CSET Exam

Get started on the path to your new teaching career.

The California Subject Examinations for Teachers, or CSET, was developed by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The tests were designed for those individuals wishing to become teachers of certain subjects in the state of California. There are multiple parts of the program that aid the candidates in meeting certification requirements.

Free CSET Practice Tests

Use the free practice test questions below to get a better understanding of the exam. Take advantage of this valuable test resource to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses.

FAQs

Q

What is CSET?

A

The CSET, or the California Subject Examinations for Teachers, measures a potential teacher’s knowledge and skills that are needed to teach K-12 in public schools in California. You will be tested over basic skills such as reading and writing.

Q

How much does CSET cost?

A

The tests are priced between $99 and $297. Single-subject tests normally cost $99, and multiple subjects, or when you take all of the subtests of one subject at one time are normally around $297.

Q

How is the CSET scored?

A

The CSET scores are reported as scaled scores. The raw score you make for answering questions correctly is converted to scaled scores. The range of scores is between 100 and 300. Each of the subtests is scored separately, and the majority of these subtests require that a candidate achieve a score of 220 to pass the test.

You can expect to see your score results within 5 to 7 weeks after taking your exam. However, each exam has a different release time for your scores.

Q

How long do you have to wait before you can retake a CSET exam?

A

To retake a CSET exam, you must wait 45 calendar days from the day that you took your test or subtest.

Q

How many questions are on a CSET test?

A

The tests contain between 30 and 100 multiple-choice questions, and some tests contain between 2 and 5 essay or written-response questions. The majority of the tests contain 50 or fewer questions.

Q

How long are the CSET tests?

A

Tests with less than 50 multiple-choice questions will typically take between 1 hour and 15 minutes and 3 hours. Tests with more than 50 questions and tests containing written essay questions will have time limits set between 2 hours 5 hours and 15 minutes.

 

by Mometrix Test Preparation | This Page Last Updated: October 31, 2023