Welcome to the first personalized study guide tailored to your unique learning path. Access engaging content, sample prompts and test-taking strategies to ace the CBEST Writing exam. Our subscription includes access to the entire California catalog, plus a money-back guarantee!
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The CBEST Writing exam consists of 2 essay questions with a 1 hour and 30 minute time limit.
The CBEST Writing exam costs $30. Each subtest of the CBEST exam (Reading, Mathematics and Writing) costs $30. You must register and pay for each subtest separately.
To take the CBEST, you must present an original, government-issued, valid (non-expired) identification that has your photograph, full name, and signature. Make sure to bring the ID with you on the day of the test to the testing center. For most test-takers, a valid driver’s license or United States Passport is a valid ID.
By appointment, year-round, Monday through Saturday (excluding some holidays). Test appointments are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and seating is limited. You can check for availability appointments here.
Each CBEST section (math, reading, and writing) is graded on a scale from 20 to 80, with a scaled score of 41 to pass each section. To pass the entire test, you must score 123 or higher. It is possible to pass the CBEST with a scaled score on one or two sections as low as 37, provided that the total score is 123 or higher.
Learn more about the exam’s scoring in our full scoring guide.
The CBEST Writing study guide includes instructional content and CRQ tips to help prepare your for your CBEST Writing exam, The study guide also include 6 total sample prompts that allow you to test your writing skills. Each prompt comes with 2 sample responses, one with a good score and one with a bad score, so after you write your response you can compare your response to the sample responses.
You can start studying by taking our diagnostic test to learn your strengths and weaknesses. Then you can start working through the concepts. The instructional content, which includes videos and written content, gives you all the necessary information to understand that topic. Each concept has its own set of flashcards and quizzes you can use to test your knowledge of that specific concept quickly. Once you have worked through all the concepts, you can move on to the full-length practice tests. These practice tests mimic the test day environment, meaning they will have the same amount of questions and time limit as the real test. You will have three attempts at taking the practice test.
Our curriculum team studies all of the standards and competencies for the CBEST Writing exam and cross-references them with the current and previous questions released by the official testing company. We then work with content and teaching experts to distill down what test-takers need to know. No matter where you are in the study guide, you can always see how the concept you are learning is aligned to the test standards.
The CBEST Writing study guide was created to help you pass your CBEST Writing exam. The comprehensive study guide provides you with all the information and study resources you need to be successful on test day!
With over 60 years of combined teaching experience and advanced degrees, our education experts work countless hours to methodically evaluate the content and condense it down to test-aligned study guides guaranteed to help you pass.
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