Every year, the STAAR English 1 and English 2 exam is released and teachers face the same question:
Where should we focus our limited time to make the biggest gains on STAAR?
To help answer that, I analyzed the released 2025 STAAR English I and II exams. My goal was simple: find out which TEKS show up most often so we can target reading instruction where it counts.
The TEK We Can Bet On
Since the first STAAR exam in 2011, TEK 4H has appeared anywhere from three to five times per test. This standard asks students to “synthesize information from two texts to create new understanding.” In my district, we call these “cross-over” questions, where students analyze the similarities and differences of two texts from different genres.
In both 2024 and 2025, this section of the exam included four questions, meaning TEK 4H accounted for roughly 13% of the reading exam. We know this will be asked, so it only makes sense to practice this TEK all year or at the very least, review it before the exam with short texts.
Now, what about the other TEKS?
STAAR English 1 TEKS
- 2B: Denotation and connotation — asked 2 times
- 4F: Making inferences — asked 3 times
- 5C: Using text evidence to support an answer — asked 2 times
- 8B: Analyzing text structure — asked 2 times
- 8D: Analyzing the author’s use of language — asked 2 times
STAAR English II TEKS
- 2A: Using print or digital resources to clarify vocabulary — asked 2 times
- 5C: Using text evidence to support an answer — asked 2 times
- 8A: Analyzing the author’s purpose, audience, and message — asked 2 times
- 8B: Analyzing text structure — asked 2 times
- 8F: Analyzing mood, voice, and tone — asked 2 times
TEKS That Appeared on Both English I and II
Some standards do show up more than others:
- 5C (text evidence) and 8B (text structure) appeared twice on both exams.
- Other shared TEKS included 2A, 2B, 4F, 8A, and 8D.
- Interestingly, 8F showed up twice on English II but not at all on English I.
We can assume that if we hit these TEKS in English 1, they won’t go to waste when our students test in English 2 the following year (although yes, that is going away 2027).
📅 Comparing 2024 vs. 2025
The 2024 STAAR had these TEKS show up on one or both of the exams twice: 2B, 4F, 8A, 8F.
The 2024 STAAR had these TEKS show up once on both exams: 8B and 8D.
This is good to see because it tells us what TEA consistently values.
So Which TEKS Should You Hit Hardest?
| TEKS | Focus | % of Exam |
| 4H | synthesize information from two texts | 13% of the exam |
| 4F, 5C, 8B | inferencing, text evidence, and text structure | 7% each or 21% of the exam. |
| 2A, 2B | use resources to clarify the appropriate meaning of vocabulary, connotation and denotation | 5% each or 10% of the exam. |
Together, those six TEKS make up roughly 44% of the reading test. That’s a huge return on investment for targeted review, and if you teach EB students like I do, hitting these TEKS consistently over the year is going to get you the greatest gains.
If you have more time, also reinforce 8A (author’s purpose) and 8D (author’s use of language) as they continue to appear steadily across years.
❤️ A Realistic Note for Retesting
I never advocate for teaching to the test, but let’s be honest, when you’re preparing re-testers or in charge of small-group pullouts, that’s exactly what you need to do.
That’s why I’ve created focused worksheets that target TEKS 2B, 4F, 4H, and 8A that are perfect for those short, high-impact review sessions that build the right habits without burning out your students.
Additionally, it’s not too late to start bringing in these high-frequency TEKS into your regular instruction. You can:
- 👉 Use STAAR-style question stems in reading lessons. Pssst. These are editable and FREE for those on my email list, if you would like to join our team!
- 👉 Create bell ringers or exit tickets for daily spiral review.
Final Words…
I hate the STAAR exam. I have seen it smash a student’s confidence more than once. Every year, my classroom has some tears because my students set really high goals for themselves, despite only knowing the English language for a few years.
The STAAR exam is the hardest EOC. There’s no debate on this. And after 12 years of guiding students through it, I don’t believe it is getting any easier. So let’s be intentional with our time, give ourselves some grace, and remind our students that they are SO MUCH MORE than their STAAR score. We got this.
Happy testing!
⭐P.S. If you need more Texas testing support, check out my blog!
⭐P.S.S If you would rather listen to this information, check out my YouTube chat below!
