# Why Texas Students Are Choosing Credit by Exam to Graduate Faster > Thousands of Texas students are using Credit by Exam to earn high school credits without sitting through an entire semester. Learn why CBE is the smartest shortcut — and how Texas CBE™ helps you pass on the first try. **Source:** https://www.texascbe.com/blog/why-texas-students-choosing-cbe **Published:** 2026-03-19 **Updated:** 2026-09-01 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. --- Every year, thousands of Texas high school students discover a powerful secret: **you don't have to sit through an entire semester to earn credit**. It's called **Credit by Examination (CBE) (CBE)**, and it's completely legal, officially recognized by the Texas Education Agency, and available to every student in the state. But here's the catch — **you need to score 80% or higher to pass**. That's where most students struggle. And that's exactly why we built **Texas CBE™**. ## CBE by the Numbers Credit by Exam is growing fast across Texas. Here are the numbers driving this trend: 5.5M+ Texas K-12 Students 620K+ Texas Homeschool Students 150+ CBE Exams Available 80% Score Required to Pass ### The Homeschool Surge Texas homeschooling has **nearly tripled since 2020**. According to U.S. Census data, homeschool enrollment jumped from 4.5% to 12.3% of students between spring and fall 2020. By 2024, Texas accounted for **6% of all U.S. homeschool enrollment** — a 69% year-over-year increase. Over **50,000 students withdrew from Texas public schools to homeschool** in the 2022-2023 school year alone. For these families, CBE is the primary pathway to earn accredited high school credits. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Texas Home School Coalition, TEA, Newsweek ### UTHS: The Leading CBE Provider The **University of Texas at Austin High School (UTHS)** is the most recognized CBE provider in Texas: - **1,350 students** enrolled in the diploma program (2025-26 cap) - **Average SAT: 1,171** — nearly 200 points above the state average of 978 - Applications open each spring with a **lottery system** due to high demand - Thousands more students take CBE exams without full enrollment Texas districts are **required by law** to offer CBE testing at least 4 times per year at no cost to students (TEC §28.023). --- ## How Do You Sign Up? **Important:** Students do NOT apply directly to UTHS. The official process goes through your **school counselor**: 1. Talk to your school counselor and request a CBE 2. Your school district orders the test from UTHS 3. The district administers the test (online or in-person) 4. The district reports your results and grants credit (if applicable) By Texas law (19 TAC §74.24), every district must offer CBE testing **at least 4 times per year at no cost to students**. ## What Is Credit by Exam? Credit by Exam (CBE) allows Texas students to earn high school course credit by passing a single exam — without ever attending the class. The program is administered through the **University of Texas at Austin High School (UTHS)** and covers core subjects including: - **Geometry** (Semester A & B) - **Algebra 1** (Semester A & B) - **Biology** (Semester A & B) - **U.S. History** (Semester A & B) Each exam is aligned with the **Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)** — the same curriculum standards used in every Texas classroom. ## Who Uses CBE? CBE isn't just for gifted students. It's for anyone who wants to: - 🎓 **Graduate early** — Skip a semester or even a full year - ⏰ **Free up their schedule** — Make room for electives, AP courses, or dual enrollment - 🏠 **Homeschool efficiently** — Earn accredited credits from home - 🔄 **Recover credits** — Retake a failed course without sitting through it again - 💰 **Save money** — One exam fee vs. an entire semester of materials and time ## The 80% Challenge Here's the reality: the CBE passing score is **80%** — significantly higher than the typical 70% passing grade in Texas classrooms. That means you need to know the material *well*, not just "well enough." The exams are timed (3 hours each), multiple choice, and cover an entire semester's worth of TEKS standards. For U.S. History, that means **100 questions per semester**. For Geometry, up to **57 questions** with complex diagrams and calculations. Without proper preparation, most students fail on their first attempt. ## How Texas CBE™ Helps You Pass We built Texas CBE™ specifically for CBE preparation. Here's what makes us different: ### 1. TEKS-Aligned Questions Every question in our bank is mapped to specific TEKS standards — the exact same standards tested on the real exam. We don't use random practice questions. We use questions designed to match what you'll actually see on test day. ### 2. Realistic Mock Exams Our mock exams simulate the real CBE experience: - Same number of questions as the actual exam - Same 3-hour time limit with a countdown timer - Same 80% passing threshold - Randomized questions and answer choices — every attempt is unique ### 3. Instant Explanations After each question, you get a detailed explanation of *why* the correct answer is correct — and why the others are wrong. This is where real learning happens. ### 4. Free Practice — No Credit Card Required Every subject includes **free sample questions** so you can try before you buy. No signup walls, no hidden fees. Just start practicing. ### 5. Progress Tracking Track your scores across subjects, identify weak TEKS areas, and watch your performance improve over time with our built-in dashboard. ## Real Numbers: What Students Face | Subject | Questions | Time | Must Get Right | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Geometry A | 57 | 3 hrs | 46 of 57 | | Algebra 1 A | 52 | 3 hrs | 42 of 52 | | Biology A | 50 | 3 hrs | 40 of 50 | | U.S. History A | 100 | 3 hrs | 80 of 100 | That's the reality. You can only miss **10-20% of questions**. Guessing won't cut it. ## The Cost of NOT Preparing Let's do the math: - CBE exam fee: **$70 per individual semester exam** (or $25 if ordered through your school district as a bulk order). Source: UTHS official fee schedule - Failing means: you **pay again**, wait months, and study from scratch - A full semester in class: **18 weeks** of your time - Texas CBE™ full course access: **$29.99 per subject** (both semesters included, 3-month access) For less than the cost of a pizza dinner, you get access to hundreds of TEKS-aligned practice questions, realistic mock exams, and detailed explanations — everything you need to pass on the **first try**. ## What's Available Right Now We currently offer complete question banks for: - ✅ **Geometry** — 440 questions (Sem A + B) - ✅ **Algebra 1** — 400 questions (Sem A + B) - ✅ **Biology** — 400 questions (Sem A + B) - ✅ **U.S. History** — 400 questions (Sem A + B) — **Currently FREE!** Every question is original, TEKS-aligned, and includes a detailed explanation. ## Start Now — It's Free You don't need to create an account to see what we offer. But when you're ready to get serious about passing your CBE, sign up for free and start tracking your progress. Try Free Practice → Create Free Account --- Texas CBE™ is not affiliated with UTHS or the University of Texas at Austin. All questions are original and created for practice purposes only. TEKS standards are publicly available curriculum guidelines published by the Texas Education Agency.