How Texas STAAR testing works
Plain-English guide for Texas parents and teachers: what the 2023 redesign changed, how the new item types work, what a passing score looks like, and which EOCs are tied to graduation.
What STAAR is
The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) is the Texas Education Agency's annual measure of student achievement against the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). STAAR is tested in Grades 3-8 annually in reading and math, in Grades 5 and 8 for science, in Grade 8 for social studies, and as End-of-Course (EOC) tests for five high-school subjects: Algebra I, Biology, English I, English II, and U.S. History.
The 2023 redesign — what's different
Before 2023, STAAR was a paper-pencil all-multiple-choice test. The redesign moved STAAR to a primarily digital format with a required mix of item types:
- Evidence-based selected response — two-part items where the first part asks for an answer and the second asks for the best textual evidence.
- Hot-spot — students click a region of a stimulus image.
- Drag-and-drop — ordering events, matching pairs, or building equations.
- Inline-choice — pick between dropdown options inline in a sentence.
- Multi-part — questions worth 2+ points with independent sub-parts.
- Constructed response — short open-ended responses graded by rubric.
TEA requires that at least 25% of items on every STAAR be non-multiple-choice. ZeroRetake Texas STAAR books mirror this mix — you won't see a legacy-style all-MC practice book passed off as the redesigned test.
Performance levels and cut scores
Texas reports four performance levels:
- Did Not Meet Grade Level — below the passing bar
- Approaches Grade Level — minimum passing (graduation bar for EOCs)
- Meets Grade Level — on track for grade-level readiness
- Masters Grade Level — advanced mastery
Cut scores differ by test and year. TEA publishes raw-to-scale lookup tables after each administration. The Approaches cut typically lands around 40-50% of points earned.
EOCs and graduation
Texas requires passing 5 STAAR EOCs to graduate:
- Algebra I
- Biology
- English I
- English II
- U.S. History
Passing bar is Approaches Grade Level. Students who don't pass on first attempt can retake in the next administration window. IGC (Individual Graduation Committee) pathways exist for students who can't pass after multiple attempts.
Spanish administration
STAAR español is available for Grades 3-5 reading language arts and math. Same TEKS, same item specifications, same performance levels — just translated. Students choose language at testing.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Texas STAAR tests given?
STAAR is administered each spring. TEA runs reading and math in Grades 3-8 in April-May. Science is Grade 5 and Grade 8 in May. Social studies is Grade 8 in May. EOC STAARs (Algebra I, Biology, English I, English II, U.S. History) run in December, May, and June.
What changed in the 2023 STAAR redesign?
The 2023 redesign moved STAAR from an all-multiple-choice paper test to a digital, mixed-item-type format. New item types include evidence-based selected response, hot-spot, drag-and-drop, inline-choice, multi-part, and constructed response. At least 25% of items must be non-multiple-choice. All STAARs are now primarily delivered online.
What are the STAAR performance levels?
Texas reports four levels: Did Not Meet Grade Level, Approaches Grade Level (minimum passing), Meets Grade Level, and Masters Grade Level. The passing bar for graduation-tied EOCs is Approaches. Cut scores differ by test and year.
Which STAAR EOCs must my student pass to graduate?
Texas requires passing 5 EOCs: Algebra I, Biology, English I, English II, and U.S. History. Students who don't pass on the first attempt can retake; accommodations and IGC (Individual Graduation Committee) pathways exist.
Is STAAR timed?
Grades 3-8 STAARs are untimed within the school day — typically a 4-hour maximum window. EOCs also work within a 4-hour window. Most students finish in 2-3 hours.
Is STAAR given in Spanish?
Yes, for Grade 3-5 reading language arts and math. STAAR español uses the same TEKS and item specifications as the English edition; students choose the language at testing.
Where can I find official STAAR practice items?
TEA publishes released test items and redesign sample sets at tea.texas.gov. Released sets are limited (typically 10-20 items per grade per year), which is why supplemental practice books exist.