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Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12, test code 160 (TExES) study guide

Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12, test code 160 (TExES), administered by Texas Education Agency (TEA) / State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), is mapped here as 5 topic areas; the heaviest are Designing Instruction and Assessment (34%), Implementing Effective, Responsive Instruction and Assessment (33%) and Fulfilling Professional Roles and Responsibilities (20%).

About this course: Prepare for TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 (160) with scenario questions, assessment vocabulary and explanations across its four domains. Confirm the pedagogy exam required for your certification pathway with your preparation program. This course covers PPR 160; it does not cover every Texas teaching exam.

Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12, test code 160 (TExES) at a glance

Questions
100
Time allowed
5-hour appointment (15-minute tutorial/compliance + 4 hours 45 minutes testing)
Passing standard
Minimum passing SCALED score = 240 (scale 100-300)
Format
Computer-administered test (CAT)
Standard / edition
Current PPR EC-12 (160) framework, 4 domains / 13 competencies
Administered by
Texas Education Agency (TEA) / State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)

Source: Current PPR EC-12 (160) framework, 4 domains / 13 competencies, Texas Education Agency (TEA) / State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC). Confirm current details with the exam owner before you book.

Topic areas and weights

Topic areaWeightConceptsGuide
Exam Orientation0%0Section below
Designing Instruction and Assessment34%2Section below
Creating a Positive, Productive Classroom Environment13%0Section below
Implementing Effective, Responsive Instruction and Assessment33%3Section below
Fulfilling Professional Roles and Responsibilities20%1Section below

Study plan in this course

  1. The Testing-Room Briefing: Your TExES PPR EC-12 (160) — 5 cards · free
  2. Planning the Lesson: Objectives, Alignment & Assessment Design — 10 cards · full course
  3. Running the Room: A Positive, Productive Classroom — 6 cards · full course
  4. Teaching in Real Time: Responsive Instruction & Assessment — 10 cards · full course
  5. The Professional Educator: Law, Ethics & Family — 8 cards · full course

Exam Orientation

Exam Orientation is one of the 5 areas in this course's Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12, test code 160 (TExES) blueprint. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: The Testing-Room Briefing: Your TExES PPR EC-12 (160).

Official references for Exam Orientation

  • tx.nesinc.com TX160 Test-at-a-Glance + Section 3 Overview and Exam Framework
  • tx.nesinc.com Section 3 framework — Approximate Percentage of Examination
  • tea.texas.gov educator-testing + Texas edTPA Pilot pages

In the app this area comes with 5 memory cards and 5 module-quiz questions and is part of the free starting modules.

Designing Instruction and Assessment

Designing Instruction and Assessment carries 34% of the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12, test code 160 (TExES) blueprint used in this course, the largest of its 4 weighted areas. It spans 2 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Planning the Lesson: Objectives, Alignment & Assessment Design.

What Designing Instruction and Assessment covers

  • What is backward design? — Wiggins & McTighe, Understanding by Design
  • What is a diagnostic assessment for? — Black & Wiliam, Inside the Black Box

Official references for Designing Instruction and Assessment

  • Wiggins & McTighe, Understanding by Design
  • Anderson & Krathwohl, A Taxonomy for Learning
  • tea.texas.gov educator-testing + Texas edTPA Pilot pages
  • Black & Wiliam, Inside the Black Box
  • Standard educational-measurement theory
  • Tomlinson, The Differentiated Classroom

In the app this area comes with 10 memory cards and 34 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Creating a Positive, Productive Classroom Environment

Creating a Positive, Productive Classroom Environment carries 13% of the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12, test code 160 (TExES) blueprint used in this course, the 4th-largest of its 4 weighted areas. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Running the Room: A Positive, Productive Classroom.

Official references for Creating a Positive, Productive Classroom Environment

  • Kounin + standard classroom-management literature
  • tea.texas.gov educator-testing + Texas edTPA Pilot pages

In the app this area comes with 6 memory cards and 13 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Implementing Effective, Responsive Instruction and Assessment

Implementing Effective, Responsive Instruction and Assessment carries 33% of the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12, test code 160 (TExES) blueprint used in this course, the second-largest of its 4 weighted areas. It spans 3 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Teaching in Real Time: Responsive Instruction & Assessment.

What Implementing Effective, Responsive Instruction and Assessment covers

  • What is scaffolding? — Pearson & Gallagher gradual release
  • What makes feedback effective? — Black & Wiliam, Inside the Black Box
  • Which produces deeper learning for most objectives? — Pearson & Gallagher gradual release

Official references for Implementing Effective, Responsive Instruction and Assessment

  • Black & Wiliam, Inside the Black Box
  • Pearson & Gallagher gradual release
  • tx.nesinc.com TX160 Test-at-a-Glance + Section 3 Overview and Exam Framework
  • Standard educational-measurement theory

In the app this area comes with 10 memory cards and 33 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Fulfilling Professional Roles and Responsibilities

Fulfilling Professional Roles and Responsibilities carries 20% of the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12, test code 160 (TExES) blueprint used in this course, the third-largest of its 4 weighted areas. It spans 1 concept. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: The Professional Educator: Law, Ethics & Family.

What Fulfilling Professional Roles and Responsibilities covers

  • What does FERPA protect? — FERPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232g / 34 CFR Part 99

Official references for Fulfilling Professional Roles and Responsibilities

  • FERPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232g / 34 CFR Part 99
  • 19 TAC Chapter 247 — Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics
  • tea.texas.gov educator-testing + Texas edTPA Pilot pages
  • IDEA 20 U.S.C. 1400 + Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
  • Texas Family Code 261.101, amended eff. 2025-06-20

In the app this area comes with 8 memory cards and 20 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Official references

  • tx.nesinc.com TX160 Test-at-a-Glance + Section 3 Overview and Exam Framework
  • tx.nesinc.com Section 3 framework — Approximate Percentage of Examination
  • tea.texas.gov educator-testing + Texas edTPA Pilot pages
  • FERPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232g / 34 CFR Part 99
  • 19 TAC Chapter 247 — Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics
  • IDEA 20 U.S.C. 1400 + Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
  • Texas Family Code 261.101, amended eff. 2025-06-20
  • tx.nesinc.com — TExES PPR EC-12 Test-at-a-Glance
  • tx.nesinc.com — Section 3: Overview and Exam Framework
  • tea.texas.gov — Educator Testing + Teacher Certification Redesign + Texas edTPA Pilot
  • Wiggins & McTighe, Understanding by Design
  • Anderson & Krathwohl, A Taxonomy for Learning
  • Black & Wiliam, Inside the Black Box
  • Standard educational-measurement theory
  • Tomlinson, The Differentiated Classroom
  • Kounin + standard classroom-management literature

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