CBEST Test Prep: Practice & Study Guide

About This Course

The California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) is a test of the skills you'll need to master to become a successful educator, such as problem solving, reading comprehension and analysis, and composition. Review and practice these skills and more with this study guide, designed especially to align with CBEST content. It breaks down the test subject by subject, and explains important test concepts through quick and entertaining video lessons that can be accessed on your own time. Additional practice quizzes will allow you to put your skills to the test and provide instant feedback on where you might need a little more review. Online course instructors are also on hand for additional guidance and information, ensuring a solid preparation that suits your study needs.

Check out our CSET-CBEST Preparation resources! We've got CSET-CBEST courses to teach you the material, comprehensive CSET-CBEST study guides to help you study, CSET-CBEST practice tests to test your knowledge, and CSET-CBEST informational articles to get you up to speed on testing logistics.

This course was last updated in 2022.

Syllabus & Course Information

This study guide offers a comprehensive review of the reading, writing and mathematics-related skills that you will encounter on the CBEST. While working through each chapter, you will develop and improve your ability to demonstrate comprehension and research skills, evaluate arguments, think and analyze critically, work comfortably with basic arithmetic, interpret data in different ways, solve problems using facts and reasoning, and compose essays with clarity, focus, and purpose. Upon completion, you will also be able to:

• Identify structure, inference, themes, and motifs in a reading selection
• Use context to determine meanings of words
• Analyze a passage and identify its facts, opinions, and inconsistencies in points of view.
• Compare and contrast ideas, and challenge statements in a reading selection
• Understand how a book or reading selection is organized and how to locate information
• Develop ideas in your writing, structure an argument, and engage readers
• Focus and structure an essay to appropriately respond to writing prompts
• Choose words and sentence styles to create an effective argument
• Perform basic arithmetic operations with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percentages
• Demonstrate skills and knowledge of key algebraic concepts
• Identify facts given in a problem and determine if there is enough information to solve it
• Summarize data using charts, tables, histograms, and graphs

Course Format

This study guide and prep course contains 113 lessons within 12 chapters, including a special chapter on the CBEST itself. Each chapter also has its own chapter test (plus a practice cumulative final exam) that will help you keep up with the materials.

CBEST Information

California licensing agencies and schools use the CBEST Test, or the California Basic Educational Skills Test, to assess whether a test-taker is ready for teacher education programs, a credential or licensing.

• Number of Questions: 102 questions
• Question Type: 100 Multiple-choice and two essay questions
• Time Limit: 5 hours total
• Exam Cost: $30 per section

CBEST Exam Breakdown

The CBEST consists of three sections; reading, mathematics, and writing. The reading section contains 50 multiple choice questions between two skill factors; (1) critical analysis and evaluation, and (2) comprehension and research skills. The mathematics section consists of 50 multiple choice questions between three skill factors; (1) estimation, measurement, and statistical principles, (2) computation and problem solving; and (3) numerical and graphic relationships. Lastly, the writing section consists of two written response/essay questions in which you will be asked to analyze a situation and also write about a personal event or happening.

The CBEST Test - Preparation and Registration

To help you prepare for the CBEST, we have dozens of short and engaging videos in each subject area of the test. The chapter on basic algebra will help you understand variables, expressions, and properties in algebra. Other chapters include arithmetic, problem solving, writing with clarity, and critical analysis. Every single lesson also includes a short quiz written by the instructors.

You can register for the CBEST through the CTC's website, for a computer-based test. Computer-based tests are available year-round by appointment. On the day of the test, make sure to bring one piece of current, government-issued identification printed in English, in the same name under which you registered. The ID must have your photograph and signature.

The CBEST Test - Scoring

If you're taking the test on a computer-based platform, unofficial test results for the reading and mathematics sections are available at the end of the test. Full test results are available within 14 days of testing. When you register, you can indicate to which institutions you'd like your results sent. To pass the CBEST, test-takers must achieve a minimum score of 123 across all three sections scored together.