Pass CBEST Exams Easily

Are You Ready For The CBEST?

Before a teacher is allowed to teach in a California school he/she must pass what is now known as the CBEST. The CBEST test is an acronym for California Basic Educational Skills test. After an upsetting turn of events several years ago teachers all over the world are now required to maintain and pass basic skills tests before they are allowed to become certified in their respective states. There are a number of state exams and all have different names, but for California the CBEST is what you must pass to teach.

The CBEST testing consists of math, writing and reading comprehension. Each section of the exam has fifty questions each. The test is designed to determine the ability of the individual to teach the basic skills to children in California. The test is primarily multiple choice, but there is also a writing portion of the exam. For the writing portion of the exam the individual is required to use appropriate spelling, grammar and good use of the English language. Issues such as punctuation and clarity of the writing are also taken into consideration in the hand scored process.

With the math portion of the test an individual can expect to have basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Reading graphs and comprehension is also tested in this section. Basic math concepts and the ability to reason solving problems is what makes up the math portion of the test.

On the writing section of the test the individual is required to write an essay in response to reading a written passage. An additional section is a written essay on a personal experience. The writing portion of the test is of course hand scored and evaluated for appropriate usage of English, punctuation, spelling, grammar and formatting.

The reading portion of the test is based on the ability to read and comprehend the material. This is achieved in reading passages and marking the appropriate answer in response to the passage. The reading portion of the test is generally short stories where the individual will be asked questions about the structure, comprehension and other elements of the story. Following directions, reading and rereading is the key to passing the reading portion of the exam.

The test is offered throughout the year in California and at varying locations. The fee for the exam is very affordable, in fact one of the most affordable of the career certification exams. The average fee for the exam is $41.00 dollars, but that does not include any late registration or other fees associated with the exam. Though the test is not all that costly it is still very important to prepare for the exam so that you will not have any career delays.

Preparing for the exam has become much easier with the online technology. Today there are many practice CBEST, sample CBEST essay and CBEST practice tests online. The online versions can give you great insight of the types of material and questions that will be on the test. Most of the online sites have a free download CBEST sample to give you a practice run. Some even offer a CBEST test online that you can take and score to determine your weakest subject or area within a subject. For an additional fee many of the online sources will hand score a CBEST essay sample to determine whether or not you are prepared for the writing portion of the test.

In some cities there will be a weekend or evening workshop class that will offer a preparation class. Research has shown that individuals that participate in the workshops offered have a much better CBEST pass rates. Generally these workshops are held a month of so in advance of the exam to offer a refresher and in some cases an additional CBEST book to assist you in studying. One of the best things about the workshop environment is that you can interact with other students, ask questions and determine what you need further help on. In many cases the workshop provider will allow you to view old CBEST test questions. Viewing an old exam is one of the best ways to study. Sure the test questions are going to change, but you can see the detail and how in depth the questions actually are. The workshops are generally affordable and one can expect to pay from $200 to $750 for a preparation course. Depending on the intensity and length of the class, determines the cost.

One way that many aspiring teachers have found that works very successful is to take a CBEST test pre, to determine where they need to focus their attention. This is a great way to see whether you need more help in math, reading or writing. That way you can spend your time and dedicate much of your resources to your weakest area. After you have worked and studied in that area then you may want to take a CBEST sample test to track your progress. The sample test will also give you a good idea of whether or not you are prepared. If you can not pass the sample test you are not ready for the actual test. Sometimes we assume that because we graduated and have lived that we can pass a test with the knowledge in our minds, without studying or preparing. The CBEST should never be attempted without preparing first.

It is always recommended to purchase a CBEST study guide or participate in a CBEST prep class. You should begin studying and mastering the material before you even undertake the CBEST registration process. That way you can take a practice exam and determine how long you need to study before you register for the exam. Depending on your particular needs and individual study habits the preparation time can vary greatly. What takes one person six months to master may only take another two months.