How to Pass the Bilingual Supplemental 164: 5 Excellent Tips

You’ve probably landed here because you’re in search of tips on how to pass the bilingual supplemental 164 exam.

That means you’re in the process of becoming a bilingual teacher in Texas.

Great!

What isn’t so great is the amount of testing that’s required to get the certification.

There are four TExES exams that teacher candidates in the state of Texas need to pass in order to obtain bilingual certification:

  • TExES Core Subjects EC-6 exam– required for ALL elementary teacher candidates; tests knowledge of the main content areas taught in elementary school such as math, science, social studies, literacy, art, etc.
  • TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental exam– for teacher candidates who want to be bilingual certified; tests knowledge of second language pedagogy (This post focuses solely on this exam).
  • TExES Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test for Spanish– This one is known for being challenging (even for some native Spanish speakers), and it’s only required for bilingual teacher candidates. It demonstrates one’s knowledge of the Spanish language within the context of education. 
  • TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities, or PPR, EC-12 exam– required for ALL teacher candidates K-12. It assesses knowledge of general teaching practices, educational ethics, and pedagogy.

How to Pass the Bilingual Supplemental 164. Is It Hard?

It depends. How hard something seems is relative.

Many test-takers comment that the test isn’t challenging.

Others say to imagine that the situations presented in the test are the perfect scenario.

The classroom, school, students, and school district are in a perfect world, and you simply need to answer accordingly.

If you have never worked within an elementary bilingual/second language learner classroom, this exam might be a little bit more challenging for you.

You’re in good shape if you’ve taught reading/writing to monolingual learners in a school setting or have experience teaching literacy strategies.

At the end of the day, everyone has her say on how best to pass the bilingual education supplemental exam, but…

This post is for those who need a guide toward passing the bilingual education supplemental exam.

Go into that test center knowledgeable and prepared. 

5 Strategic Tips: How to Pass the Bilingual Supplemental 164 Exam

Here you will find the best tips for how to pass the bilingual supplemental 164 exam.

It’s not practical to cover every single aspect of the exam here.

However, you’ll get the gist of what to expect on the test plus navigation toward additional, helpful resources.

1. Know the Structure and Expectations of the Test.

The Bilingual Supplemental exam is computer-administered and consists of 80 multiple-choice questions with various question formats.

You can sign up for the exam year-round, and to date, it costs about $116 plus fees.

Though you’ll have more than enough time to complete all responses, the total testing time is 5 hours.

Within the testing time frame, skip questions you’re not sure about and return to them before your time finishes.

Mark the item as incomplete, then move on and come back to it later. You don’t want to waste too much time on one question.

2. Be Familiar with the Competencies.

As you learn how to pass the bilingual supplemental 164, you’ll absolutely need to understand the competencies.

Four bilingual education competencies compose the content for the Bilingual Education Supplemental Exam:

Competency 001:

“The beginning Bilingual Education teacher understands the foundations of Bilingual Education and the concepts of bilingualism and biculturalism and applies this knowledge to create an effective learning environment for students in the Bilingual Education program”.  

*Review the official Bilingual Education Supplemental guide for the complete list of topics covered within this competency.*

  • Understand the Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC) process.
  • Know how to create an environment that maximizes learning for bilingual students.

Competency 002:

“The beginning Bilingual Education teacher understands processes of first-and second-language acquisition and development and applies this knowledge to promote students’ language proficiency in their first language (L1) and second language (L2)”.

*Review the official study guide for the complete list of topics covered within this competency.*

  • Understand basic L1 and L2 linguistic concepts (e.g. BICS vs. CALP).
  • Know the major language components from a second language perspective (e.g. semantics, phonology, etc.). 
  • Comprehend the stages of 1st and 2nd second-language development.
  • Apply appropriate instructional strategies for teaching bilingual students.
  • Help students make connections between their 1st and 2nd languages.
  • Know well the proficiency levels used for second language learners.

Competency 003:

“The beginning Bilingual Education teacher has comprehensive knowledge of the development and assessment for literacy in L1 and the development and assessment of biliteracy”.

*Again, review the official study guide for the complete list of topics covered within this competency.*

  • Familiarize yourself with formal and informal literacy assessments in L1.
  • Read thoroughly the language arts certification standards (TEKS) for English and Spanish.
  • Know how to help students apply reading strategies learned in L1 to L2.

Competency 004:

“The beginning Bilingual Education teacher has comprehensive knowledge of content area instruction in L1 and L2 and uses this knowledge to promote bilingual students’ academic achievement across the curriculum”.

*Review the official study guide for the complete list of topics covered within this competency.*

  • Know and use assessments for language proficiency and content knowledge.
  • Incorporate strategies for integrating L1 and L2 in the content areas.
  • Be aware of instructional methods that maximize comprehensible input such as pre-reading activities, accommodations, and other appropriate instructional strategies.

3. Check Out Online Resources for How to Pass the Bilingual Supplemental 164.

  • The Bilingual Education Supplemental study guide (link is located within tip #2 above) found on the Pearson website is a great resource that you need to definitely review thoroughly.
  • Also, take a look at the TEA website which has good resources for the area of bilingual education.

4. Take On the Mindset of a Foreign Language Teacher.

When you answer questions about instructional strategies during the Bilingual Education Supplemental exam, mentally see yourself as a language instructor in a bilingual classroom.

Think about what strategies would be most effective in helping the student advance in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in the target language.

You’ll need good prior knowledge of a wide variety of bilingual instructional strategies, but having in mind a bank of ideas and concepts will help you be more confident in answering the questions.

5. Invest in Books and/or Tutoring.

As additional support, consider purchasing the Bilingual Education Supplemental exam book.

There are also some decent tutoring options online, so do a search and choose one that best fits your learning style and budget.

Knowing how to pass the bilingual supplemental 164 means investing in yourself.

How to Pass the Bilingual Supplemental 164 Exam: Q & A

What is a passing score on the bilingual supplemental TExES 164 exam?

240 is the passing score on the bilingual supplemental 164 TExES exam.

Wrapping Up: How to Pass the Bilingual Supplemental 164 Exam

Knowing how to pass the Bilingual Supplemental 164 exam is about having a good foundational knowledge of general bilingual education theories/laws and accompanying instructional strategies.

Wishing you all the best in your testing journey