# UTHS Official Data: Most Students Fail the CBE — Here's Why and How to Beat the Odds

> UTHS administers 30,000 CBE exams annually across 250 Texas school districts. The average score? Just 64-69% — well below the 80% needed to pass. Here's the official data and what it means for your preparation.

**Source:** https://www.texascbe.com/blog/uths-official-data-cbe-pass-rates  
**Published:** 2026-03-26

Texas CBE™ — independently authored practice exams for Texas Credit by Examination, AP, SAT/PSAT and AMC. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the Texas Education Agency, any school district, the College Board, or the Mathematical Association of America.

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## The Data Most Students Don't See Before Taking a CBE

Every year, **30,000 Credit by Examination (CBE) tests** are administered through the University of Texas at Austin High School (UTHS) across **250 Texas school districts**. It's the largest CBE program in the state.

But here's what most students and parents don't know before registering: **the majority of test-takers score below the passing threshold.**

**When is your district’s deadline?** Every district sets its own, and most close weeks before the test. The [Texas CBE district portal](https://www.texascbe.com/districts-news) counts down to the next one in each district, and the [2026–2027 schedule by district](https://www.texascbe.com/blog/texas-credit-by-exam-schedule-by-district) lists the full year.

Official UTHS Average Scores

64%

HS with Prior Instruction

69%

HS without Prior Instruction

64%

K-8 without Prior Instruction

Passing requirement: 80% for acceleration, 70% for credit recovery

Let that sink in. The **average student scores 64-69%** — that's a failing grade for acceleration (80% required) and barely passing for credit recovery (70% required). Most students walk in unprepared and walk out without credit.

## 📊 The Numbers Behind 30,000 Annual CBE Exams

30K

Exams Per Year

250

School Districts

64%

Average Score

## Which Subjects Do Students Take — and How Do They Score?

### Most Popular High School CBE Subjects

| Subject | Avg Score | Test-Takers | Passes 80%? |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Spanish IA | 86% | 2,236 | Yes |
| Spanish IB | 86% | 2,303 | Yes |
| Spanish IIA | 84% | 1,882 | Yes |
| Spanish IIB | 84% | 1,968 | Yes |
| Geometry A | 74% | 419 | No |
| Geometry B | 74% | 389 | No |

**Key insight:** Spanish CBEs have high pass rates because most test-takers are native speakers — they already know the language. But for subjects like Geometry, the **average score is 74%** — 6 points short of passing. Without targeted preparation, most students fail.

### K-8 Average Scores by Subject

| Subject | Average Score | Passes 80%? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Math | 68% | No |
| Science | 66% | No |
| Language Arts | 65% | No |
| Social Studies | 58% | No |

Not a single K-8 subject averages above 80%. Social Studies is the lowest at just **58%** — 22 points below passing.

## 🔑 What This Data Tells Us

### 1. Most Students Are Underprepared

The average score being 64-69% means the **typical student fails the CBE**. They either don't study enough, study the wrong material, or don't understand the TEKS-aligned format.

### 2. Prior Instruction Doesn't Guarantee Success

Students *with* prior instruction average only **64%** — actually lower than those *without* (69%). This is likely because students who already took the class assume they know the material and don't prepare specifically for the CBE format.

### 3. The Exam Tests TEKS, Not Textbooks

UTHS explicitly states: "Exam items match the depth and breadth of the TEKS for 100% alignment." This means studying a textbook isn't enough — you need to study the specific TEKS standards that will be tested.

### 4. You Only Get Two Chances

Texas policy (19 TAC §74.24) limits students to **a maximum of two attempts** per high school course. Fail twice and you cannot try again. Each attempt costs **$70** — so failing means losing both money and opportunities.

## 📅 The Four Testing Windows

Texas requires districts to offer CBE testing during four windows each year:

Window 1

Jan 1 - Mar 31

Window 2

Apr 1 - Jun 30

Window 3

Jul 1 - Sep 30

Window 4

Oct 1 - Dec 31

Students may take a specific exam **only once per window**. Plan your preparation around the window you're targeting.

## 💰 What a CBE Costs

| Order Type | Semester Exam | World Language |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Individual Student | $70 | $125 |
| District Bulk (in-district) | $25 | $50 |
| District Bulk + Remote Proctoring | $35 | $60 |
| K-2 (print only) | $50 | — |

**Important:** Fees are **non-refundable** once enrolled. If you fail, you pay again for the next attempt. At $70 per exam, failing twice means spending **$140 with nothing to show for it**.

## 🏠 Online Proctoring: Take the Exam at Home

UTHS offers **online proctoring through Proctorio** for students in grades 3-12. This means you can take the CBE from home using your own computer. The system includes:

- Identity verification process
- Webcam video recording during the exam
- Lockdown browser to prevent cheating
- No need to travel to a testing center

**Worried about hitting 70% (UTHS) or 80% (district)?** Pulling a free sample is the fastest way to know where you stand. Try [Algebra 1](https://www.texascbe.com/subjects/algebra-1), [Geometry](https://www.texascbe.com/subjects/geometry), [Biology](https://www.texascbe.com/subjects/biology), [Algebra 2](https://www.texascbe.com/subjects/algebra-2), [Chemistry](https://www.texascbe.com/subjects/chemistry), or [U.S. History](https://www.texascbe.com/subjects/us-history) — no signup. Scoring 85%+ cold on the sample is a good sign you're tracking well.

*Note: K-2 exams must be taken on-site at a school district or approved testing center.*

## Two Different Passing Standards

### Credit Recovery: 70%

For students who **already took the class** but didn't get credit (failed or absences). With district approval, a score of 70% or above earns the credit.

### Acceleration: 80%

For students who **haven't taken the class** and want to skip it. A score of 80% or above earns placement credit. The score goes on the transcript and exempts the student from the EOC.

## Why the Average Student Fails — And How to Be Different

The data is clear: most students score 64-69%. They fail because they:

1. **Don't study the TEKS** — They use random study materials instead of focusing on the specific TEKS standards tested
2. **Underestimate the difficulty** — The 80% bar is high, and the questions test "depth and breadth" of each standard
3. **Don't practice under exam conditions** — The real exam is timed (3 hours), proctored, and high-stakes
4. **Don't know what they don't know** — Without diagnostic practice, they can't identify weak areas

## How Texas CBE™ Puts You in the Passing Minority

While the average student scores 64%, **our goal is to get you above 80%**. Here's how:

- **100% TEKS-aligned questions** — Just like the real UTHS exams, every question maps to specific TEKS standards
- **Realistic mock exams** — Same question count, same time limit, same 80% threshold
- **Instant explanations** — Understand why each answer is right or wrong
- **Weak area identification** — Know exactly which TEKS standards need more work
- **Unlimited practice** — Take as many mock exams as you need before the real thing

Average student: 64%. Passing score: 80%.

The gap is 16 points. Preparation closes it.

Start Preparing Now →

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Data source: UTHS Credit by Exam program presentation by Beth Cooper, Ed.D., Superintendent, and Kristina Huff, Curriculum Coordinator, The University of Texas at Austin. Policies per 19 TAC §74.24. Exam fees and procedures per UTHS website (highschool.utexas.edu). Texas CBE™ is not affiliated with UTHS or UT Austin.