- How the TExES 164 Exam Is Structured
- Domain 1: Foundations of Bilingual Education, Bilingualism and the Learning Environment
- Domain 2: First- and Second-Language Acquisition and Development
- Domain 3: Development and Assessment of L1 Literacy and Biliteracy
- Domain 4: Content-Area Instruction in L1 and L2
- Why All Four Domains Carry Equal Weight
- Mapping a Study Schedule to the Domains
- Registration, Fees, and the Retirement Timeline
- Frequently Asked Questions
- TExES 164 has one official domain, Bilingual Education, split into four competency-based content areas covered here.
- 80 selected-response questions fill a 5-hour appointment, and some are unscored field-test items.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 240 out of 100-300, reported by total score and by competency.
- House Bill 2 waives the $116 exam fee and $78 application fee for eligible first-attempt candidates.
How the TExES 164 Exam Is Structured
The TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental (164) is administered by Pearson Evaluation Systems on behalf of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the State Board for Educator Certification. Candidates sit for 80 selected-response questions inside a 5-hour computer-administered appointment at Texas and out-of-state testing centers. Some administrations include unscored field-test questions mixed in with scored items, which is normal and not a sign that you answered poorly.
Unlike exams that split content across several weighted domains, TExES 164 uses a single official domain - Bilingual Education - weighted at 100% of the test. That domain is built from Bilingual Education Standards II through VI and is broken down operationally into the four competencies most candidates refer to as "the four domains." Your score report will show a total score plus a performance breakdown by each of these four areas, which is useful for identifying where a retake attempt should focus.
For a broader look at how difficult the test tends to feel in practice, see how hard the TExES 164 exam actually is, and for the exact numeric target you're working toward, check the TExES 164 passing score breakdown.
Domain 1: Foundations of Bilingual Education, Bilingualism and the Learning Environment
This competency area establishes the theoretical and legal scaffolding that everything else on the exam builds from. Candidates need to understand the history and rationale behind bilingual program models used in Texas, the sociocultural and sociopolitical context of bilingualism, and how educators create classroom environments that affirm students' home languages and cultures while supporting academic growth in English.
Domain 1: Foundations of Bilingual Education, Bilingualism and the Learning Environment
Candidates must understand program models, legal foundations, and how to build an affirming bilingual/biliterate classroom culture.
- Distinctions among transitional, dual-language, and one-way/two-way program models
- Federal and Texas-specific legal requirements affecting bilingual program design
- Characteristics of additive versus subtractive bilingual environments
- Strategies for fostering positive identity, biculturalism, and family/community engagement
Expect scenario-based items that ask you to identify which program model or classroom practice best matches a described student population, rather than pure recall of definitions.
Domain 2: First- and Second-Language Acquisition and Development
This competency area is often considered the theoretical backbone of the exam because so many later concepts - from literacy assessment to content-area instruction - rely on understanding how language develops. Candidates must be able to compare first-language (L1) and second-language (L2) acquisition processes, recognize stages of second-language development, and apply theories from researchers commonly cited in Texas bilingual education preparation programs.
Domain 2: First- and Second-Language Acquisition and Development
Candidates must connect acquisition theory to observable classroom behaviors and instructional decisions.
- Stages of second-language acquisition and typical learner behaviors at each stage
- Interdependence between L1 proficiency and L2 development (transfer, interference, cross-linguistic connections)
- Sociocultural, cognitive, and affective factors that influence acquisition rate
- Differentiating language difference from language or learning disability
Domain 3: Development and Assessment of L1 Literacy and Biliteracy
This section focuses on how literacy develops in a student's first language and how that foundation supports the development of biliteracy - reading and writing proficiency across two languages. Candidates need working knowledge of formal and informal assessment tools used to measure L1 literacy, along with instructional approaches that build phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, and comprehension in the home language before or alongside English.
Domain 3: Development and Assessment of L1 Literacy and Biliteracy
Candidates must interpret assessment data and match literacy interventions to a student's L1 development stage.
- Stages of biliteracy development and cross-linguistic transfer of literacy skills
- Formal and informal L1 literacy assessment tools and how to interpret results
- Instructional strategies for building phonological awareness and decoding in the home language
- Using assessment data to plan differentiated literacy instruction across both languages
Many candidates find this the most data-heavy competency, since items often present sample assessment results and ask what instructional step should follow.
Domain 4: Content-Area Instruction in L1 and L2
The final competency area tests whether candidates can apply everything above to real academic instruction - teaching math, science, social studies, and other content through both languages while scaffolding for varying levels of English proficiency. This includes selecting appropriate instructional strategies, using academic language supports, and adjusting content delivery based on a student's biliteracy and language-proficiency profile.
Domain 4: Content-Area Instruction in L1 and L2
Candidates must show they can plan and adapt content-area lessons for bilingual learners at different proficiency stages.
- Scaffolding academic content while students are still developing L2 proficiency
- Selecting comprehensible-input strategies appropriate to a lesson's cognitive demand
- Integrating language objectives alongside content objectives in lesson design
- Using students' L1 as a resource for accessing grade-level content
Because this domain synthesizes the other three, it's often the section where thorough preparation in Domains 1-3 pays off most directly.
Why All Four Domains Carry Equal Weight
Since exam 164's official structure assigns 100% weighting to the single Bilingual Education domain, TEA does not publish separate percentage weights for the four competencies the way some multi-domain exams do. In practice, this means no competency area should be treated as "extra credit" or skipped - your score report breaks out performance by competency, and a significant gap in any one area can pull down your total scaled score below the 240 passing threshold.
| Competency Area | Core Focus | Common Item Style |
|---|---|---|
| Domain 1 | Program models, legal context, classroom culture | Scenario matching to program type or policy |
| Domain 2 | L1/L2 acquisition theory | Identify stage or theory behind a described behavior |
| Domain 3 | L1 literacy development and assessment | Interpret data, choose next instructional step |
| Domain 4 | Content-area instruction in both languages | Select scaffold or strategy for a lesson scenario |
Key Takeaway
Treat the four competencies as equally important checkpoints; use your practice-test breakdown to find and fix the weakest one before test day.
Mapping a Study Schedule to the Domains
Because the exam rewards synthesis across competencies, a short, domain-anchored schedule tends to work better than generic cramming. Rather than studying topics randomly, dedicate blocks of time to each competency in the order they build on one another, then finish with mixed practice that mirrors the actual 80-question, 5-hour format.
Domain 1 Foundations
- Review program models and Texas legal requirements
- Study classroom practices that support bicultural identity
Domain 2 Acquisition Theory
- Map stages of L2 acquisition to classroom behaviors
- Practice distinguishing language difference from disability
Domain 3 Literacy & Assessment
- Work through sample L1 literacy assessment data
- Match assessment results to instructional next steps
Domain 4 & Full Practice
- Practice scaffolding content-area lesson scenarios
- Take a full-length 80-question timed practice run
For a more detailed week-by-week breakdown and pacing advice tailored to first-time test takers, see the TExES 164 study guide. If you want a condensed reference to keep nearby during final review, the TExES 164 cheat sheet summarizes must-know facts from all four competencies in one page.
Registration, Fees, and the Retirement Timeline
Understanding the domains matters, but so does understanding the logistics around when and how you're allowed to sit for this exam. The standard registration fee is $116, though under House Bill 2 (signed June 4, 2025), eligible Bilingual Education certification candidates get their first attempt fee waived, along with the separate $78 certification application fee. This is a meaningful cost consideration worth understanding fully - see the TExES 164 certification cost breakdown for how these pieces fit together.
To register, you must be approved to test through an educator preparation program, or qualify through an out-of-state, charter, or certification-by-exam route. TEA caps candidates at five attempts on a certification exam, with a mandatory 30-day wait between attempts; anyone needing a sixth attempt must obtain a test-limit waiver from TEA. Full eligibility mechanics are covered in the TExES 164 requirements guide.
There's also a hard deadline candidates should plan around. TEA is retiring the 164/190 pathway: the replacement exam, TExES 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental, launches September 1, 2026. August 31, 2027 is the last day either 164 or 190 can be taken, and September 1, 2028 is the final day TEA will accept applications or certification recommendations based on 164/190 scores. Anyone currently in an educator preparation program should confirm which exam pathway applies to their timeline - check current TExES 164 exam dates and deadlines before scheduling.
Once you're certified, competency in these four domains is what hiring districts are actually screening for when they post bilingual classroom openings - see TExES 164 jobs for a sense of what that hiring landscape looks like, and whether the certification is worth pursuing if you're still weighing the investment. You can also build domain-specific familiarity with realistic scenario questions through full-length TExES 164 practice tests before committing to an exam date.
Key Takeaway
Registration mechanics and content mastery are equally important - a candidate who understands all four domains but misses the HB2 waiver window or the 2027 retirement deadline still faces avoidable setbacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Officially, one domain - Bilingual Education, weighted 100% - built from Standards II through VI. That domain is broken into four competency areas that candidates commonly refer to as "domains," and your score report reflects performance in each.
Difficulty varies by candidate background, but Domain 2 (acquisition theory) and Domain 3 (literacy assessment) tend to be harder for those without strong applied linguistics or reading-assessment coursework, since both require connecting theory to specific classroom data.
No. Your official result is a single scaled score based on the overall domain (passing score of 240 out of 100-300). The competency breakdown on your score report is diagnostic, helping you see where to focus if you need to retake the exam.
$116 is the standard registration fee. Under House Bill 2, eligible Bilingual Education certification candidates get their first attempt fee waived, along with the $78 certification application fee, though this applies specifically to first attempts for eligible candidates.
It depends on your program timeline. TExES 164 can still be taken through August 31, 2027, and scores can be used for certification through September 1, 2028. Candidates on an active preparation-program timeline before the 165 launch should confirm with their program which exam applies to them.