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Exam Guides

Guides for Texas Credit by Exam, SAT and PSAT, AP and AMC — what is on each one, when it is sat, and how to prepare.

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AP exam preparation guide cover for Physics: AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based — The Complete 2026 Guide for Texas Parents & Students

AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based — The Complete 2026 Guide for Texas Parents & Students

AP Physics 1 was the worst-scoring major AP exam for a decade — then the 2025 redesign reset the curve. On preliminary 2026 data, 68% scored 3 or higher, yet 17% still scored a 1: a generous middle with a heavy tail. This guide covers the May 6, 2026 exam date, the 40 MCQ / 4 FRQ format, all eight units (Fluids is in, at 10–15%), the calculator policy, exam fees plus Texas assistance, and exactly which mistakes cost points — from the 2025 Chief Reader Report.

TUPDATEDSep 01, 202624 min113914
AP exam preparation guide cover for Pre-Calculus: AP Precalculus 2026: Complete Guide — Units, May Exam Date, Scoring, and How It Differs from Traditional Pre-Calculus and SAT Math

AP Precalculus 2026: Complete Guide — Units, May Exam Date, Scoring, and How It Differs from Traditional Pre-Calculus and SAT Math

Everything Texas families need to know about AP Precalculus — College Board's newest math AP exam, launched 2023-24 and now over 130,000 testers in 2025. The 4 units, the May exam structure, the 1-5 scoring with college-credit thresholds, and how AP Precalculus differs from traditional Pre-Calculus (TEKS §111.42) and from the Digital SAT Math section.

TUPDATEDSep 01, 202614 min195325
AP exam preparation guide cover for Calculus AB: AP Calculus AB: The Complete Guide for 2026 & the May 2027 Exam

AP Calculus AB: The Complete Guide for 2026 & the May 2027 Exam

The most-taken AP math exam changes format for May 2027: multiple choice becomes 42 questions in 100 minutes, not 45 in 105 — and Part B tightens to 13 questions in 38 minutes. This guide covers the verified format, the 8 CED units, the 2025 score distribution (more 4s than 3s), the specific reasoning errors that cost points per the Chief Reader Report, the AB vs BC decision, and why an eligible Texas public-school student can pay $26 rather than $99.

TUPDATEDSep 01, 202624 min131021
Texas Credit by Exam (CBE) guide cover: Texas CBE Learning Path — What to Take First (Credit by Examination Study-Order Guide)

Texas CBE Learning Path — What to Take First (Credit by Examination Study-Order Guide)

A study-order guide for Texas Credit by Examination (CBE) families. See how our ten subjects — Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, SAT Math, Biology, Earth Science, and U.S. History — build on one another, and where each fits under TEC §28.023 acceleration and 19 TAC §74.24 credit recovery. Any subject can be purchased at any time; this diagram is guidance, not a requirement.

TUPDATEDSep 01, 20268 min133411
AP exam preparation guide cover for Calculus BC: AP Calculus BC: The Complete 2026 Guide — Format Changes, Series, the AB Subscore & What Actually Costs Points

AP Calculus BC: The Complete 2026 Guide — Format Changes, Series, the AB Subscore & What Actually Costs Points

A source-checked guide to AP Calculus BC for parents & students: the multiple-choice format change slated for Fall 2026, all 10 framework units and their weights, the six BC-only topics buried inside shared units, the AB subscore safety net (88.0% of BC takers earned 3+ in 2025), why Unit 10 Series decides scores, the exact errors the 2025 Chief Reader named, calculator strategy, fees, and a week-by-week plan. From Texas CBE™ — independent, not affiliated with or endorsed by the College Board.

TUPDATEDSep 01, 202624 min142814
AP exam preparation guide cover for Computer Science A: AP Computer Science A: The Complete Guide to the Four-Unit Course, the Exam & How to Prepare

AP Computer Science A: The Complete Guide to the Four-Unit Course, the Exam & How to Prepare

AP Computer Science A was restructured into four units under the CED effective Fall 2025. The exam is 42 multiple-choice questions (55%) and 4 free-response questions (45%), three hours, fully digital, with no calculator permitted. This guide covers the multiple-choice unit weightings, the four FRQ tasks, verified 2025 score data, the specific errors Chief Readers flag, Texas exam fee assistance, and how CS A differs from CS Principles.

TUPDATEDSep 01, 202624 min126013
AMC contest preparation guide cover: AMC 8: A Parent's Guide for 2026-27 — Format, Scoring, Dates & How to Prepare

AMC 8: A Parent's Guide for 2026-27 — Format, Scoring, Dates & How to Prepare

A source-checked guide to the AMC 8 for parents: what the contest actually is (a 25-question, 40-minute MAA competition that never touches a transcript), the scoring rule that quietly costs families points — an unanswered question is worth zero, exactly like a wrong answer — the January 21–27, 2027 competition period, why you cannot register your own child, what it costs, and a realistic 8–12 week prep plan.

TUPDATEDSep 01, 202627 min153628
Texas Credit by Exam (CBE) guide cover: Texas STAAR — The Complete 5 EOC Guide for Graduation

Texas STAAR — The Complete 5 EOC Guide for Graduation

The complete Texas STAAR EOC guide for families: all five state-mandated EOCs (Algebra 1, English I, English II, Biology, U.S. History), the four performance levels, the December/May/July retake windows, the Individual Graduation Committee (IGC) backup path, and TEKS-aligned practice.

TUPDATEDSep 01, 202614 min128221
Texas CBE guide cover: You Have More Time Than It Feels Like — A Calm Way to Prepare for Your Texas CBE

You Have More Time Than It Feels Like — A Calm Way to Prepare for Your Texas CBE

Panic compresses time; a calm plan expands it. A short, warm guide to starting Credit by Examination preparation today — without spiraling.

TUPDATEDSep 01, 20265 min117813