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 own 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 2020.

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 a problem using facts and reasoning, and compose an essay 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
• Differentiate and explain euphemisms, metaphors, synecdoche, metonymy and clichés
• Proofread an essay for spelling and grammar
• Develop ideas in your writing, structure an argument, and engage readers
• Focus and structure your essay so you respond to the prompt appropriately
• Choose words and sentence styles to write 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 122 lessons within 13 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: 100 questions
• Question Type: Multiple-choice, plus two writing essays
• Time Limit: 4 hours
• Exam Cost: $102

CBEST Exam Breakdown

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 either a computer-based test or a paper-based test. Paper-based tests are less expensive at only $41 for registration (with additional fees for late or emergency registration), but are only offered six times a year. Computer-based tests are available year-round by appointment, but are more expensive at $102 for the combined testing fees. 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. If you're taking the test on a paper-based platform, you'll have to wait 21 days before test results are available. 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.