Texas Chemistry CBE Exam Format: What We Know (and What We Don't)
The Honest Answer: Chemistry CBE Specifications Aren't Fully Public
If you've searched online for the exact number of questions, time limit, or scoring breakdown of the Texas Chemistry Credit by Exam, you've probably hit a wall. The detailed exam specifications — question count, weighting of each reporting category, calculator policy — live inside the UT High School (UTHS) Chemistry CBE study guide, the official source distributed to registered candidates.
This guide explains what we DO know publicly, what we DON'T, and what to do about it.
What's Publicly Confirmed
- Provider: UT High School (the University of Texas at Austin) administers high-school CBE exams in Texas, in partnership with school districts statewide.
- Standards alignment: The Chemistry CBE is aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for high school Chemistry, codified in Texas Administrative Code §112.35.
- Format: Multiple-choice, online (proctored at home via Proctorio). 50 questions, 3 hours, 100 points (2 points each).
- Passing threshold: 70% for students with prior coursework; 80% for students testing without prior learning (per UTHS policy).
- Materials: Approved scientific or graphing calculator allowed. Formula sheet and periodic table provided.
- Credit awarded: Full high school course credit (Chemistry, one semester) on the official transcript, per Texas Education Code §28.023.
Chemistry 1A — Five-Part Exam Structure
| Part | Topic | Questions | TEKS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scientific Methods and Processes | 15 (30%) | 1A-3F |
| 2 | Matter (includes chemical reactions) | 10 (20%) | 4A-4D |
| 3 | The Periodic Table | 10 (20%) | 5A-5C |
| 4 | Atoms | 5 (10%) | 6A-6E |
| 5 | Chemical Bonds | 10 (20%) | 7A-7E |
Chemistry 1B — Topics Covered
Semester B covers the second half of high-school Chemistry:
- The Mole and Stoichiometry
- Solutions
- Thermochemistry
- Gases
- Nuclear Chemistry
TEKS §112.35 Coverage — What Topics to Expect
The TEKS standard gives a clear map of what's tested across both semesters:
- Scientific processes & lab safety — controlled experiments, sig figs, measurements, equipment ID, hazard awareness.
- Matter — states, properties, mixtures, conservation of mass, chemical reactions, balancing equations.
- Periodic table & periodicity — group/period trends, ionization energy, electronegativity, atomic radius.
- Atoms — atomic theory, isotopes, electron configuration, Lewis dot structures, photon/wavelength calculations.
- Chemical bonding — ionic vs covalent vs metallic, Lewis structures, VSEPR geometry, polarity, intermolecular forces, nomenclature.
- Stoichiometry — mole concept, mass-to-mass, limiting reagent, percent yield, empirical formula.
- Gas laws — Boyle, Charles, ideal gas, partial pressures, molar volume.
- Solutions — solubility, molarity, dilution, electrolytes, colligative properties.
- Thermochemistry — endo/exothermic, calorimetry, heat of fusion/vaporization, energy diagrams.
- Nuclear chemistry — radioactive decay (α, β, γ), half-life, fission, fusion, balancing nuclear equations.
- Acids & bases — pH scale, neutralization, strong vs weak, conjugate pairs.
🚀 Texas CBE™ Chemistry — Now Available
Our Chemistry question bank is live, aligned 1:1 with the official UTHS Chemistry 1A and 1B exam structure:
- 520+ TEKS-aligned practice questions across all 10 official categories
- Five-part Semester A structure matching the real exam (Methods/Matter/Periodic/Atoms/Bonds)
- Five-topic Semester B (Mole/Stoichiometry, Solutions, Thermochemistry, Gases, Nuclear)
- Multiple-choice format identical to the real exam, with detailed AI explanations for every answer
- Visual questions for Lewis structures, VSEPR, periodic-table positions, energy diagrams, heating curves
- Free sample questions in every category — try before you pay
- Multilingual support for English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese
How to Prepare Strategically
- Practice the most-weighted areas first: Part 1 (Scientific Methods) is 30% of Sem A. Master lab safety, scientific method, sig figs, and measurement first.
- Use TEKS-aligned mock exams: Our question pool samples each TEKS category at its expected frequency — far more efficient than generic chemistry review.
- Practice the format under time pressure: 50 multiple-choice in 3 hours. Most students finish with time to spare, but pacing matters for the calculation-heavy Sem B topics.
- Register through your school counselor: UTHS sends the official study guide upon registration — combine that with our practice for the highest pass rate.
The Honest Conclusion
The Texas Chemistry CBE isn't a mystery — it's a well-defined exam aligned to public TEKS standards. With 520+ TEKS-aligned questions covering every part of the real exam, Texas CBE™ Chemistry prep is now your most direct path to confident exam day. Get started with free sample questions, then unlock the full bank to take unlimited mock exams.
Not affiliated with UT High School, the University of Texas at Austin, the Texas Education Agency, or any school district. Texas CBE™ is an independent TEKS-aligned practice resource.