Exam Guides
Guides for Texas Credit by Exam, SAT and PSAT, AP and AMC — what is on each one, when it is sat, and how to prepare.
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5 Years of UTHS CBE Data: 8th-Grade Science Just Tripled — The Texas Acceleration Decade is Here
We pulled together every UTHS Credit by Exam Annual Report from 2021 through 2025 — five consecutive official datasets covering 2020–21 through 2024–25 testing years. The findings: middle-school CBE volume has nearly doubled in five years, 8th-grade science has nearly tripled (+180%), and pass rates are rising across the board. The Texas acceleration story isn't a 2-year spike. It's a sustained five-year transformation.
Katy ISD Credit by Exam — Parent Guide: 80% Accelerate, 4 Windows, First-Day Rule (2026-2027)
Katy ISD offers CBE at every grade level: 80% for acceleration (no prior instruction), 70% for credit recovery. Four windows/year with strict deadlines. Critical rule: results must arrive by the first day of school for that year to count.
Houston ISD CBE — Parent Guide: 80% Grade 1-5, Max 3 Credits/Admin, 2 Attempts/Subject (2026-2027)
Houston ISD (HISD) CBE lets K-12 students skip a class (acceleration) or earn course credit. Grades 1-5 require 80% on EACH of Language Arts / Math / Science / Social Studies. Max 3 course credits per administration and max 2 attempts per subject during HISD enrollment.
Pflugerville ISD CBE — Parent Guide: 80% Pass, UT-Austin, Campus Counselor (2026-2027)
How Credit by Exam works in Pflugerville ISD: 80% passing standard, max 2 attempts, UT-Austin (UTHS) as the primary exam vendor, and registration through your campus counselor. Practical guide for Central Texas families using CBE for acceleration.
Can a 6th Grader Take a CBE? Getting Ahead in Texas (Grades K–8)
Yes — a ready 6th, 7th, or 8th grader can test out and get ahead in Texas. Here are the two paths (subject acceleration vs. skipping a grade), how to tell if your child is truly ready, and what a young accelerator should actually practice.
What Happens If You Fail a CBE Test in Texas? (And How to Pass the Retake)
A not-passing Credit by Examination isn't a failing grade and rarely the end of the road. Here's exactly what it means, whether you can retake, why the score fell short, and a calm, affordable plan to pass the next attempt.
The Texas CBE Prep Calendar: A Month-by-Month Checklist for Parents
Students who pass a CBE comfortably don't cram — they win on a calendar. Here's the whole Texas CBE prep timeline mapped month by month: when to diagnose, build the base, take timed mocks, and rest — so you always know exactly what to do next.
World History Credit by Examination in Texas — Complete Study Guide (TEKS §113.42)
A complete guide to the World History Credit by Examination (CBE) in Texas — TEKS §113.42 coverage, provider options (UT High School and Texas Tech K-12), the 1.0-credit structure, exam format, and how to prepare with independently authored practice modeled after the official CBE format.
World Geography Credit by Examination in Texas — Complete Study Guide (TEKS §113.43)
A complete guide to the World Geography Credit by Examination (CBE) in Texas — TEKS §113.43 coverage, provider options (UT High School and Texas Tech K-12), the 1.0-credit structure, exam format, and how to prepare with independently authored practice modeled after the official CBE format.