Social Studies 7-12
Study & Test Strategies

Strategy 1

Submitted by Stewart

Study Strategy

I used a number of various study tools while preparing for this exam, each of which helped me pass on my first attempt. I didn't want to spend a lot of extra money on test prep, so I looked for cheap or free resources. I bought Barron's AP flashcards for both U.S. History and World History. They were a great study tool. Buy them on SlugBooks to get them cheaper than normal. I also used Khan Academy which was a huge help. It helped me refresh myself on Economics and Government as well as history. To review Texas History I simply typed "Texas history textbook" into google and found a number of good resources to study with. Make sure you know key figures in Texas movements like civil rights and suffrage in addition to those from the Texas Revolution. There were a few questions over Psychology that I wasn't prepared for, so if I had it to do again I would spend a little time reviewing basic psych concepts. Also make sure to know the amendments to the constitution, not only just the Bill of Rights but other important ones as well. Lastly I spent the last day or two before my exam on Quizlet using a set of notecards someone had already made, just as a last minute review.

Testing Strategy

I studied for this test for about 3 weeks. I felt ready for it, but it was still fairly difficult. I would advise those studying for this exam to dedicate most of their time to studying the histories as those make up most of the test. Basic knowledge of Econ, government, and psych should get you through the rest of the exam. I spent close to 60 or 70 studying for this test. I would spend a little more time preparing if I had to take it again.

Strategy 2

Submitted by Marcy Higginbotham

Study Strategy

Let me tell you, I was NOT a history major in college, I knew nothing about 90% of this exam before I started studying. I want to teach Psychology so this is what I had to get certified in. I also don't have $100s to spend on study materials! I studied without any expensive programs. I spent about $20 on the AP World History and AP US History flashcards (look them up on Slug Books so you don't have to pay full price). Khan Academy was my BEST FRIEND. I haven't seen this suggested but I spent hours on this site learning everything about US History, World History, and Government. It's completely free and its based on AP curriculum which is what is on this exam. As I stated before, I knew very little before studying. I spent about 150 hours studying total. For economics I watched ACDCLeadership on YouTube which I highly recommend. I also watched several geography videos on YouTube before the exam as well. The number one tip I can give is KNOW EVERYTHING ON THE PREP MANUAL. I don't know of one thing that was on the test that was not on the prep manual. TX History is the toughest to study for because there are not a lot of resources for this subject. However, I googled "Texas History textbook" and the first website to pop up was a teacher's site with an online textbook and online PowerPoints. This was AMAZING for learning TX History. A few days before the exam, I reviewed all of the sections of the exam using Crash Course videos - this wasn't helpful with details but it helps with review. Honestly, I did not use the Baron's AP flashcards as much as I should have. If you buy them make sure you use them! I also recommend looking at previous STARR tests. These will give you a good idea of what TEA wants you to know.

Testing Strategy

The exam was tough. The passing rate is 46%, don't let that scare you but let it push you to study more! The US History and World History sections were fairly easy for me. I was disappointed that there weren't more questions about major events like WWI and WWII and the French Revolution. I studied those for a long time. The TX History section was easy EXCEPT for the questions about more recent events and individuals. Hint: Like I said, know the prep manual. There were several questions about individuals that were listed on the prep manual. Government and Geography were fairly easy. I studied very little for these sections and still did well. Economics was killer. Although I studied, I didn't grasp the concepts very well and that showed on the exam. If I had done better on this section, I would've had an amazing score. The last section is about teaching and is situational-based. You will do just fine on this section. Overall, the exam is what they tell you it will be. There were very few questions that came out of left field. I took 4.5 hours to take this exam. I went through all of the questions 3 times. Use the Mark feature - this is very helpful! It is important to go over the questions again - sometimes questions can be very wordy and you assume its asking for 'x' when it is actually asking for 'y'. Read very carefully. Don't be nervous, if you know the material you will do great!

Strategy 3

Submitted by Michael

Study Strategy

I used the ETS Preparation Manual and free online history videos (including those from Mometrix).

Quizlet is a good resource for Texas History. Make sure you study wars and battles!

Testing Strategy

This was a very difficult test. I left the test center feeling like I failed miserably. However, I passed with a 263.

I am not from Texas, so I did very poorly on the Texas History section. Most of the names I didn't recognize were either minority politicians or people from the women's suffrage movement.

Strategy 4

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I registered for the exam shortly after beginning the Texas Teachers AC program. I had exactly one week to prepare, so I went to my local bookstore and bought the only prep book they had for this certification area, which was XAMonline. It was somewhat pricey and had a few too many typos and formatting errors for what I paid, but the information was up-to-date and highly aligned to the actual test. It also had 3 full-length practice exams, which were probably the most valuable tool available for preparation. I took the first practice exam cold. I double majored in History and Geography as an undergrad, and was disappointed at the amount of information I had forgotten. On that first practice test, I answered about 60% of the questions correctly, with World History and Texas History being my weakest domains, particularly the ancient world history and colonial era/early republic US History competencies. I didn't spend much time reading the rationales for each incorrect answer at that time, I just proceeded to working my way through the book. I created my own flash cards on index cards as I read, paying more attention to the areas in which I felt I was weak, and then I took another practice exam after I finished the History portion of the book. I skipped the geography section since I was pretty confident in that domain, and only skimmed through the economics, government, and social studies skills sections. The weekend before my exam, I started watching the Crash Course World History and US History Videos. They are good for "big ideas" and making connections between events over time and space. I would recommend watching some of the more important ones, especially if you are rusty at history as I was. I kept studying right up until the morning of my test (I tested in the afternoon), and probably spent about 20 hours on the book, and another 10 watching videos. I took every practice test I could find for free, including the ones provided by TEA. These were particularly helpful because they are models of actual test questions and the rationales for the answers were the most comprehensive of any I have seen. I did the practice tests in some very old (2004 or 2005) Princeton Review AP prep books for US History, World History, and Economics that I had stashed away in my home library (a used-book store may be a good place to find these cheap). On the morning of my exam I retook the very first practice test. This time I answered all but 10 questions correctly, so I reviewed the rationales for those questions and felt fairly confident going into the exam. I ended up being pleased with the book I bought, but it was expensive. My best advice is to be honest with yourself about your study habits and how much time you are able to devote to studying on any given day.

Testing Strategy

The exam was about what I expected, and I was prepared so it seemed pretty easy. Had I not been prepared, it would've been the most difficult exam I've ever taken. Easy happens through hard work in this case. The majority of the questions I knew the answer immediately; however, the information in my study guide was the only reason I knew some of the content on the exam, so I highly recommend getting one. As others have said, read the questions carefully and eliminate incorrect answers if you are unsure. Select your best answer, but if you aren't 100% positive, use the "mark" feature and come back to it later. Sometimes inspiration strikes as you read other questions. I ended up marking about 20 questions, and when I went back over them, I spent time carefully considering each response and eliminated any distractors I knew to be incorrect. Most of the time I was able to work myself all the way down to only one possible answer. The questions were worded almost exactly like the practice questions in the XAMonline and Princeton Review AP books. I finished the exam in 2 hours 5 minutes. It took 3 business days to receive my results, and I got a 280 on the first attempt. I missed a total of 13 of the 120 scored questions, spread evenly across the seven domains. These results were very similar to my last attempted practice exam from the XAMonline book.

Strategy 5

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

After reading other posts, I bought the Pass Texes guide. It was VERY broad. I would recommend it as a starter guide to review overall content but I would not rely only on that. I also watched Crash Crouse videos on YouTube which were very helpful and bought the Barrons AP US History and World History Flash cards. These were probably the best tools and I wish I purchased them sooner. I bought the secrets to the Texes flash cards first which were a complete waste of money. The Barrons AP Flash cards were very similar to test questions and I highly recommend them. I also bought a few practice tests on texesprep.com. These were ok, they helped me brush up and explore areas I hadn't studied but the questions were nothing like the actual test, they were MUCH easier. The only thing I would have done differently would be the time I spent. I wish I had spent more time studying so I could review some of my weaker areas.

Testing Strategy

The test was about what I expected. I wish I studied more on Texas history and geography. Some of the geography questions, I felt, came completely from left field. My best advice would be to become familiar with the overall picture of history. Most of the questions are asking about causes and effects and relations of major events. I only studied for about 3 weeks, about 20 hours per week, and I passed on the first try. I am generally a good and fast test taker but this one was tough. It took be about 3 hours, but I am glad I took my time! Take your time, reread questions, utilize the "mark" function and you will do great!!!

Strategy 6

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I started to really study about a week before my test and devoted around 40 hours to studying total. To study, I used the TexES Social Studies 7-12 ‘Study Guide’, Barron’s AP flashcards for World History and U.S. History, Crash Courses’ videos for World History and U.S. History (free on Youtube), and TexEsPrep.com’s 5-practice test package. In order to study, I divided the Crash Course videos and flashcards into sections (Civil War, Reconstruction, World War I, etc…) and would immediately quiz myself with the flashcards after I had watched the videos for that section, then I would add on the next section and review with the flashcards from previous sections. I made a review for myself towards the end out of the criteria for the test that is on the TexEs website. This worked well for me, but I wish that after I had watched a few videos and reviewed my flashcards I had gone in and input the information into my review instead of waiting till the end and having to re-watch/re-learn a lot of the material. The evening and morning before the test I made sure to re-watch “important” Crash Course videos (Empires, the Crusades, WWII, Civil War, Texas, etc…), review important historical figures (Charlemagne, Genghis Khan, Gandhi, etc…), and ensured that I knew what each amendment to the Constitution was and what each article in the Constitution was about. Doing this really saved my butt as it reminded me of a lot of knit-pick information that ended up being on the test! I think my study method worked incredibly well but I wish I had spent more time on the Texas history, Economics, and Geography sections as those ended up being where I scored the lowest on the actual test.

Testing Strategy

The test was about what I expected. The information on it was very broad and, honestly, there were a lot of questions I didn’t know the answer to but was able to narrow down because I knew enough about the time period/civilization. As someone else suggested, look at the big picture and how it fits into the overall scheme of things. This helped me narrow down many of the questions that I had no clue on. Moreover, read the questions VERY carefully! There were quite a few questions that almost tricked me and I would have missed if I had not re-read them a few times. Specifically, with questions about text excerpts make sure you understand what they are asking; multiple times, I would choose an answer that applied to the overall test and not just the exert (which is what they were looking for). I ended up passing by a small margin (but hey, I’ll take it). I attribute that to my lack of study time. If I were you, would definitely give myself at least a month to study before the test instead of cramming at the last minute. Overall, I would just say look into AP materials like Barron’s Flashcards, Crash Course videos, and pay attention to what is specifically mentioned in the TexEs ‘Study Guide’. Study hard, read carefully, take your time, and you’ll do great!

Strategy 7

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I used the TExES Social Studies 7-12 Secrets Study Guide. It was helpful for what was going to be on the test generally, but not great for specific information. I also listened to A Podcast History of Our World which is available on the Podcast app for Iphones, I HIGHLY recommend that. It takes you all the way up to Alexander the great as of now (July 2014), but they add a new one every few weeks. I got a 24/25 on World History because of this podcast and also John Greens Youtube Crash Course History of our world and US History. My advice is to start 4-6 weeks out, study some everyday for 2-3 weeks. After that take a practice test, go through your practice test and make a note of each question you missed or were unsure about (don't guess on the practice test), go back and study those competencies until they are strengths and then take another practice test. I also HIGHLY recommend buying some of the texesprep.com practice tests, I used 5 total and they are very much like the actual test and 100 questions each! I used 5 because I kept studying the competencies I missed and retaking until I easily passed twice in a row. I took the actual test once and made a 260

Testing Strategy

The test was pretty much what I expected, just trust your knowledge and what you studied, if you prepared you'll be fine. I was honestly really worried about the test and ended up passing easily (260). I knew probably 50-60% of them right off the bat, and maybe had to totally guess on 5%. The rest of them I could narrow down to get the answer. Make sure you understand the question and know about time periods in history. There were several questions that I did not know the right answer, but because of the date and location given in the question I could eliminate 2-3 of the wrong answers and get the question by process of elimination, so make sure you AT LEAST know general themes of the civilizations in different areas throughout history. The Texas history was the hardest for me bc I grew up in Louisiana thus never learned it. Use the Texas historical website and make sure you know all about the causes and people of the Texas Revolution. My last bit of advice is make sure you go back and review information that you think you definitely learned awhile back a few days before the test. Make sure you review dates and specific details about things you consider "easy", because you will need to know them for the test and don't want to get tricked on an easy question because you don't know a specific date or name. You really need to have a good overall knowledge of all the worlds history, econ, government, ect... and you need very detailed knowledge of US history, texas history, ect... TAKE PRACTICE TESTS!!!

Strategy 8

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I used the practice test manuals from the tea - ets site. Has about 40 or 50 questions. Also take the practice tests on all the other social studies tests like history and social studies 8-12. Watch all of John Green's Crash Course YouTube videos on US and world history. Look up fun trivia quiz games, a great online quiz resource website. Take govenment tests, Econ tests, psychology, texas history. Learn all about the Alamo. Look up the Texas state historical society. Many online Texas quizzes there will help you study. Know reasons for Revolutionaly War, Civil War, Alamo, WW I and II. Know major Supreme Court cases, constitutional amendments, significant technology advances, Silk Road, Charlemagne, different Texas American Indian tribes, important women in Texas history. Also used certifyteacher.com online test. Ok resource but only about 300 ques. I think it was still worth the $60.

Testing Strategy

Relax. You know more than you think you do. Go with your best big picture answer. I passed on the first try, which surprised me because I haven't been in a history class for 20 years. But I love history. I didn't have very good high school history teachers. I was a journalism major and history minor in college. Most of my knowledge is "self taught." I passed with a 265. I finished in about 2 hours and 30 minutes. You get five hours to take the test. 140 questions. I got a perfect score on world history section, thanks to crash course videos. Test is very hard and broad. I was surprised that I passed because i was so unsure of many of my responses. Like i said- go w big picture answers. Think "why was this ___ important in the history of the world, US, Texas" Unless you were/are a recent history major, allow yourself about 40 or 50 hours of study time. I got my results online about 24 hrs after taking the test. I had an email notice about test score results being ready. Good luck.

Strategy 9

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I used the "Pass the Texes" by Ed Publishing and Consulting. It was useful but a little vague. It's also out of date. So when you review the domains, look on line at the TEA website as they are no longer current in this publication. I took notes on each section and expanded a bit by looking on line. This worked well. In the description of each Domain, they list names to know. These people weren't always discussed in the book and had to be looked up separately so make sure you read through the domains (on the TEA website) and make a list of the people/events listed. Also, 7th grade SS comes as an addendum. In the APPENDIX of the addendum there is a list of individuals that you should learn about. I didn't see this until the day before the test and was scrambling to get the names researched/learned. When you are researching individuals, it's not enough to know what they were concerned about, make sure you know specific accomplishments, as well. Some questions are pretty detailed. I passed with a 275 on the first try.

Testing Strategy

The questions are fairly detailed but they offer a lot of context clues that you can use to narrow things down. For example, they asked a detailed question about the content of a book (the author was listed in the domain). I knew the author, what they'd written, and what the book was about, but I hadn't read the book. The responses were related to the content of the book so at first I thought I couldn't answer. However, they listed the date of the publication of the book in the question and it helped me narrow the possibilities. Read the questions carefully and consider the information given to you in each question. The history portions of the Pass the Texes were good, but the Social Studies sections were extremely incomplete. Learn your economics, learn your biomes, population graphs, psychology, etc! This info wasn't discussed AT ALL in the Pass the Texes book and there were a lot of questions--it was more advanced than anticipated. Break a leg.

Strategy 10

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

Don't underestimate the value of GOOD study materials. I sampled a bunch and was dissatisfied with most. Here's what worked for me: finding and taking practice exams! Certify Teacher was a disappointment because there are so few question (350!)and after a couple of full timed test, you've memorized all the questions; IMO not worth the money. Take ETS practice tests and End of Course exams for the different subject areas. Next, find a good source to review all the content for this exam: flashcards worked best for me. I didn't like Momentix (TExES Secrets) flashcards; the content was weak to non-existent! Then I discovered (drumroll please) AP subject area flashcards! I bought a box for each subject (Barron's) - a little pricey ($18/box) but well worth it! I saw the exact wording and content on the exam! Also, for US and World history Crash Course on YouTube is a must! For Texas history check out a high school text from the curriculum library of your local university and read it. If I had to do it again I would avoid all commercial TExES prep material and go with AP flashcards. I took about a month to prepare, that allowed for the inevitable disruptions of ordinary life and actual time studying.

Testing Strategy

I have read comments where people said it was the hardest test they have ever taken and I think that is because of the broad content. That scared me so I took preparation very seriously. During the exam I felt familiar with all the content; even when I didn't know the answer I could make good eliminations. I left the exam feeling pretty positive about the experience - I knew if I failed the first time that I just needed to review my content and try again! I did well - a 275 on the first try. I will say it again: get the AP (advanced placement) study material - if I had to guess I would say that the questions come from this material (certainly Crash Course is based on AP material). The AP material hits all the topics that need to be covered and in the depth they need to be covered! Besides, if you plan to teach this subject the AP test prep material is an investment that will come in handy in the future. I felt that the test was pretty straight forward; not easy but certainly not too hard. I finished in 2 hours by sticking with a question until I selected my final answer. Kudos to the examiners because the questions were very clear and concise. I don't think I am the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I hard far more angst preparing for the test than in actually taking it. So, Good luck! You can do it!

Strategy 11

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I used exactly the same strategy as I did with the SPED exam: I first downloaded the practice manual from the ETS website and used it as my study map. I create one folder for each of the 7 domains. Furthermore, I create sub-folders within the domains that were my competencies. I went through competencies, realizing that the introductory part of every competency represented the basic knowledge expectation, while subsequent passages (under a, b, c, d...) are more detailed explanations of the introductory part. The Google and YouTube (especially crash courses) were my only sources in searching for the facts and knowledge, while the competencies were my study map. I tried to take notes, as much as possible, and I created the notes within each domain/competency. Also, I kept in mind the big picture of human development, comparison, and causes and effects.

Testing Strategy

The test was easier that I expected. I completed it in 2 hours, without taking any breaks. Some questions were incredibly easy; where there was only one answer that made sense (usually there are two). Read the question carefully. Pay attention to information from the questions, the time frame, and the region. If I had spent more time on reading the questions or had taken a break, I believe I would have scored much higher than 257. Nonetheless, I was happy to find out that I passed another content exam. Good luck!!!

Strategy 12

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I have a BS in Social Science, an MBA in Finance, and am currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education. I used Texas Prep Tests and a XAM Online Book. I did not find any value from the Crash Course videos and the AP Flashcards were really not as helpful as I had hoped. Because of that, I wanted to come here and post to this forum, as I do not believe that a good representation of what to expect has been given. I studied for approximately one month, with about 60-70 hours total invested. I also utilized Quizlet and a search Engine to take free practice tests (8-12) for Texas. I consistently scored in the low 60's on these tests, so do not be discouraged.

Testing Strategy

The test was extremely tough because of how ambiguous the questions are. If you are going into this test trying to memorize people's names and date's, you're going to really struggle on this test. I would say that less than 8 of my questions had to do with identifying someone's name and none of my questions had to do with identifying dates. If you are studying 'who' or 'when', you're absolutely going to fail. Your focus needs to be 'why' and 'what happened' as a result of this occurring. I know that some will read this and be stubborn and want to study hard facts. I'm here to tell you, that would be an absolute mistake! You need to know era's and what happened during those era's and why. Specifically, focus on things such as: religion, trade (who has what), and democracy. Finally, there may be variations or different versions of this test. My test did not follow the Domain's listed in the book. I did not have any questions pertaining to the first quarter of my XAM online book. The situation questions in the practice exam for this book are what you will likely encounter as part of this test. Also, there will be at least two answers that can be considered correct. It's your job to decipher which one makes more sense in the 'grand scheme' of things. Good luck!

Strategy 13

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I only studied for 3 days, but practically every hour for 3 days. I went through the competencies and wrote out every single event, person, war, etc. I wrote on flashcards the names of these things and on the flip side the definition and its cause. I also watched crash course videos which didn't really help me because my brain was really holding everything I learned through flashcards and just trying to memorize in general. If I did it again, I would start studying earlier.

Testing Strategy

I had the most difficult time taking my test. I even knew and were familiar with some subjects, but did not know the material DEEP enough. Study world geography and economics, these will surprise you. If you do not have a great overview of the different SS areas, I would take the History 7-12 (233) test.

Strategy 14

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I studied for about three months, off and on. I've been out of college for several years so I needed a really good refresher. Like others, I used a study guide from XAM, Crash Course World History & Economics videos, and the ETS study guides. These were all very helpful. The Crash Course videos kept things a bit fun and less monotonous. I also used the Bullock Museum website for Texas History.

Testing Strategy

I majored in Government and minored in Psychology, so those sections were pretty easy. I was quite rusty in World and Texas History. During the exam, some questions were so easy and I absolutely knew the answer. Then others, I had no clue! The questions aren't 'tricky', but it is important to read them fully and remember what specific areas it's asking for. Some answers may be true statements, but they do not pertain to the question. I passed with 265 on the first attempt.

Strategy 15

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I only used three sources to study for my exam: xamonline, the TEA manual, and John Green's Crash Course Youtube videos. I studied about 50 hours total. It's unfortunate that the topics are so broad which makes it difficult to know what to focus on and what to memorize. Xamonline's study guide is quite comprehensive and it has roughly 285 unique questions, from what I can gather. Their online interactive tests were a bit confusing and I memorized the answers after a few attempts but they were still were incredibly useful. The TEA practice manual has the outline of all the competencies and domains you need to know. In addition, it has 48 practice questions with detailed answers. It's a good place to start. Lastly, John Green's Crash Course youtube videos were very helpful in summarizing the main points, especially for World History and US History (no TX history). I would recommend watching these videos after you finish studying each section.

Testing Strategy

The test has 140 questions and you get 5 hours to finish. It took me about 3.5 hours before I submitted my test. You get to mark questions so you can revisit them later, which was a big help. I made 258 on my first try and I took my last history class over a decade ago. My advice is to read the questions very carefully. The way they are worded makes a big difference. Really focus on what they're asking and disregard the trick answers. These are often answers that are associated with the topic in the question but is not what the question is about. Take your time and good luck!

Strategy 16

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I used Xamoline, took a few tests from the STAAR and End of Course Exam for World History, US History and Geography. I read the entire book of Xamoline and took the interactive practice test that associated with it. I bought CertifyTeacher.com and did the exam 3 days before the certification test. I barely passed certify teacher but I was confident going into the test. I recommend doing as much practice questions as possible and try to understand why you got the questions wrong. I believe if you can pass certify teacher exam then you should be able to pass TExES 232 Certification. I studied for about 2 months. Make sure you know WWI, WWII, Silk Road, David Camp, Suez Canal, Amendments, how a bill becomes a law, & especially Economics which was the part I did worst on. Crash Course on Youtube is a great place to start for almost all domains on this test except Texas History and teaching Social Studies. Study as much as you can and be confident prior to the test.

Testing Strategy

The test was 140 questions and for me, the wording was difficult to understand. It took me an hour to answer 70 questions so about three hours total for the entire exam. Going through the test I felt like I knew about 40% and guessed on the rest. I suggest to review all the questions. You're given five hours for the test, my suggestion is to use as much time as you think you need. Take a break if you need to. I passed on the first try by three points!

Strategy 17

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I used the flash cards recommended by others, and the XAM Online study guide. The XAM Online guide I used was from 2008, which I bought at a half priced bookstore. I assumed that the material would not have changed much between 2008-2015, but what is on the actual test does change. I recommend getting the current study guide, as that will better reflect what will be on the test. I went through the flash cards twice, concentrating especially in my weak areas (Texas History and Economics).

Testing Strategy

The test was more difficult than I expected, as it had some material in it that was not covered in the flash cards or the (outdated) study guide. Studying diligently paid off, as I passed the exam on the first try with a 272. I went through all the questions, marking the ones I was unsure of, and then went through all the questions a second time. I changed just a few answers while reviewing the exam. The best advice I can give is to study, study, study and then take your time during the exam. Good luck!

Strategy 18

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

To study for the test, I order the Xamonline study book, like others on this site suggested. It was pretty comprehensive, but was a slow read. After I finished the entire book, I went online and took past STAAR tests in every subject. I believe this is what helped me the most.

Testing Strategy

After receiving my results, I noticed I did not do very well on the U.S. History and Texas History portion. This is mostly factual knowledge, rather than common sense, like geography and economics. Make sure you know specific people/ names and how they relate to history.

Strategy 19

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

Before I took the test I looked here for the study tips. I saw that the Xamonline and John Greene crash course videos were the materials of choice for a lot of people. I used those resources without taking many notes and did fine.

Testing Strategy

The test requires you to read and reread every question. A lot of the questions won't have an obvious answer at first glance. If you focus, the test won't be too hard for you. You know more than you think.

Strategy 20

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

My first step to study for this exam is to go to the TEA website and pull up the Social Studies 232 prep manual. I didn't realize how handy this guide was to prepping for the test and to uncover exactly what to prepare for. This booklet will be your outline for studying all of the content areas for the test. Keep in mind you will need to study seven content areas for this exam which are broken down into more detailed domains. One thing to note is there is no single source to review for the entire exam. It is up to you to pull together materials that cover the areas listed in the TEA manual. This will help identify where you need to study the most. The materials I purchased include Barrons AP US History flash cards, Barrons AP World History flash cards, Barrons AP Government flash cards, and Barrons AP Human Geography cards. I was able to get my hands on a geography book from my local high school. On the web, I went to YouTube and bookmarked John Green's Crash Course videos on US, World History, and Government. I also felt the need to have a resource that was a guide to cover the content areas so I purchased the Pass the TExES prep book which is available for download as a PDF.

Testing Strategy

Right off the bat my confidence level started to sink as I marked more and more questions to go back to. As I worked through the exam, I realized that the test follows the order of the domains listed on the prep book. There are no tricks to use for taking the test other than using the "mark" feature and knowing when you have transitioned into a new content area. Surprisingly enough I passed, and to my delight, I wound up getting a 270 on the test. Even after all of the studying, make ample time for Texas History and try not to worry.

Strategy 21

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I read multiple comments about the nature of the test, how hard it was, etc.. I took my preparation very seriously as a result. I used Xamonline and would highly suggest this resource. I took notes on each section of the Xamonline prep materials. This helped me retain the info that I learned. I would advise you to take notes each day to retain what you have studied. I bought the Barrons AP World flashcards, but honestly didn't go through all of them as I felt they were probably too detailed for the TeXes. I also purchased the 'Pass the Texes', but would not suggest it to anyone. It was too vague to solely rely on it. I watched the Green Crash Course videos as well and they were very helpful. Pay particular attention to Eco and Geography, especially if that was not your major or area of study. Total study time was about 50-60 hours and that was right on for what I needed.

Testing Strategy

Relax, breathe, and read the question thoroughly. I knew right off the bat the correct answer to about 80% of the questions. On those I did not know, I was able to eliminate at least two answers fairly quickly. As I took the test I tried not to let any previous question I was unsure of beat me on the next one. I suggest to leave the previous questions behind and move forward. I left feeling confident and finished in about 2.5 hours. I wished I had studied Geography and Eco a bit more, these were my lowest areas. I ended up passing fairly easily with a 261 on first try. Good luck and trust your instincts as you read each question.

Strategy 22

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

For this test, I used the Prep Manuals provided by the TExES website in conjunction with internet searches. I also watched numerous Crash Course videos on YouTube. I was a history major in college so some of the information was already embedded in my brain. I took each competency area and studied the different terms and concepts individually. I searched for everything online and took out important ideas (who, what, when, where, why, how). As far as Crash Course videos, I watched those I relevant to competencies in the manual and took notes, altogether some 60 videos. Texas History was the most difficult for me to study, being that I'm not from Texas and much of the information is new to me.

Testing Strategy

I'd already taken the test once and did not pass(238) and I didn't study for it. After studying, I passed with a 257 having the most difficulty with Texas History. After taking the test twice, I learned that the questions are easier than they seem. Just familiarize yourself with all of the competencies and think about the questions and the answers will be clear to you.

Strategy 23

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

For this test I bought the study guide that XAMonline.com has for it. I was happy with it overall, because it did a good job of covering the material that I would expect to encounter on the exam. I also felt that the length devoted to each section in the book accurately reflected the relative frequency of questions from that competency on the exam. The three full length practice exams and rationales for each answer were a bonus. I also used Barron's AP US History flashcards and it was a nice refresher. It was not necessary by any means because the exam doesn't require such specific knowledge. I had also purchased their flashcards for Psychology, Economics, World History, and US Government and Politics. Additionally, I bought the actual books for Psychology and Economics because I was worried that I wasn't sharp enough in those areas. I returned all of the above because I didn't set aside time to review them and the XAM book made me feel like studying them all would be overkill. I was content with my study preparation for the exam. I maybe would have begun studying sooner than three days before the exam so I could be a bit more relaxed but my methods were suitable for me.

Testing Strategy

The exam was fairly straightforward and what I expected for it based off the XAM book. I finished it in an hour and I didn't feel blindsided by any of the questions asked. The Texas history section was the only part that was a bit tricky for me but that's because I've recently moved to Texas and am originally from the Midwest. My first bit of exam-taking advice is to be realistic about where you are with the content leading up to the exam. If you feel good after your preparation, you're likely to do well on the exam. Be sure to read each question carefully before answering to make sure you don't miss any questions that you know the answer to. If you don't know an answer, don't worry about it. The option to mark questions you don't know so you can come back to them at the end is helpful. While taking my exam I recognized there were several questions I didn't know the answer to at all. I tried to choose an answer that seemed reasonable and I didn't let it have any impact on the rest of the exam. In conclusion, don't let one difficult question create difficulties for you throughout the rest of the exam. Each new question is a blank slate and a chance for success. I earned a 277 to pass it. Good Luck!

Strategy 24

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I took the test three times, and when I passed it I knew it was because I had used the best study guides for me. The first time I took the test I only had 2 weeks to study and I only used 240 tutoring. I took the test and I knew the study guide I used was not good. It was very broad and it didn't cover all the competencies. I then bought a Xamonline book and Barrons AP flash cards. The Xamonline was a very good study guide, but when I failed the test by 5 points I knew I needed just one more study guide on top of that book. I bought Certify Teacher and it gave me more information on things I already knew and also came with flash cards. So, when I studied for the third test I used the Xamonline and the Certify Teacher study guides and I passed!

Testing Strategy

The test is hard, but if you take it slow and really think about the questions you will be fine. Flag the questions you don't know the answer to. I flagged a lot of questions, but the second time around I was able to find an answer. Preparing for the test required a lot of study time; I needed a month or more.

Strategy 25

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I ordered study guides. I recommend a thick book, the ones I have seen do have some errors but are 95% reliable and have good practice test. The thin ones and study cards were not helpful to me and were a waste of time and money, skip them! This exact blog pointed out the Certify Teacher website and Crash Course World History and American History on YouTube (I also recommend Crash Course Economics). Thank you for that, you saved me! I took three months to study for this test. Certify Teacher is worth every dollar. They give great study plans and realistic questions in their practice test. It is at times repetitive, but it isn't a bad thing, it helps you keep on yourself on the concepts you need for the test. YouTube Crash Courses were also a life saver for me on this test. I was weakest on Texas History and I studied a lot on the early History, but fell short on current History, which showed on my detailed results. Find a resource on this you need it! I felt confident that three months was enough, but truth be told it wasn't and if I had to do it again, I would have studied longer and been way beyond up to date with current events.

Testing Strategy

Taking the test was simple enough. I followed the rules and brought my passport. This was a morning test for me. I was well rested and ready! I hate listening to others during a test, so I unnecessarily put on the thick headphones just to block out hearing people breathe. Then I got hit with literally the hardest test of my life. I am not trying to frighten you, but this is nothing like what you are going to teach! There are very minimal broad strokes concepts. This is a detail oriented test that you have to know the concepts and reasons behind (I mentioned Crash Course Econ was helpful) in order to come to the proper conclusions. So yeah we all know, say a Revolution ... Make sure you know ALL about it, like historian conclusion know: this happened because of this and that which resulted in this. This is not a general dates and general overview of why! Don't expect major point overviews, you won't get it. Know Africa, Asia and Europe past and current history. Even the Geography is about concepts; yes you can read a map, but you need to understand what it is representing (you get to label it).The Government was easy to me, but I know my amendments and understand division of powers and who does what. READ the question, the tiniest word can change your answer, especially on the teacher research questions! I wrote down why I chose each answer, so when I looked it over before submitting I remembered my logic. It took me four hours to take this test. It exhausted me! It took four days to get my results, I passed the first time with a 253! Thank you for this blog! It pointed out Certify Teacher and Crash Courses, which if you look they are the strong winners to people passing! You guys are the best! Thank you all!

Strategy 26

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I did a lot of review on Quizlet. I looked at the Domains that are provided for the test on ETS and then created a Quizlet index card for every single subject. This really helped me for the Texas History portion, specifically knowing all of the politicians, explorers, battles, treaties, etc. For Economics and Geography, I would suggest going to YouTube and watching videos on how to solve graph problems, if you aren't very strong with that. This helped me also solve the sentence problems that are asked.

Testing Strategy

I had to take the test twice. I did not take Texas history very seriously in my studying process the first time and was really let down when I missed passing by 4 questions. The second time I took the exam, I improved in Texas History and in United States History. While taking the exam, I answered roughly 90-100 questions confidently and then had the rest as my absolute best guess. Absolutely study for this. It is very achievable!

Strategy 27

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I studied for about 9 months on and off for this test. I used multiple methods like Certify Teacher test, Quizlet and 2 Study Books. I would say the method that helped the most was Quizlet as it had about 1900 terms that were needed to know for this test. I studied the Quizlet for the last 3 weeks before I took the test, about 5 hours a week. I rescheduled the test 2 times because I felt I wasn't ready to take it. I spent the bulk of time studying World History and Texas History. I hadn't taken Texas History since 7th grade, so I was very unfamiliar with it. I majored in History in college and still felt like I had a hard time doing the practice tests.

Testing Strategy

I felt some parts were easier than I expected, but some parts were very hard and I felt unprepared. I took my time and marked every question i wasn't 100% sure about to come back to (about half the test). I felt confident about World History, Texas History and Government. I struggled the most in Psychology and Economics. I felt like I was 50/50 on whether I had passed when I left. I was happy to receive my scores 4 days later to see I passed with a 240!

Strategy 28

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

For test preparation, I purchased the XAMOnline study guide and online program. It has some minor grammatical issues, but overall I would recommend. It gives great detail, encompassing each domain and competency you should be well versed in. The online practice tests and quizzes helped also. John Green's Crash course series on World History, U.S. History, Government, Economics were very informative and definitely attention grabbing to supplement studying. Using Quizlet helps too. Lastly, I purchased Certify Teacher. This was a great tool, that to me, best simulated the real test. It has small tests and quizzes you can build and additional full length practice tests that give you a great snap shot of your performance. It pulls from a pool of hundreds of questions so as not to give you test items that you commit to memory but new ones that test your knowledge base. I also purchased Barrons AP Flash cards from Barnes and Noble in World History which were great. Check out the History Channel and The American History Channel. Lucky for me, they were running programming surrounding the Civil War and Nazi Germany/Hitler and WW2, which the test covers. I studied for almost 4 months. Reading, doing flash cards and watching videos for at least an hour a day. This gave me enough time plan around regular life events that would occasionally disrupt my routine.

Testing Strategy

Once you take and pass practice tests and quizzes decisively, you are ready for your test. I studied all the up until right before the test; took a few pages of notes in and browsed the areas I knew I was not strong. It was pretty much what I expected. I was comfortable and I felt prepared, but didn't know what to think of my results. Use the mark figure that allows you to move on from questions you aren't sure of. Don't spend lots of time on questions you don't know, it can be detrimental to your flow. It helps to eliminate the obvious wrong answers, at least theres a 50/50 chance of getting it right then. Sometimes answering another questions can spark your memory and help you return to the unanswered questions. Definitely know Texas History, World and US History. Economics and Social Studies foundations and research were my weakest areas. Surprisingly, I scored near perfect on those and came up 17/25 on US which I was sure I would ace. Nonetheless, don't panic. Take a break if necessary. I finished in about 4 hours. I checked my answers before submitting. Took the test on a Thursday and got the results Tuesday morning. Passed with a 253 on the first attempt. Prepare and study and all should be well. Good luck!

Strategy 29

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I only gave myself about a month to study for the test. The first thing I did was print out the practice test on the ETS website and used my results as a guide for what material I needed to focus on. I purchased the XAMOnline Study Guide and created flashcards for each Domain. The XAMOnline study guide was extremely helpful; do all of the practice tests in the back! The week before my exam I studied the areas I was still unsure about, then watched as many Crash Course videos as possible. The Crash Course videos are a great overview, but I wouldn't rely on these as your primary source of study material.

Testing Strategy

I walked out of the test feeling completely defeated. I was positive I had failed, but ended up passing with a 243. I'm fairly confident that if I had more time to study, and had studied with more depth, I would have passed with a better score. I felt good about World and US History, but I underestimated the depth of the other Domains. Texas History surprised me in being one of the most difficult sections, along with the few questions on Psychology and Sociology. My biggest advice is take your time. I went through each question I did know and went back to the ones I didn't.

Strategy 30

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I went to the public library and checked out the Barron's AP guides in all of the subject areas and took the diagnostic tests. I then used my results to determine what areas within a subject area I needed to focus on. I checked out books from the library on Texas History and Economics. I watched a video series on YouTube on Economics and also some of the crash course videos. I found some Texas historical websites online for Texas History resources and watched documentaries. For Economics, I suggest "The Instant Economist" by Timothy Taylor and the ACDC Leadership series on YouTube; exact graphs from the series appeared on my exam. For Texas History, I read "The Mexican Revolution" by Louise Slavicek and "13 Days to Glory" by Lon Tinkle. I also used the quiz archive on the Texas State Historical Site.

Testing Strategy

When I walked out of the exam, I felt like I had done a p retty good job, but didn't know if I passed or not. I took the test on a Tuesday and received my results on Friday; I scored 258 with my highest score being in Economics. My exam seemed to have multiple questions on the Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire. There were only 3 questions relating to Psychology. My test breakdown showed that U.S. History was the most heavily tested (25 questions as opposed to 15 or 16 questions in the other areas). I also noted that the majority of questions were WWII, or earlier. There wasn't a lot of recent History on my exam. If I had to do it again, I would focus a little more on American History, because it is the bulk of the test.

Strategy 31

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I mainly used CertifyTeacher.com. I bought the software; Itook the quizzes and tests until I knew all the information. On every single question, I read the rational behind the answer. I also bought the Xamonline book, which wasn't written very well, but it had great supplemental material if I needed further explanation on a topic. I used John Green's crash course History videos on YouTube. Lastly, I went on TEA's website and pulled off old STAAR tests. Most of the questions weren't anything like what is on the TExES, but it helps you establish a time line and refreshes your brain. I studied for about a month, 6-10 hrs a week.

Testing Strategy

Taking the test I was very nervous and I thought I failed. You should definitely know the amendments, the New Deal, and native american tribes along with a general timeline of US history. I passed with a 246 on the first try.

Strategy 32

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I primarily used the Pass the TExES book (purchased PDF version online), Barron's Flash Cards, and John Green's Crash Course videos. I felt prepared when I took the exam and was confident going into it. I studied around 60 hours for a month before taking the test.

Testing Strategy

When I arrived at the test, I was confident and ready to start. After I started, I felt defeated and was spending a lot of time on each question deciding on answers. The answers were easy to eliminate two answers, but the two possible correct answers were difficult to decide between on many questions. I spent almost 3 hours on the test and left certain that I had failed the test. I took the test on a Saturday morning and received my scores on the following Tuesday. I was absolutely shocked and ecstatic when I received my scores and passed with a 251. Many people who reported they passed said they felt like they failed, while many who felt like they passed, failed. So, FEELING like you failed after the test may not be a bad thing after all! Read the questions, don't get hung up on one question (mark and come back to it), and read every choice to know that you have deciphered what they mean/ask exactly. Good luck!

Strategy 33

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

The most important first step I took and you can take to help study for this test is to download the state test prep booklet on the TEA website. This was the most important material I used for the test; I cannot emphasize this enough. This is the state telling you exactly what you need to study for. Don't waste your time studying until you make sure you know the domains and standards of the test. Go to the library and get books on areas you are weak on. Here is a list of books that were very helpful: “Gone to Texas” by Randolph B. Campbell for Texas History, “U.S. History: The Easy Way” and “World History: The Easy Way” By Charles Frazee for U.S. and World History, “Economics For Dummies” for Economic basics and vocabulary, “AP U.S. Government” By: The Princeton Review for U.S. Government. Make sure you study the Social Sciences as well; I didn't find the best book materials for this domain. I used Greene's Crash Courses on YouTube to give you an overview of the subject matter. Watch documentaries on Netflix of History subjects. I bought study programs online as well. I used CertifyTeacher.com for my review and practice tests. I would score about a 280 passing score on the practice tests. These practice tests will give you some indication of how well you will do. Give yourself a month or more to study for the test.

Testing Strategy

Use as much time as possible on the test. I used probably 4 of my 5 hours to take the test. Seriously focus on what the question is asking. If you don't know the right answer, mark it with the flag and return to it when you review it. I reviewed the tests probably 3 times before I submitted it. I passed with a 272.

Strategy 34

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

Texes Social Studies 7-12 (232) Secrets: Texes Social Studies 7-12 by Wynne; Story of the World; Crash Course Economics

Testing Strategy

The test was as I expected. I did not pass any of the practice exams, and I took many. I studied pretty much every day for about 2.5-3 months. I spent more time on World History than I probably needed to. I didn't need much study in US History and I felt that was the easiest part of the test. I should have spent more time studying Texas History; I'm not from this state and therefore had not grown up knowing that information. It was the hardest section for me. I did poorly, only answering about half of the questions correctly. The general test strategy of narrowing down the answer to 2 was helpful to me. I skipped over questions that I wasn't sure about and moved on to those I knew to gain confidence through the test and possibly jog my memory with the correct answer. Economics seemed to be the category I was left with at the end. I didn't spend a lot of time on each question and did not go back and change any answers. I finished in a little less than an hour. I was certain I failed the test, however passed on my first attempt with a 268. All it takes is 240, so I tried to focus on knowing a variety of information and tried not to worry about doing it perfectly.

Strategy 35

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I started studying for the Social Studies 7-12 about a month before my exam. I only used the "Pass the TExES" study guide by Ed Publishing, as it was the cheapest one. It was not very long and it only gave quick summaries. It did not go into very much detail in Texas History or the Social Studies learning skills. The practice exam was not a full exam and only had around 40 questions. I got a 235 on my first test, and did not pass by only 2 questions. Since I took the test in the beginning of March, the next one available was not until the end of April. If anyone is taking their test in March, make sure to pass it because that is the busiest time and it can be difficult retaking it quickly. The second time I bought the Xamonline study guide, and it was amazing. It had a lot of detail and the material in the book was on the test. I passed my test the second time, and I believe if I would have bought Xamonline the first time, I would have passed it. The best advice I can give is to buy the Xamonline study guide; it will help a ton!

Testing Strategy

I graduated with Honors from Texas A&M and the Social Studies 7-12 exam was the hardest exam I have ever taken. Know names! Most of the History questions are knowing who did what. If you can learn names, you will be fine. For the Government section, make sure you know all of your constitution amendments. For Economics, make sure you study different economic policies and theories. There are a lot of questions about knowing which region has a certain climate. Lastly, for the Social Studies skills, knowing the difference between a primary source and a secondary source is huge.

Strategy 36

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I spent around 2 months studying for the exam using the Social Studies 7-12 preparation manual as my study guide. This manual, found at ETS website, narrows down what you have to focus on to obtain sufficient knowledge to pass the test by domains and competency. Using Google and YouTube (crash courses) I went through competencies and in some cases took notes.

Testing Strategy

The test was, in some instances, easier that I was expected. Along some historical factual knowledge, the test requires a great amount of understanding and having a broad pictures of human civilization development. I made the mistake of not taking a single brake. Although I passed my test (257 points), I did much better on the first half of the test. I took the test on Monday and got the results on Friday.

Strategy 37

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I, like many others, used the TExES Xam online book. I essentially read it like a novel, and made a flash card of all of the words in bold. I also utilized Keith Hughes' YouTube channel; he has hundreds of videos on Government, World History, US History, etc. Many people have suggested John Green's videos, and he's great; however, I found Keith Hughes to be far more more comprehensive; further, he dedicates a majority of his time detailing with the cause and effects of each major issue. I read the book and listened to his videos as much as I could, while I worked around the house, mowed the yard, on my commutes, etc. It helped me quite a bit. Do not bother with times, dates, etc. Though important, this test is far more about the causes of things and the affects of things. Think about how people/places were effected by certain events.

Testing Strategy

I was stressed the day of the test. I had not been doing all that well on my practice exams, so don't let that bring you down; rather, use that to show you where you need the most help. I took nearly the entire 5 hours to take the exam. I marked the questions I did not know confidently and went back to answer them later. Once I had finished I reviewed the exam again, and again. It's a ton of work the day of the test, but it's certainly worth it. If and when you leave the exam room frustrated that you failed, don't panic. I was certain I had failed, but I didn't. I had passed on my first attempt.

Strategy 38

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

The materials I used were: TExES Social Studies 7-12 (232) Study Guide: Test Prep and Practice Questions for the TExES (232) Exam, Quizlet, Barron's AP American History flashcards, Princeton Review's AP World History flashcards, Crash Course World History, World History 2, American History, Economics, Psychology, and Sociology, History Channel's Texas Revolution documentary (on YouTube), CertifyTeacher software, and the TEA study manual. I studied approximately 1-3 hours per day, 5-6 times for week, for about 6 weeks. I started by reading through the Cirrus prep book. There's a lot of helpful mini quizzes throughout the readings, as well as two practice tests at the end of the book. After that, I tried to target my studies to my weaker areas. I started watching Crash Course videos starting about 4 weeks out. I rewatched videos on the subjects I felt I was weaker on the week of the test. Two weeks before my test, I got an account to CertifyTeacher, which I would highly recommend. The software is a little dated and the test bank wasn't as extensive as I would have liked, but it touched on all the major topics and provided great details in answer reviews. Their practice test were also most similar to the real thing. I did practice tests almost every day for those two weeks, until I knew every answer and the reasoning perfectly. I also got the AP flashcards a week before the test; they were helpful for quick review and gave me a good count of what I knew and didn't. I did Quizlet a little bit, but it didn't help me as much as I would have preferred. Lastly, I thoroughly reviewed the TEA study manual. That is the guide they use to shape the test, so I made sure I at least had a basic knowledge or understanding of every competency they listed.

Testing Strategy

The test was easier than I expected, however I know it was because of the time I spent studying. There is no way I would have done so well if I hadn't studied. I wouldn't say there is any "trick" to passing this test. you just have to buckle down and study. When I took the test, I went through it once, answered everything I felt confident about, and marked everything I wasn't sure about (about 30 questions). After I went through the test, I went back to the questions I marked and answered everything as best as I could. A lot of them had two answers I thought could be right, and I just tried to use the context and any knowledge I had about the subject to answer it as best I could. After I went through all the marked questions, I took a short break. I didn't need the break, but it was good to refresh myself for a few minutes and give my brain a break. I highly recommend taking a break. After the break I reviewed all 140 questions again then submitted my test. In all, it took about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Many of the questions were VERY specific. If you didn't know the person or event, you basically had to guess. This was most apparent in the Texas History portion. Do not underestimate the difficultly of this domain. Study all the people and events on the TEA study manual, especially the more unknown names. I would not rely on general knowledge about Sam Houston, Stephen F Austin, the Alamo, etc. Know early and modern figures: civil rights leader, conquistadors, women leaders, governors, etc. For Econ, know concepts like supply/demand, inflation, currency. Know the important theories in Psych and Sociology, but keep in mind, this is a very small portion of the test. World and American history were pretty self-explanatory; study according to the TEA manual, and you should be fine. Many of the bigger themes or events were not on my test, so make sure you don't glaze over the lesser known events and people. Everyone studies differently, so try to tailor your own studying to your preferred style of learning. Use the TEA manual, read, watch videos, listen to podcasts. Don't just know what the event is, know why it happened and what it caused. That is important in the application of knowledge on the test. Give yourself enough study time before the test, buckle down and apply yourself, and you should do fine. Must haves: large study prep book, TEA study manual, flash cards, Crash Course videos. Highly recommended: CertifyTeacher.

Strategy 39

Submitted by Texas Teachers

Study Strategy

I used the Crash Course Videos, the Certify Teacher site, and the XAM Study book. Crash Course videos are great for getting context and after watching all for World and US History, I went back and listened to a few again to refresh after doing some practice tests. The XAM Study Book had a lot of good facts crammed in and the Certify Teacher website I used to get at practice questions. For me, the thing that helped the best was to answer a bunch of practice questions, figure out why I got some wrong, and study names/concepts in answers that I didn't recognize. The XAM and the Certify Teacher program were great and getting me enough practice questions where I felt that I had covered pretty much everything. The Crash Course videos do take some time to get through and don't seem as helpful as simply doing a bunch of practice questions--but I think the context they give is very helpful and jumping right into the practice questions without some overview seemed a bit weird. One other thing that helped was reading through the competencies and looking up any concepts that you aren't familiar with. I'd say you could get ready for this in 2-4 weeks if you had a good chunk of each day to devote.

Testing Strategy

The test was consistent with the practice questions I had seen. There were a couple of questions that seemed to have no right answer, but the majority of them made sense to me. I felt confident while taking the test that I was getting the opportunity to demonstrate the things I'd learned. I had time to go back through all the ones that I had marked again, and then to simply go back through the whole test again. 5 hours is a really long time; I finished in about 3. I struggled with some of the Geography concepts, climate and terrain concepts were not ones I reviewed in detail but this didn't hurt me much. I ended up receiving a 281 and scored consistently in each domain area. You can definitely do this.

Strategy 40

Study Strategy

Don't underestimate the value of GOOD study materials. I sampled a bunch and was dissatisfied with most. Here's what worked for me: finding and taking practice exams! Certify Teacher was a disappointment because there are so few question (350!)and after a couple of full timed test, you've memorized all the questions; IMO not worth the money. Take ETS practice tests and End of Course exams for the different subject areas. Next, find a good source to review all the content for this exam: flashcards worked best for me. I didn't like Momentix (TExES Secrets) flashcards; the content was weak to non-existent! Then I discovered (drumroll please) AP subject area flashcards! I bought a box for each subject (Barron's) - a little pricey ($18/box) but well worth it! I saw the exact wording and content on the exam! Also, for US and World history Crash Course on YouTube is a must! For Texas history check out a high school text from the curriculum library of your local university and read it. If I had to do it again I would avoid all commercial TExES prep material and go with AP flashcards. I took about a month to prepare, that allowed for the inevitable disruptions of ordinary life and actual time studying.

Testing Strategy

I have read comments where people said it was the hardest test they have ever taken and I think that is because of the broad content. That scared me so I took preparation very seriously. During the exam I felt familiar with all the content; even when I didn't know the answer I could make good eliminations. I left the exam feeling pretty positive about the experience - I knew if I failed the first time that I just needed to review my content and try again! I did well - a 275 on the first try. I will say it again: get the AP (advanced placement) study material - if I had to guess I would say that the questions come from this material (certainly Crash Course is based on AP material). The AP material hits all the topics that need to be covered and in the depth they need to be covered! Besides, if you plan to teach this subject the AP test prep material is an investment that will come in handy in the future. I felt that the test was pretty straight forward; not easy but certainly not too hard. I finished in 2 hours by sticking with a question until I selected my final answer. Kudos to the examiners because the questions were very clear and concise. I don't think I am the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I hard far more angst preparing for the test than in actually taking it. So, Good luck! You can do it!

Strategy 41

Study Strategy

I used the "Pass the Texes" by Ed Publishing and Consulting. It was useful but a little vague. It's also out of date. So when you review the domains, look on line at the TEA website as they are no longer current in this publication. I took notes on each section and expanded a bit by looking on line. This worked well. In the description of each Domain, they list names to know. These people weren't always discussed in the book and had to be looked up separately so make sure you read through the domains (on the TEA website) and make a list of the people/events listed. Also, 7th grade SS comes as an addendum. In the APPENDIX of the addendum there is a list of individuals that you should learn about. I didn't see this until the day before the test and was scrambling to get the names researched/learned. When you are researching individuals, it's not enough to know what they were concerned about, make sure you know specific accomplishments, as well. Some questions are pretty detailed. I passed with a 275 on the first try.

Testing Strategy

The questions are fairly detailed but they offer a lot of context clues that you can use to narrow things down. For example, they asked a detailed question about the content of a book (the author was listed in the domain). I knew the author, what they'd written, and what the book was about, but I hadn't read the book. The responses were related to the content of the book so at first I thought I couldn't answer. However, they listed the date of the publication of the book in the question and it helped me narrow the possibilities. Read the questions carefully and consider the information given to you in each question. The history portions of the Pass the Texes were good, but the Social Studies sections were extremely incomplete. Learn your economics, learn your biomes, population graphs, psychology, etc! This info wasn't discussed AT ALL in the Pass the Texes book and there were a lot of questions--it was more advanced than anticipated. Break a leg.

Strategy 42

Study Strategy

I used the practice test manuals from the tea - ets site. Has about 40 or 50 questions. Also take the practice tests on all the other social studies tests like history and social studies 8-12. Watch all of John Green's Crash Course YouTube videos on US and world history. Look up fun trivia quiz games, a great online quiz resource website. Take govenment tests, Econ tests, psychology, texas history. Learn all about the Alamo. Look up the Texas state historical society. Many online Texas quizzes there will help you study. Know reasons for Revolutionaly War, Civil War, Alamo, WW I and II. Know major Supreme Court cases, constitutional amendments, significant technology advances, Silk Road, Charlemagne, different Texas American Indian tribes, important women in Texas history. Also used certifyteacher.com online test. Ok resource but only about 300 ques. I think it was still worth the $60.

Testing Strategy

Relax. You know more than you think you do. Go with your best big picture answer. I passed on the first try, which surprised me because I haven't been in a history class for 20 years. But I love history. I didn't have very good high school history teachers. I was a journalism major and history minor in college. Most of my knowledge is "self taught." I passed with a 265. I finished in about 2 hours and 30 minutes. You get five hours to take the test. 140 questions. I got a perfect score on world history section, thanks to crash course videos. Test is very hard and broad. I was surprised that I passed because i was so unsure of many of my responses. Like i said- go w big picture answers. Think "why was this ___ important in the history of the world, US, Texas" Unless you were/are a recent history major, allow yourself about 40 or 50 hours of study time. I got my results online about 24 hrs after taking the test. I had an email notice about test score results being ready. Good luck.

Strategy 43

Study Strategy

I used the TExES Social Studies 7-12 Secrets Study Guide. It was helpful for what was going to be on the test generally, but not great for specific information. I also listened to A Podcast History of Our World which is available on the Podcast app for Iphones, I HIGHLY recommend that. It takes you all the way up to Alexander the great as of now (July 2014), but they add a new one every few weeks. I got a 24/25 on World History because of this podcast and also John Greens Youtube Crash Course History of our world and US History. My advice is to start 4-6 weeks out, study some everyday for 2-3 weeks. After that take a practice test, go through your practice test and make a note of each question you missed or were unsure about (don't guess on the practice test), go back and study those competencies until they are strengths and then take another practice test. I also HIGHLY recommend buying some of the texesprep.com practice tests, I used 5 total and they are very much like the actual test and 100 questions each! I used 5 because I kept studying the competencies I missed and retaking until I easily passed twice in a row. I took the actual test once and made a 260

Testing Strategy

The test was pretty much what I expected, just trust your knowledge and what you studied, if you prepared you'll be fine. I was honestly really worried about the test and ended up passing easily (260). I knew probably 50-60% of them right off the bat, and maybe had to totally guess on 5%. The rest of them I could narrow down to get the answer. Make sure you understand the question and know about time periods in history. There were several questions that I did not know the right answer, but because of the date and location given in the question I could eliminate 2-3 of the wrong answers and get the question by process of elimination, so make sure you AT LEAST know general themes of the civilizations in different areas throughout history. The Texas history was the hardest for me bc I grew up in Louisiana thus never learned it. Use the Texas historical website and make sure you know all about the causes and people of the Texas Revolution. My last bit of advice is make sure you go back and review information that you think you definitely learned awhile back a few days before the test. Make sure you review dates and specific details about things you consider "easy", because you will need to know them for the test and don't want to get tricked on an easy question because you don't know a specific date or name. You really need to have a good overall knowledge of all the worlds history, econ, government, ect... and you need very detailed knowledge of US history, texas history, ect... TAKE PRACTICE TESTS!!!

Strategy 44

Study Strategy

I started to really study about a week before my test and devoted around 40 hours to studying total. To study, I used the TexES Social Studies 7-12 ‘Study Guide’, Barron’s AP flashcards for World History and U.S. History, Crash Courses’ videos for World History and U.S. History (free on Youtube), and TexEsPrep.com’s 5-practice test package. In order to study, I divided the Crash Course videos and flashcards into sections (Civil War, Reconstruction, World War I, etc…) and would immediately quiz myself with the flashcards after I had watched the videos for that section, then I would add on the next section and review with the flashcards from previous sections. I made a review for myself towards the end out of the criteria for the test that is on the TexEs website. This worked well for me, but I wish that after I had watched a few videos and reviewed my flashcards I had gone in and input the information into my review instead of waiting till the end and having to re-watch/re-learn a lot of the material. The evening and morning before the test I made sure to re-watch “important” Crash Course videos (Empires, the Crusades, WWII, Civil War, Texas, etc…), review important historical figures (Charlemagne, Genghis Khan, Gandhi, etc…), and ensured that I knew what each amendment to the Constitution was and what each article in the Constitution was about. Doing this really saved my butt as it reminded me of a lot of knit-pick information that ended up being on the test! I think my study method worked incredibly well but I wish I had spent more time on the Texas history, Economics, and Geography sections as those ended up being where I scored the lowest on the actual test.

Testing Strategy

The test was about what I expected. The information on it was very broad and, honestly, there were a lot of questions I didn’t know the answer to but was able to narrow down because I knew enough about the time period/civilization. As someone else suggested, look at the big picture and how it fits into the overall scheme of things. This helped me narrow down many of the questions that I had no clue on. Moreover, read the questions VERY carefully! There were quite a few questions that almost tricked me and I would have missed if I had not re-read them a few times. Specifically, with questions about text excerpts make sure you understand what they are asking; multiple times, I would choose an answer that applied to the overall test and not just the exert (which is what they were looking for). I ended up passing by a small margin (but hey, I’ll take it). I attribute that to my lack of study time. If I were you, would definitely give myself at least a month to study before the test instead of cramming at the last minute. Overall, I would just say look into AP materials like Barron’s Flashcards, Crash Course videos, and pay attention to what is specifically mentioned in the TexEs ‘Study Guide’. Study hard, read carefully, take your time, and you’ll do great!

Strategy 45

Study Strategy

After reading other posts, I bought the Pass Texes guide. It was VERY broad. I would recommend it as a starter guide to review overall content but I would not rely only on that. I also watched Crash Crouse videos on YouTube which were very helpful and bought the Barrons AP US History and World History Flash cards. These were probably the best tools and I wish I purchased them sooner. I bought the secrets to the Texes flash cards first which were a complete waste of money. The Barrons AP Flash cards were very similar to test questions and I highly recommend them. I also bought a few practice tests on texesprep.com. These were ok, they helped me brush up and explore areas I hadn't studied but the questions were nothing like the actual test, they were MUCH easier. The only thing I would have done differently would be the time I spent. I wish I had spent more time studying so I could review some of my weaker areas.

Testing Strategy

The test was about what I expected. I wish I studied more on Texas history and geography. Some of the geography questions, I felt, came completely from left field. My best advice would be to become familiar with the overall picture of history. Most of the questions are asking about causes and effects and relations of major events. I only studied for about 3 weeks, about 20 hours per week, and I passed on the first try. I am generally a good and fast test taker but this one was tough. It took be about 3 hours, but I am glad I took my time! Take your time, reread questions, utilize the "mark" function and you will do great!!!

Strategy 46

Study Strategy

I registered for the exam shortly after beginning the Texas Teachers AC program. I had exactly one week to prepare, so I went to my local bookstore and bought the only prep book they had for this certification area, which was XAMonline. It was somewhat pricey and had a few too many typos and formatting errors for what I paid, but the information was up-to-date and highly aligned to the actual test. It also had 3 full-length practice exams, which were probably the most valuable tool available for preparation. I took the first practice exam cold. I double majored in History and Geography as an undergrad, and was disappointed at the amount of information I had forgotten. On that first practice test, I answered about 60% of the questions correctly, with World History and Texas History being my weakest domains, particularly the ancient world history and colonial era/early republic US History competencies. I didn't spend much time reading the rationales for each incorrect answer at that time, I just proceeded to working my way through the book. I created my own flash cards on index cards as I read, paying more attention to the areas in which I felt I was weak, and then I took another practice exam after I finished the History portion of the book. I skipped the geography section since I was pretty confident in that domain, and only skimmed through the economics, government, and social studies skills sections. The weekend before my exam, I started watching the Crash Course World History and US History Videos. They are good for "big ideas" and making connections between events over time and space. I would recommend watching some of the more important ones, especially if you are rusty at history as I was. I kept studying right up until the morning of my test (I tested in the afternoon), and probably spent about 20 hours on the book, and another 10 watching videos. I took every practice test I could find for free, including the ones provided by TEA. These were particularly helpful because they are models of actual test questions and the rationales for the answers were the most comprehensive of any I have seen. I did the practice tests in some very old (2004 or 2005) Princeton Review AP prep books for US History, World History, and Economics that I had stashed away in my home library (a used-book store may be a good place to find these cheap). On the morning of my exam I retook the very first practice test. This time I answered all but 10 questions correctly, so I reviewed the rationales for those questions and felt fairly confident going into the exam. I ended up being pleased with the book I bought, but it was expensive. My best advice is to be honest with yourself about your study habits and how much time you are able to devote to studying on any given day.

Testing Strategy

The exam was about what I expected, and I was prepared so it seemed pretty easy. Had I not been prepared, it would've been the most difficult exam I've ever taken. Easy happens through hard work in this case. The majority of the questions I knew the answer immediately; however, the information in my study guide was the only reason I knew some of the content on the exam, so I highly recommend getting one. As others have said, read the questions carefully and eliminate incorrect answers if you are unsure. Select your best answer, but if you aren't 100% positive, use the "mark" feature and come back to it later. Sometimes inspiration strikes as you read other questions. I ended up marking about 20 questions, and when I went back over them, I spent time carefully considering each response and eliminated any distractors I knew to be incorrect. Most of the time I was able to work myself all the way down to only one possible answer. The questions were worded almost exactly like the practice questions in the XAMonline and Princeton Review AP books. I finished the exam in 2 hours 5 minutes. It took 3 business days to receive my results, and I got a 280 on the first attempt. I missed a total of 13 of the 120 scored questions, spread evenly across the seven domains. These results were very similar to my last attempted practice exam from the XAMonline book.

Strategy 47

Study Strategy

For this test I bought the study guide that XAMonline.com has for it. I was happy with it overall, because it did a good job of covering the material that I would expect to encounter on the exam. I also felt that the length devoted to each section in the book accurately reflected the relative frequency of questions from that competency on the exam. The three full length practice exams and rationales for each answer were a bonus. I also used Barron's AP US History flashcards and it was a nice refresher. It was not necessary by any means because the exam doesn't require such specific knowledge. I had also purchased their flashcards for Psychology, Economics, World History, and US Government and Politics. Additionally, I bought the actual books for Psychology and Economics because I was worried that I wasn't sharp enough in those areas. I returned all of the above because I didn't set aside time to review them and the XAM book made me feel like studying them all would be overkill. I was content with my study preparation for the exam. I maybe would have begun studying sooner than three days before the exam so I could be a bit more relaxed but my methods were suitable for me.

Testing Strategy

The exam was fairly straightforward and what I expected for it based off the XAM book. I finished it in an hour and I didn't feel blindsided by any of the questions asked. The Texas history section was the only part that was a bit tricky for me but that's because I've recently moved to Texas and am originally from the Midwest. My first bit of exam-taking advice is to be realistic about where you are with the content leading up to the exam. If you feel good after your preparation, you're likely to do well on the exam. Be sure to read each question carefully before answering to make sure you don't miss any questions that you know the answer to. If you don't know an answer, don't worry about it. The option to mark questions you don't know so you can come back to them at the end is helpful. While taking my exam I recognized there were several questions I didn't know the answer to at all. I tried to choose an answer that seemed reasonable and I didn't let it have any impact on the rest of the exam. In conclusion, don't let one difficult question create difficulties for you throughout the rest of the exam. Each new question is a blank slate and a chance for success. I earned a 277 to pass it. Good Luck!

Strategy 48

Study Strategy

For this test, I used the Prep Manuals provided by the TExES website in conjunction with internet searches. I also watched numerous Crash Course videos on YouTube. I was a history major in college so some of the information was already embedded in my brain. I took each competency area and studied the different terms and concepts individually. I searched for everything online and took out important ideas (who, what, when, where, why, how). As far as Crash Course videos, I watched those I relevant to competencies in the manual and took notes, altogether some 60 videos. Texas History was the most difficult for me to study, being that I'm not from Texas and much of the information is new to me.

Testing Strategy

I'd already taken the test once and did not pass(238) and I didn't study for it. After studying, I passed with a 257 having the most difficulty with Texas History. After taking the test twice, I learned that the questions are easier than they seem. Just familiarize yourself with all of the competencies and think about the questions and the answers will be clear to you.

Strategy 49

Study Strategy

I read multiple comments about the nature of the test, how hard it was, etc.. I took my preparation very seriously as a result. I used Xamonline and would highly suggest this resource. I took notes on each section of the Xamonline prep materials. This helped me retain the info that I learned. I would advise you to take notes each day to retain what you have studied. I bought the Barrons AP World flashcards, but honestly didn't go through all of them as I felt they were probably too detailed for the TeXes. I also purchased the 'Pass the Texes', but would not suggest it to anyone. It was too vague to solely rely on it. I watched the Green Crash Course videos as well and they were very helpful. Pay particular attention to Eco and Geography, especially if that was not your major or area of study. Total study time was about 50-60 hours and that was right on for what I needed.

Testing Strategy

Relax, breathe, and read the question thoroughly. I knew right off the bat the correct answer to about 80% of the questions. On those I did not know, I was able to eliminate at least two answers fairly quickly. As I took the test I tried not to let any previous question I was unsure of beat me on the next one. I suggest to leave the previous questions behind and move forward. I left feeling confident and finished in about 2.5 hours. I wished I had studied Geography and Eco a bit more, these were my lowest areas. I ended up passing fairly easily with a 261 on first try. Good luck and trust your instincts as you read each question.

Strategy 50

Study Strategy

My first step to study for this exam is to go to the TEA website and pull up the Social Studies 232 prep manual. I didn't realize how handy this guide was to prepping for the test and to uncover exactly what to prepare for. This booklet will be your outline for studying all of the content areas for the test. Keep in mind you will need to study seven content areas for this exam which are broken down into more detailed domains. One thing to note is there is no single source to review for the entire exam. It is up to you to pull together materials that cover the areas listed in the TEA manual. This will help identify where you need to study the most. The materials I purchased include Barrons AP US History flash cards, Barrons AP World History flash cards, Barrons AP Government flash cards, and Barrons AP Human Geography cards. I was able to get my hands on a geography book from my local high school. On the web, I went to YouTube and bookmarked John Green's Crash Course videos on US, World History, and Government. I also felt the need to have a resource that was a guide to cover the content areas so I purchased the Pass the TExES prep book which is available for download as a PDF.

Testing Strategy

Right off the bat my confidence level started to sink as I marked more and more questions to go back to. As I worked through the exam, I realized that the test follows the order of the domains listed on the prep book. There are no tricks to use for taking the test other than using the "mark" feature and knowing when you have transitioned into a new content area. Surprisingly enough I passed, and to my delight, I wound up getting a 270 on the test. Even after all of the studying, make ample time for Texas History and try not to worry.

Strategy 51

Study Strategy

Before I took the test I looked here for the study tips. I saw that the Xamonline and John Greene crash course videos were the materials of choice for a lot of people. I used those resources without taking many notes and did fine.

Testing Strategy

The test requires you to read and reread every question. A lot of the questions won't have an obvious answer at first glance. If you focus, the test won't be too hard for you. You know more than you think.

Strategy 52

Study Strategy

To study for the test, I order the Xamonline study book, like others on this site suggested. It was pretty comprehensive, but was a slow read. After I finished the entire book, I went online and took past STAAR tests in every subject. I believe this is what helped me the most.

Testing Strategy

After receiving my results, I noticed I did not do very well on the U.S. History and Texas History portion. This is mostly factual knowledge, rather than common sense, like geography and economics. Make sure you know specific people/ names and how they relate to history.

Strategy 53

Study Strategy

I used the flash cards recommended by others, and the XAM Online study guide. The XAM Online guide I used was from 2008, which I bought at a half priced bookstore. I assumed that the material would not have changed much between 2008-2015, but what is on the actual test does change. I recommend getting the current study guide, as that will better reflect what will be on the test. I went through the flash cards twice, concentrating especially in my weak areas (Texas History and Economics).

Testing Strategy

The test was more difficult than I expected, as it had some material in it that was not covered in the flash cards or the (outdated) study guide. Studying diligently paid off, as I passed the exam on the first try with a 272. I went through all the questions, marking the ones I was unsure of, and then went through all the questions a second time. I changed just a few answers while reviewing the exam. The best advice I can give is to study, study, study and then take your time during the exam. Good luck!

Strategy 54

Study Strategy

I used Xamoline, took a few tests from the STAAR and End of Course Exam for World History, US History and Geography. I read the entire book of Xamoline and took the interactive practice test that associated with it. I bought CertifyTeacher.com and did the exam 3 days before the certification test. I barely passed certify teacher but I was confident going into the test. I recommend doing as much practice questions as possible and try to understand why you got the questions wrong. I believe if you can pass certify teacher exam then you should be able to pass TExES 232 Certification. I studied for about 2 months. Make sure you know WWI, WWII, Silk Road, David Camp, Suez Canal, Amendments, how a bill becomes a law, & especially Economics which was the part I did worst on. Crash Course on Youtube is a great place to start for almost all domains on this test except Texas History and teaching Social Studies. Study as much as you can and be confident prior to the test.

Testing Strategy

The test was 140 questions and for me, the wording was difficult to understand. It took me an hour to answer 70 questions so about three hours total for the entire exam. Going through the test I felt like I knew about 40% and guessed on the rest. I suggest to review all the questions. You're given five hours for the test, my suggestion is to use as much time as you think you need. Take a break if you need to. I passed on the first try by three points!

Strategy 55

Study Strategy

I only used three sources to study for my exam: xamonline, the TEA manual, and John Green's Crash Course Youtube videos. I studied about 50 hours total. It's unfortunate that the topics are so broad which makes it difficult to know what to focus on and what to memorize. Xamonline's study guide is quite comprehensive and it has roughly 285 unique questions, from what I can gather. Their online interactive tests were a bit confusing and I memorized the answers after a few attempts but they were still were incredibly useful. The TEA practice manual has the outline of all the competencies and domains you need to know. In addition, it has 48 practice questions with detailed answers. It's a good place to start. Lastly, John Green's Crash Course youtube videos were very helpful in summarizing the main points, especially for World History and US History (no TX history). I would recommend watching these videos after you finish studying each section.

Testing Strategy

The test has 140 questions and you get 5 hours to finish. It took me about 3.5 hours before I submitted my test. You get to mark questions so you can revisit them later, which was a big help. I made 258 on my first try and I took my last history class over a decade ago. My advice is to read the questions very carefully. The way they are worded makes a big difference. Really focus on what they're asking and disregard the trick answers. These are often answers that are associated with the topic in the question but is not what the question is about. Take your time and good luck!

Strategy 56

Study Strategy

I studied for about three months, off and on. I've been out of college for several years so I needed a really good refresher. Like others, I used a study guide from XAM, Crash Course World History & Economics videos, and the ETS study guides. These were all very helpful. The Crash Course videos kept things a bit fun and less monotonous. I also used the Bullock Museum website for Texas History.

Testing Strategy

I majored in Government and minored in Psychology, so those sections were pretty easy. I was quite rusty in World and Texas History. During the exam, some questions were so easy and I absolutely knew the answer. Then others, I had no clue! The questions aren't 'tricky', but it is important to read them fully and remember what specific areas it's asking for. Some answers may be true statements, but they do not pertain to the question. I passed with 265 on the first attempt.

Strategy 57

Study Strategy

I only studied for 3 days, but practically every hour for 3 days. I went through the competencies and wrote out every single event, person, war, etc. I wrote on flashcards the names of these things and on the flip side the definition and its cause. I also watched crash course videos which didn't really help me because my brain was really holding everything I learned through flashcards and just trying to memorize in general. If I did it again, I would start studying earlier.

Testing Strategy

I had the most difficult time taking my test. I even knew and were familiar with some subjects, but did not know the material DEEP enough. Study world geography and economics, these will surprise you. If you do not have a great overview of the different SS areas, I would take the History 7-12 (233) test.

Strategy 58

Study Strategy

I have a BS in Social Science, an MBA in Finance, and am currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education. I used Texas Prep Tests and a XAM Online Book. I did not find any value from the Crash Course videos and the AP Flashcards were really not as helpful as I had hoped. Because of that, I wanted to come here and post to this forum, as I do not believe that a good representation of what to expect has been given. I studied for approximately one month, with about 60-70 hours total invested. I also utilized Quizlet and a search Engine to take free practice tests (8-12) for Texas. I consistently scored in the low 60's on these tests, so do not be discouraged.

Testing Strategy

The test was extremely tough because of how ambiguous the questions are. If you are going into this test trying to memorize people's names and date's, you're going to really struggle on this test. I would say that less than 8 of my questions had to do with identifying someone's name and none of my questions had to do with identifying dates. If you are studying 'who' or 'when', you're absolutely going to fail. Your focus needs to be 'why' and 'what happened' as a result of this occurring. I know that some will read this and be stubborn and want to study hard facts. I'm here to tell you, that would be an absolute mistake! You need to know era's and what happened during those era's and why. Specifically, focus on things such as: religion, trade (who has what), and democracy. Finally, there may be variations or different versions of this test. My test did not follow the Domain's listed in the book. I did not have any questions pertaining to the first quarter of my XAM online book. The situation questions in the practice exam for this book are what you will likely encounter as part of this test. Also, there will be at least two answers that can be considered correct. It's your job to decipher which one makes more sense in the 'grand scheme' of things. Good luck!

Strategy 59

Study Strategy

I used exactly the same strategy as I did with the SPED exam: I first downloaded the practice manual from the ETS website and used it as my study map. I create one folder for each of the 7 domains. Furthermore, I create sub-folders within the domains that were my competencies. I went through competencies, realizing that the introductory part of every competency represented the basic knowledge expectation, while subsequent passages (under a, b, c, d...) are more detailed explanations of the introductory part. The Google and YouTube (especially crash courses) were my only sources in searching for the facts and knowledge, while the competencies were my study map. I tried to take notes, as much as possible, and I created the notes within each domain/competency. Also, I kept in mind the big picture of human development, comparison, and causes and effects.

Testing Strategy

The test was easier that I expected. I completed it in 2 hours, without taking any breaks. Some questions were incredibly easy; where there was only one answer that made sense (usually there are two). Read the question carefully. Pay attention to information from the questions, the time frame, and the region. If I had spent more time on reading the questions or had taken a break, I believe I would have scored much higher than 257. Nonetheless, I was happy to find out that I passed another content exam. Good luck!!!

Strategy 60

Study Strategy

I spent around 2 months studying for the exam using the Social Studies 7-12 preparation manual as my study guide. This manual, found at ETS website, narrows down what you have to focus on to obtain sufficient knowledge to pass the test by domains and competency. Using Google and YouTube (crash courses) I went through competencies and in some cases took notes.

Testing Strategy

The test was, in some instances, easier that I was expected. Along some historical factual knowledge, the test requires a great amount of understanding and having a broad pictures of human civilization development. I made the mistake of not taking a single brake. Although I passed my test (257 points), I did much better on the first half of the test. I took the test on Monday and got the results on Friday.

Strategy 61

Study Strategy

I started studying for the Social Studies 7-12 about a month before my exam. I only used the "Pass the TExES" study guide by Ed Publishing, as it was the cheapest one. It was not very long and it only gave quick summaries. It did not go into very much detail in Texas History or the Social Studies learning skills. The practice exam was not a full exam and only had around 40 questions. I got a 235 on my first test, and did not pass by only 2 questions. Since I took the test in the beginning of March, the next one available was not until the end of April. If anyone is taking their test in March, make sure to pass it because that is the busiest time and it can be difficult retaking it quickly. The second time I bought the Xamonline study guide, and it was amazing. It had a lot of detail and the material in the book was on the test. I passed my test the second time, and I believe if I would have bought Xamonline the first time, I would have passed it. The best advice I can give is to buy the Xamonline study guide; it will help a ton!

Testing Strategy

I graduated with Honors from Texas A&M and the Social Studies 7-12 exam was the hardest exam I have ever taken. Know names! Most of the History questions are knowing who did what. If you can learn names, you will be fine. For the Government section, make sure you know all of your constitution amendments. For Economics, make sure you study different economic policies and theories. There are a lot of questions about knowing which region has a certain climate. Lastly, for the Social Studies skills, knowing the difference between a primary source and a secondary source is huge.

Strategy 62

Study Strategy

Texes Social Studies 7-12 (232) Secrets: Texes Social Studies 7-12 by Wynne; Story of the World; Crash Course Economics

Testing Strategy

The test was as I expected. I did not pass any of the practice exams, and I took many. I studied pretty much every day for about 2.5-3 months. I spent more time on World History than I probably needed to. I didn't need much study in US History and I felt that was the easiest part of the test. I should have spent more time studying Texas History; I'm not from this state and therefore had not grown up knowing that information. It was the hardest section for me. I did poorly, only answering about half of the questions correctly. The general test strategy of narrowing down the answer to 2 was helpful to me. I skipped over questions that I wasn't sure about and moved on to those I knew to gain confidence through the test and possibly jog my memory with the correct answer. Economics seemed to be the category I was left with at the end. I didn't spend a lot of time on each question and did not go back and change any answers. I finished in a little less than an hour. I was certain I failed the test, however passed on my first attempt with a 268. All it takes is 240, so I tried to focus on knowing a variety of information and tried not to worry about doing it perfectly.

Strategy 63

Study Strategy

The most important first step I took and you can take to help study for this test is to download the state test prep booklet on the TEA website. This was the most important material I used for the test; I cannot emphasize this enough. This is the state telling you exactly what you need to study for. Don't waste your time studying until you make sure you know the domains and standards of the test. Go to the library and get books on areas you are weak on. Here is a list of books that were very helpful: “Gone to Texas” by Randolph B. Campbell for Texas History, “U.S. History: The Easy Way” and “World History: The Easy Way” By Charles Frazee for U.S. and World History, “Economics For Dummies” for Economic basics and vocabulary, “AP U.S. Government” By: The Princeton Review for U.S. Government. Make sure you study the Social Sciences as well; I didn't find the best book materials for this domain. I used Greene's Crash Courses on YouTube to give you an overview of the subject matter. Watch documentaries on Netflix of History subjects. I bought study programs online as well. I used CertifyTeacher.com for my review and practice tests. I would score about a 280 passing score on the practice tests. These practice tests will give you some indication of how well you will do. Give yourself a month or more to study for the test.

Testing Strategy

Use as much time as possible on the test. I used probably 4 of my 5 hours to take the test. Seriously focus on what the question is asking. If you don't know the right answer, mark it with the flag and return to it when you review it. I reviewed the tests probably 3 times before I submitted it. I passed with a 272.

Strategy 64

Study Strategy

I primarily used the Pass the TExES book (purchased PDF version online), Barron's Flash Cards, and John Green's Crash Course videos. I felt prepared when I took the exam and was confident going into it. I studied around 60 hours for a month before taking the test.

Testing Strategy

When I arrived at the test, I was confident and ready to start. After I started, I felt defeated and was spending a lot of time on each question deciding on answers. The answers were easy to eliminate two answers, but the two possible correct answers were difficult to decide between on many questions. I spent almost 3 hours on the test and left certain that I had failed the test. I took the test on a Saturday morning and received my scores on the following Tuesday. I was absolutely shocked and ecstatic when I received my scores and passed with a 251. Many people who reported they passed said they felt like they failed, while many who felt like they passed, failed. So, FEELING like you failed after the test may not be a bad thing after all! Read the questions, don't get hung up on one question (mark and come back to it), and read every choice to know that you have deciphered what they mean/ask exactly. Good luck!

Strategy 65

Study Strategy

I mainly used CertifyTeacher.com. I bought the software; Itook the quizzes and tests until I knew all the information. On every single question, I read the rational behind the answer. I also bought the Xamonline book, which wasn't written very well, but it had great supplemental material if I needed further explanation on a topic. I used John Green's crash course History videos on YouTube. Lastly, I went on TEA's website and pulled off old STAAR tests. Most of the questions weren't anything like what is on the TExES, but it helps you establish a time line and refreshes your brain. I studied for about a month, 6-10 hrs a week.

Testing Strategy

Taking the test I was very nervous and I thought I failed. You should definitely know the amendments, the New Deal, and native american tribes along with a general timeline of US history. I passed with a 246 on the first try.

Strategy 66

Study Strategy

I went to the public library and checked out the Barron's AP guides in all of the subject areas and took the diagnostic tests. I then used my results to determine what areas within a subject area I needed to focus on. I checked out books from the library on Texas History and Economics. I watched a video series on YouTube on Economics and also some of the crash course videos. I found some Texas historical websites online for Texas History resources and watched documentaries. For Economics, I suggest "The Instant Economist" by Timothy Taylor and the ACDC Leadership series on YouTube; exact graphs from the series appeared on my exam. For Texas History, I read "The Mexican Revolution" by Louise Slavicek and "13 Days to Glory" by Lon Tinkle. I also used the quiz archive on the Texas State Historical Site.

Testing Strategy

When I walked out of the exam, I felt like I had done a p retty good job, but didn't know if I passed or not. I took the test on a Tuesday and received my results on Friday; I scored 258 with my highest score being in Economics. My exam seemed to have multiple questions on the Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire. There were only 3 questions relating to Psychology. My test breakdown showed that U.S. History was the most heavily tested (25 questions as opposed to 15 or 16 questions in the other areas). I also noted that the majority of questions were WWII, or earlier. There wasn't a lot of recent History on my exam. If I had to do it again, I would focus a little more on American History, because it is the bulk of the test.

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