CBEST Practice Test 2024 (California) Questions Answers

Last Updated on August 12, 2024

CBEST Practice Test 2024 (California Basic Educational Skills Test): Free Question Answers PDF Download our free printable PDF and start preparing for the CBEST exam with our comprehensive test prep quiz. This study guide covers math, reading, and writing and provides various preparation materials to enhance your readiness.

The California Basic Educational Skills Test™ (CBEST®) assesses your proficiency in three key areas: reading, mathematics, and writing. Developed to fulfill credential and employment requisites, the CBEST is based on the principle that teachers should possess the same skills taught to students—skills essential in the classroom and beyond it.

For more information about the CBEST testing requirements, contact your university’s credentials preparation office, local school district, or state education department.

 CBEST is no longer required for most teaching credentials if you have a bachelor’s degree. Learn more about the basic skills requirement . 

CBEST Practice Test 2024

CBEST examinees have a four-hour test session to complete one, two, or all three test sections. Before August 1995, each section — reading, mathematics, and writing — was timed separately.

Although you may divide your time among the three sections in any way you want, to ensure you have enough time to finish all sections, we recommend that you budget your time approximately as follows: Reading, 70 minutes; Mathematics, 75 minutes; Writing, 65 minutes. Use the final 30 minutes to check your work.

The following CBEST Practice Test is based on a quiz format. After completion of each CBEST Practice Test, you can view your score. Our free CBEST Practice Test will help you with better CBEST test prep. 2024.

Practice Tests

CBEST Exam Content

CBEST examinees have a four-hour test session to complete one, two, or all three sections of the test; the test can be taken by paper and pencil or by computer. Although you may divide your time among the three sections in any way you want, to be sure you have enough time to finish all sections, we recommend that you budget your time approximately as follows:

CBEST Time Allotment

Sections

Number of Questions

Suggested Time

1. Reading 50 Questions 75 Minutes
2. Mathematics 50 Questions 75 Minutes
3. Writing 2 Topics 60 Minutes
Time to check your work 30 Minutes
Total testing time 4 hours

CBEST Test Scores Passing

All questions on the paper-and-pencil and computer exams (except the essays in the Writing section) are multiple-choice, with five answer choices for each question. Each of the three sections receives a score ranging from 20 to 80. The passing score for each section is 41; the total passing score for the CBEST is 123. If you score below the passing mark on one section (or even on two sections) but your total score is 123 or higher, you can still pass the exam, but only if your score in each section is 37 or above.

Note: Format and scoring are subject to change.

The following chart can give you some indication of your performance level:

Scoring

Percent Right 

Performance Level

90 to 100 Superior
80 to 90 Above Average
70 to 80 Average
60 to 70 Marginal
Below 60 Needs Improvement

You need to get about 70 percent of the questions right to receive a passing score.

CBEST Study Guide

1. Awareness. Visit the CBEST website at www.cbest.nesinc.com to familiarize yourself with the test—its format, directions, material, and scoring.

2. Basic Skills. Review the basic abilities required on the test in reading, mathematics, and writing. Know what to expect on the exam. Review Part II: Analysis of Exam Areas to help you determine your strengths and weaknesses to develop a study plan unique to your needs.

3. Question Types. Become familiar with the question types of each area on the test outlined in Part II: Analysis of Exam Areas so that you can practice different versions of the same types of questions.

4. Strategies and Techniques. Practice using the strategies outlined in the next section of this book and decide what works best for you. Remember that if it takes longer to recall a strategy than to solve the problem, it’s probably not a good strategy for you to adopt. The goal in offering strategies is for you to work easily, quickly, and efficiently.

Remember not to get stuck on any one question. Taking time to answer the most difficult question on the test correctly but losing valuable test time won’t get you the score you deserve. Most importantly, remember to answer every question, even if you answer with only an educated guess. There is no penalty for guessing, so it is to your advantage to answer all questions.

5. Practice. In addition to the sample practice problems in Part II: Analysis of Exam Areas, we offer four complete practice tests. Practice, practice, practice is the key to your success on the CBEST.

Official CBEST Preparation Materials

Test Content: CBEST Test Specifications

CBEST Practice Test, Introduction and tutorialReading, Math, Writing

Each section of the CBEST practice test is available in a PDF format:

Reading Section Practice Test links to a PDF

Mathematics Section Practice Test links to a PDF

Writing Section Practice Test links to a PDF

Official Link: https://www.ctcexams.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/CA_CBEST_TestPage.html

See also:

Sentence Completion Practice Test 1

Sentence Completion Practice Test 1

Sentence Completion Practice Test 3

Sample Reading Tests

Reading Practice Test – 1

Reading Practice Test – 2

Reading Practice Test – 3

Reading Practice Test – 4

Reading Practice Test – 5

Sample Math Tests

Equations and Inequalities

Exponents

Probability

Mean Median Mode

Ratio

Percentages

Algebraic Expressions

Fractions and Decimals

Integers

Pre-Algebra 

Rational Numbers

Average

Age

Sample English Grammar Tests

Sentence Completion 1

Sentence Completion 2

Word Analogies Practice Test 

Sample Critical Reading Tests

Critical Reading 1

Critical Reading 2

Critical Reading 3