CBEST Math Test Prep
CBEST Exam Overview
If your dream is to be a teacher in California, you’ll first have to pass the CBEST in order to qualify for certification. This demanding exam measures prospective teachers’ aptitudes in reading, writing, and math. For most people, the math section is the big stumbling block. Although you can take the exam as many times as you like, the longer it takes for you to pass, the longer you have to put your life on hold. Don’t let repeated failures discourage you from pursuing your goals. Take advantage of the best way to prepare for the CBEST math test!
How to Pass the CBEST
There’s no need to worry about how to pass the CBEST exam when you can access an interactive cbest study guide online. Look for a program that offers a stress-free, incremental approach that introduces concepts gradually, allowing you to learn at your own pace. Each lesson should start with dynamic whiteboard videos that acquaint you with the concepts, followed by engaging practice problems, complete with clear audio instructions to develop the concepts further and make certain you feel entirely comfortable. Finally, make sure there’s a way to prove to yourself that you know what you’re doing with a short quiz. This straightforward educational design is extremely effective and gets the job done.
An emphasis on focused CBEST math test prep is important as well. Some people have stronger backgrounds than others and only need help in a few areas. If this describes your situation, you’ll want diagnostic pretests at the beginning of each section to confirm your pre-existing knowledge, allowing you to skip concepts, saving valuable time.
For many students, however, skipping sections is the last thing on their minds because they’re already nervous about simply getting through the course. If you fall in this camp, you’ll benefit from optional background modules that take a deep-dive into each concept, laying a solid foundation for understanding with a meticulous review of the basics. Don’t waste your precious time studying material that you won’t find on the CBEST test. Make sure that your test prep material only includes the topics you’ll encounter come test day. In short, look for a tailored system designed to fit your personal math requirements so you can complete your CBEST test prep in as little or as much time as you need.
CBEST Tutoring
More than anything, effective CBEST tutoring must keep students interested and engaged. The best online CBEST test prep will make sure the student never loses interest by offering a robust learning experience, filled with concise video explanations from experienced teachers and thoroughly-explained, interactive practice problems. Why bore yourself with thick, dry books or websites filled with tedious practice questions that lack the proper instruction? Find a method of review that not only builds a teacher into the CBEST prep class to guide you every step of the way, but also features detailed progress reports and a powerful grading system that provides the motivation required to continue on your journey. You’ll discover that there’s no better way to study for the CBEST math exam.
As a final confirmation of your preparedness, your course should provide an online CBEST math practice test that you can take as many times as you like (with new questions each time) to crystallize your knowledge. A good score on this “final exam” means that you’re ready to take the CBEST.
Expensive private tutors and classroom programs are a thing of the past. An online CBEST math study guide will use the wonders of technology to remove the barriers of inconvenience and high costs associated with the old way of doing things. This cutting-edge approach can provide the help you need to get a passing score on the CBEST math test and remove a major hurdle on your path to becoming a teacher.
CBEST FAQ
How long does it take to prepare for CBEST?
In general, you should expect to spend one or two hours a day for one to three months preparing for the CBEST. However, this amount can vary depending on your math background.
What is the best CBEST prep book?
There are lots of products on the market, but some are significantly better than others. Five of the best CBEST prep books are:
- CBEST Math Test Prep by MathHelp
- CBEST Test Preparation by Cirrus Teacher Certification Exam Prep Team
- CliffsNotes CBEST, 7th Edition
- CBEST Prep Book 2019 & 2020 by Apex Test Prep
- Cracking the CBEST, 3rd Edition by the Princeton Review
How do I prepare for the CBEST?
Try these five tips to help with your CBEST math prep.
- Let the format be your friend. CBEST’s math section is multiple-choice, which means the right answer is sitting on the page, waiting for you to find it. You can use the process of elimination to narrow down your choices.
- Work on your translation skills. Translating English into mathematical language is the one skill that will be useful in the majority of test questions in the math section.
- Practice showing your work. Calculators aren’t allowed on the CBEST math section, so you’ll need to be comfortable doing all of your calculations with paper and pencil.
- Read carefully. There’s often critical information “hidden” in the fine print as part of a chart, graph, table, or diagram. Read the problem, and then read it again.
- Watch out for “trap” questions. The CBEST exam writers like to choose problems that lend themselves to common mistakes.
How many math questions are on the CBEST?
There are 50 multiple-choice questions included in the math section. The majority will be word problems, though some will be more traditional equations and so on.
What kind of math is on the CBEST?
The exam includes a comprehensive survey of basic mathematical concepts including computation and problem-solving, graphical and numerical relationships, measurement, estimation, and statistical concepts.
Is the CBEST Math hard?
The CBEST math is hard because the test is designed to make sure the prospective teacher is highly proficient. Therefore, it’s important to prepare thoroughly.
The CBEST lessons were really helpful. I like how there are practice sessions to adapt and to test my knowledge on it. The test itself went better than I expected.Terrill Tackwood - April 2025
I passed the CBEST thanks to your program!Carlos Turner - November 2024
I passed my CBEST test yesterday with flying colors. Your program was so good. I'm going to be teaching 4th and 5th grade this year. This really helped me get prepared for the year.Blake Williams - August 2024
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What is the CBEST Test?
The California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) is a standardized test administered in the state of California. The test is intended to score basic proficiency in reading, mathematics, and writing. The test is divided into three sections: the reading and math sections each containing 50 multiple-choice questions; and the writing section, consisting of two essay questions. The entire test must be completed in four hours, and test-takers may allocate the time to each section at their discretion. There is no limit to the number of times the test may be taken. Test-takers do not have to pass all three sections in one sitting.
The California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) is a standardized test which can satisfy the basic skills requirement for teacher credentialing in the state of California. It was developed by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to meet the California Education Code (Section 44254), which was amended by the legislature of California on February 1, 1983. This amendment "requires teachers, administrators, and other school practitioners, [to] demonstrate adequate proficiency, in English, of three basic skills: reading, mathematics, and writing." It does not test an individual’s teaching skills or abilities; it only tests reading skills (critical analysis, evaluation, comprehension, and research skills), mathematics skills (estimation, measurement, computation, and problem-solving, etc.), and writing skills that are considered important for a job in the education field, either at the elementary, secondary, or higher education levels.
The CBEST gives a separate score for each section tested, and a passing score must be obtained in every section to pass the test. Passing the CBEST is one way to satisfy the California Education Code basic skills requirement for obtaining a California teaching credential, required to teach in California public schools.
The mathematics section contains 50 multiple-choice questions that assess cumulative knowledge of the mathematics traditionally taught in elementary and high school and, sometimes, in college. These questions come from three broad categories: arithmetic, algebra, and measurement and geometry. None of the questions strictly tests computation, but computational skills are required throughout the test.