The CBEST® is the California Basic Skills Education Test, and it is a standardized exam used to evaluate basic competency of prospective teachers. The exam is given in Oregon and California and is usually required to get most teaching credentials or to obtain an emergency credential for substitute teaching. In some cases, colleges offering credential programs require student test scores and base admission on a passing score. The test evaluates skills in reading, writing, and basic math up to limited algebra, geometry, and simple statistic applications. Many people can pass this test with a high school education or by doing well in their first couple of years of college.
There are CBEST® testing centers located in many places, and some even offer online testing if people prefer it. Many times, CBEST® testing takes place on a high school, junior or college campus, and the test takers have a maximum of four hours to complete it, though some people finish sooner. Registration is usually online only, though some areas may have phone or postal registration. Moreover, people can take single sections of the CBEST® if they have not passed them; a student could go back and retake the math section without redoing the entire test, for example, and the score would be adjusted accordingly.
The basic parts of the CBEST® include two essays, a reading section, and a math section. Students write two prompted essays in a one-hour period; the best format for composition is the five-paragraph essay style. The reading section involves evaluating about 50 text passages and responding to multiple choice questions on comprehension and analysis. The math section of the CBEST® has 50 questions that examine a range of knowledge, which typically does not exceed high school algebra.
Test-takers must show basic competency in all areas. Generally, the minimum score needed to pass is 123, but that score must mean minimal scores of 37 in each section. A student cannot pass with a score of less than 37 in any area. Many students with a college degree have much better scores on this test, and it is not considered to be as academically rigorous as standardized tests like the GRE®, LSAT® or MCAT®.
The CBEST® website has practice tests that can be taken online, and there are many books that might help people prepare. People with disabilities or who need accommodations due to religious practices can find how to apply for these on the website. This test is offered frequently, and people often get their scores back in about four to six weeks, if not sooner.
