and the district? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section III. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 007
  • According to the Texas school counselor certificate standards, who belongs on the advisory council for the counseling program? 19 Texas Administrative Code §239.15, Standards Required for the School Counselor Certificate (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 006
  • Texas Education Code §33.005(b) requires a counseling program to include a guidance curriculum, a responsive services component, system support and which other part? Texas Education Code §33.005. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 006
  • The Texas Model recommends three categories of student outcome data. Which set is it? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section IV. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 007
  • The Texas Model sorts system support into two areas. One is program management activities. What is the other? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section IV. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 006
  • The Texas Model's program implementation cycle has five steps. Which comes first? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section II. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 007
  • Under Texas Education Code §33.006(d), a board policy must require a school counselor to spend at least what share of total work time on components of the counseling program? Texas Education Code §33.006. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 007
  • Under Texas Education Code §33.006(d), how is the time a counselor spends administering assessment instruments counted? Texas Education Code §33.006. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 007
  • Which counselor-to-student ratio does the Texas Model report as recommended by the Texas Counseling Association and two Texas principals' associations? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section I. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 007
  • Which of the four service delivery components does the Texas Model call an indirect service and consistently the smallest? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section IV. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain II, competency 006

The professional school counselor 14

  • A counselor wants to tell a parent what a stanine of 5 means. On what scale are stanines reported? Wikipedia, "Stanine". Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain III, competency 009
  • A counselor works with a family and school staff to arrange a referral to a community clinic. Which responsibility domain of the Texas Model covers coordinating referrals to other resources? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section I. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain III, competency 008
  • A parent says her son hates school. The counselor answers, "It sounds as if you are worried he is falling behind." Which communication strategy is this? Wikipedia, "Reflective listening". Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain III, competency 008
  • A teacher asks the counselor for help understanding a student's outbursts, and the two plan classroom strategies together. Which responsibility domain of the Texas Model is the counselor exercising? The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website, Section I. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain III, competency 008
  • According to Texas Education Code §33.005(a), which organization developed the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs? Texas Education Code §33.005. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain III, competency 009
  • After referring a student to a community agency, what do the Texas school counselor certificate standards expect the counselor to coordinate? 19 Texas Administrative Code §239.15, Standards Required for the School Counselor Certificate (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain III, competency 008
  • By what standard does the Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators judge an educator's relationships and boundaries with students? 19 Texas Administrative Code §247.2, Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain III, competency 009
  • Does the School Counselor Certificate in Texas still require two creditable years of classroom teaching experience? 19 Texas Administrative Code §239.20, Requirements for the Issuance of the School Counselor Certificate (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain III, competency 009
  • Under FERPA, which situation allows a school to disclose information from a student's education record without prior consent? 34 CFR §99.31 (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain III, competency 009
  • Under Texas Education Code §26.004, may a parent see the written counseling records a school district keeps about the parent's child? Texas Education Code §26.004. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain III, competency 009
  • Under Texas Education Code §26.009, what must a school employee obtain before conducting a psychological examination or test of a student, unless other law requires the examination? Texas Education Code §26.009. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain III, competency 009
  • What does Texas Education Code §33.006(a) name as the primary responsibility of a school counselor? Texas Education Code §33.006. Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain III, competency 009
  • Which phrase do the certificate standards use for the duties a counselor shares with all staff, which they set against non-counseling related duties? 19 Texas Administrative Code §239.15, Standards Required for the School Counselor Certificate (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain III, competency 009
  • Why do the certificate standards have counselors create literature or newsletters about the counseling program for all stakeholders? 19 Texas Administrative Code §239.15, Standards Required for the School Counselor Certificate (Legal Information Institute copy). Written to TExES School Counselor (252) Domain III, competency 008

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the exam framework of TExES School Counselor (252) 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_252.htm (copyright Texas Education Agency), read 2026-10-12: 90 selected-response questions and 1 constructed-response question in four domains, Knowledge of Learners about 18%, The Comprehensive School Counseling Program 44%, The Professional School Counselor 18%, and Analysis and Response 20%. This bank holds 60 selected-response questions spread over the first three domains in those proportions: 13, 33 and 14. The written response is not practiced here. 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 Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, fifth edition (2018), on the Texas Education Agency website; the Texas Education Code and the Texas Family Code on tcss.legis.texas.gov; 19 Texas Administrative Code §§239.15, 239.20 and 247.2, 34 CFR §99.31 and 42 U.S.C. §11434a in the Legal Information Institute copies; and Wikipedia articles on named theories of development, counseling and career choice. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.

How it works

A free TExES counselor practice test: 60 of our own questions on School Counselor (252), each sourced. Unofficial, and not affiliated with or endorsed by the Texas Education Agency or Pearson. Practice for an exam, not counseling or medical advice.

Read the full guide

Three domains here, one written

Knowledge of learners is about 18% of the exam, the comprehensive school counseling program 44% and the professional school counselor 18%. The 60 questions split 13, 33 and 14. Domain IV, 20%, is a written response to student data and is not practiced here.

Why exam mode is untimed

On the real exam the selected-response questions share their time with the written response and have none of their own, so Exam mode runs these 60 with no clock.

Built on the Texas Model

Nineteen questions quote The Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, to which Education Code §33.005 says a program must conform: its four components, its tiers, its three kinds of data and its balance of time.

  • The largest domain follows the Texas Model's four components: guidance curriculum, responsive services, individual planning and system support. Know what belongs to each.
  • Law questions quote Education Code Chapter 33 and the Family Code as read on 12 October 2026. After a miss, open the section.

Questions and answers

What is on the TExES School Counselor 252 exam?

Ten competencies: human development and learning, a safe and supportive school environment, guidance, responsive services, individual planning, systems support, program management, communication and consultation, professional practice, and a written analysis of one student's data.

How many questions are on the TExES counselor exam?

The exam's page lists 90 selected-response and 1 constructed-response question in 4 hours 45 minutes of testing, inside a 5-hour appointment.

What is the passing score for the TExES School Counselor exam?

The exam's page lists 240. That figure is a scaled score, so the count of right answers on this page cannot be turned into it, and the page gives no verdict.

Do you need teaching experience to be a school counselor in Texas?

Not any more. An amendment to 19 TAC §239.20, effective May 19, 2024, removed the requirement of two creditable years of classroom teaching for the School Counselor Certificate. Read the certification rules for what is still required.

Are these real TExES School Counselor questions?

No. Each one was written for this site from a competency and a public source such as the Texas Model or the Education Code. The real exam and the manual's sample questions were not used.

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