In this article, we report the regression relations between preservice teachers' academic characteristics and their performance on the Texas Examination of Educator Standards. These academic characteristics include grade point average, reading ability, and critical thinking. The studies indicate that the critical thinking was the best predictor when in the presence of COMPASS reading score and grade point average. Two subsequent analyses were conducted using the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test score and Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal score. The results showed that reading and critical thinking ability had a positive relationship with success on a state teacher certification examination achievement. These results could be used with confidence to predict performance on the Texas Examination of Educator Standards. (Contains 4 tables and 3 figures.)