- The TExES 164 has one domain, Bilingual Education, covering Standards II-VI across four competencies.
- You need a scaled score of 240 out of 100-300 to pass, based on 80 selected-response questions.
- Eligible candidates get the $116 exam fee and $78 certification application fee waived on their first attempt under House Bill 2.
- TExES 164 is a supplemental exam paired with the BTLPT 190 for Spanish-track candidates - it never stands alone.
What the TExES 164 Actually Tests
The TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental (164) is not a general teaching exam - it's a narrow, deep assessment of your ability to deliver instruction in two languages inside a Texas classroom. It's governed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the State Board for Educator Certification, and administered through Pearson Evaluation Systems at computer-based testing centers. If you're still sorting out exactly how this credential fits into your certification plan, start with What Is TExES 164? and TExES 164 Certification for the full picture before diving into study strategy.
This guide assumes you already know you need the 164 and want a realistic, exam-specific plan to pass on your first sitting - because under current TEA policy, your first attempt may come at no cost to you at all.
Exam Format, Fees, and Registration Mechanics
Understanding the mechanics of test day removes a huge amount of anxiety. The TExES 164 consists of 80 selected-response questions delivered within a 5-hour appointment window. Some of those questions may be unscored field-test items that TEA uses to calibrate future exams - you won't know which ones, so treat every question as if it counts.
- Exam fee: $116 (waived for eligible first-time candidates under HB 2)
- Certification application fee: $78 (also waived for the same eligible first attempt)
- Passing score: 240 on a 100-300 scale
- Question format: Selected-response only - no constructed-response or written components
- Score report: Shows total performance plus a breakdown by competency, so you can see exactly where points were lost
Before you register, confirm you're eligible to test through an educator preparation program, an out-of-state pathway, a charter route, or certification-by-exam. The exact prerequisites vary by pathway, so review TExES 164 Requirements 2026 before scheduling. For a full cost breakdown that accounts for the HB 2 waiver, see TExES 164 Certification Cost 2026.
Key Takeaway
Because the exam is entirely selected-response, your prep should emphasize recognizing correct pedagogical reasoning among plausible distractors - not memorizing definitions in isolation. Practice questions that mimic this format matter more than flashcards alone.
The Four Domains You Must Master
Here's the structural fact that surprises many candidates: the official TEA framework defines the TExES 164 as having a single domain - Bilingual Education - weighted at 100% of the exam and built on Bilingual Education Standards II-VI. That single domain is subdivided into four competencies that function like domains for study purposes. If you want a competency-by-competency breakdown with sample question types, read TExES 164 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas.
Domain 1: Foundations of Bilingual Education, Bilingualism and the Learning Environment
This competency covers the theoretical and legal foundations of bilingual programs in Texas, program models (dual language, transitional, one-way, two-way), and how to structure a classroom environment that supports biliteracy development.
- Distinguishing additive vs. subtractive bilingual program models
- Legal mandates and Texas-specific program requirements
- Creating culturally responsive, language-rich environments
Domain 2: First-Language and Second-Language Acquisition and Development
This is the linguistics-heavy competency. Expect questions on stages of L1 and L2 acquisition, transfer between languages, and the social and cognitive factors that affect bilingual learners.
- Recognizing stages of second-language acquisition (e.g., silent period, productive stages)
- Cross-linguistic transfer - positive and negative
- Affective and sociocultural factors influencing acquisition
Domain 3: Development and Assessment of L1 Literacy and Biliteracy
This competency tests your ability to evaluate and support literacy growth in a student's first language while building toward biliteracy. Expect scenario questions involving assessment data interpretation.
- Formal and informal literacy assessment tools
- Interpreting L1 and L2 literacy data to plan instruction
- Strategies for transferring literacy skills across languages
Domain 4: Content-Area Instruction in L1 and L2
This is where pedagogy meets subject matter - how to deliver math, science, and social studies content in both languages while scaffolding academic language.
- Scaffolding techniques for content-area academic language
- Sequencing content delivery across L1 and L2 over time
- Aligning content instruction with biliteracy goals
Because these four competencies sit under one weighted domain, your score report will still show performance broken out by competency - so weak spots in any single area are visible and fixable if you catch them in practice testing before exam day.
A Domain-Based Study Timeline
A generic six-week countdown won't help you if it ignores how the TExES 164 is actually weighted. Because all four competencies live inside one 100%-weighted domain, you can't "skip" a competency the way you might deprioritize a low-weight domain on other exams. Instead, sequence your study around cognitive difficulty and how much each competency depends on the ones before it.
Foundations first
- Study Domain 1 program models and legal frameworks - everything else builds on this vocabulary
- Take a diagnostic practice set focused only on foundational terminology
Acquisition theory
- Move into Domain 2 acquisition stages and transfer concepts
- Drill scenario questions distinguishing L1 interference from developmental errors
Literacy and assessment
- Work through Domain 3 assessment interpretation questions
- Practice reading sample data sets and matching them to instructional next steps
Content-area application
- Study Domain 4 scaffolding strategies across subject areas
- Take a full-length 80-question practice test under timed, 5-hour conditions
Integration and review
- Review your competency-level breakdown from practice tests and target the lowest scores
- Retake missed-question sets and review the reasoning behind each correct answer
Spacing your review sessions and revisiting earlier competencies in later weeks (a light form of spaced repetition) helps because the domains are cumulative - Domain 4 content-area scaffolding only makes sense once you're fluent in the acquisition theory from Domain 2. If you want a condensed reference to keep nearby during this final review stretch, bookmark the TExES 164 Cheat Sheet 2026.
Common First-Attempt Pitfalls
Most candidates who don't pass on the first try aren't lacking knowledge - they're lacking exam-specific calibration. A few patterns show up repeatedly:
- Treating the exam as purely theoretical. Many selected-response items are classroom scenarios requiring you to apply a concept, not just recall it.
- Underestimating Domain 3's assessment-heavy items. Candidates who are strong theoretically sometimes stumble on data-interpretation questions because they haven't practiced reading actual assessment excerpts.
- Ignoring competency-level feedback from practice exams. Since your official score report breaks down performance by competency, practicing without tracking competency-level accuracy wastes diagnostic information you'll need later anyway.
- Underestimating time management within the 5-hour appointment. With 80 questions and unscored field-test items mixed in, pacing yourself without over-analyzing every scenario question is essential.
For an honest look at where candidates tend to struggle and why, see How Hard Is the TExES 164 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 and TExES 164 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
Attempt Limits and What Happens If You Don't Pass
TEA allows up to five attempts on a certification exam, with a mandatory 30-day wait between attempts. Beyond five attempts, you need a test-limit waiver from TEA to try again. This isn't a reason to panic, but it is a reason to treat your first attempt seriously rather than as a "practice run" - the HB 2 fee waiver applies specifically to eligible first attempts, so failing and retesting means paying full price for subsequent tries.
If you do need to retest, use your competency breakdown from the failed attempt as your entire study plan for the 30-day gap - don't restart from Domain 1 unless that's genuinely where the deficit is.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total questions | 80 selected-response (may include unscored field-test items) |
| Appointment time | 5 hours |
| Passing score | 240 (scale: 100-300) |
| Domain structure | 1 domain (Bilingual Education, 100%), 4 competencies |
| Exam fee | $116 (waived for eligible first attempts under HB 2) |
| Certification application fee | $78 (waived alongside first-attempt exam fee) |
| Attempt limit | 5 attempts, 30-day wait between; waiver required beyond that |
The 165 Transition: Why Your Timeline Matters
TEA is retiring the 164/190 pathway on a fixed schedule, and this affects how you should plan your study timeline. The replacement, TExES 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental, launches September 1, 2026. August 31, 2027 is the last day candidates can sit for the 164 or the BTLPT 190, and September 1, 2028 is the final date programs can apply or recommend candidates using 164/190 scores.
Remember, the TExES 164 is a supplemental certification - it is not a stand-alone credential, and for the Spanish bilingual pathway it must be paired with the BTLPT 190. If your certification plan depends on this specific pairing, don't let your preparation stretch into the final testing window without a buffer for a possible retake. Review TExES 164 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling to map your prep schedule against these hard cutoffs.
Key Takeaway
If you're within a year or two of the August 31, 2027 cutoff, build in enough time for at least one retake before the deadline. Waiting until the final window leaves no room for the mandatory 30-day gap between attempts.
Who This Certification Actually Serves
The TExES 164 exists to credential teachers delivering bilingual instruction in Texas public schools, primarily in dual-language and transitional bilingual programs at the elementary and secondary levels. Districts hiring for these roles are looking specifically for candidates who hold this supplemental alongside their base certification and the BTLPT 190. If you're weighing whether this certification path fits your career goals, TExES 164 Jobs and Is the TExES 164 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 lay out the practical considerations, and TExES 164 Salary Guide 2026 covers earnings context. For structured coursework leading up to test day, see TExES 164 Training.
Whatever your path into this exam, running full-length timed practice sessions on our TExES 164 practice test platform before test day is the single best way to convert domain knowledge into exam-day performance. Pair that with targeted competency review using practice questions modeled on the actual selected-response format, and you'll walk into the testing center with a realistic sense of pacing rather than guesswork.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. This guide covers only the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental (164), governed by TEA and administered through Pearson Evaluation Systems in Texas. Other credentials with similar numbering are unrelated and have different governing bodies, fees, and content.
Officially one: Bilingual Education, weighted at 100% and covering Standards II-VI. That domain is subdivided into four competencies - Foundations, Acquisition, Literacy/Biliteracy, and Content-Area Instruction - which function as your practical study domains.
A scaled score of 240 out of a 100-300 range, based on your performance across 80 selected-response questions.
Under House Bill 2, eligible Bilingual Education certification candidates have the $116 exam fee and $78 certification application fee waived for their first attempt at exam 164. Confirm your eligibility through your educator preparation program before registering.
Yes, but only through a fixed window. The TExES 165 launches September 1, 2026, and August 31, 2027 is the last day to take the 164 or BTLPT 190. Programs can apply or recommend candidates using 164/190 scores through September 1, 2028.