If you plan to teach upper-level social studies in California, you’ll likely need to pass the CSET: Social Science test in order to get credentialed. As you may know, this exam has three separate subtests, including Social Science: Subtest III (116), each of which are critical to passing the CSET: Social Science test as a whole. Therefore, it’s important to understand the scoring system of the CSET: Social Science: Subtest III (116). If you know what it takes to pass, you’ll be able to prepare more effectively.
To give you a leg up, this article will cover all you need to know about CSET: Social Science: Subtest III (116) exam scoring.
Overview of the CSET: Social Science: Subtest III (116) Scoring Guide:
The questions on the CSET: Social Science: Subtest III (116) exam will assess your competence in the following areas:
- Civics
- Economics
- California History
The exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions and three written responses. It has a time limit of 1 hour and 45 minutes. For more details on the structure of this test, take a look at our CSET: Social Science: Subtest III (116) exam overview.
How the Exam is Scored
The CSET: Social Science: Subtest III (116) exam is scored by taking the sum of your correct answers, in addition to the holistic scores from your written responses, and converting them to a scaled score that takes test difficulty into account.
There is no penalty for incorrect answers on this exam.
Passing Score
To pass the CSET: Social Science: Subtest III (116) exam, you must receive a scaled score of at least 220.
When Will You Get Your Score Report
Typically, you will receive your score report within seven weeks of testing. Visit the CTC website to find the exact day your CSET: Social Science: Subtest III (116) scores will be released. (Scroll down to “Test Results.”)
Understanding Your Score Report
Your CSET: Social Science: Subtest III (116) score report will show your scaled score for the exam. This ranges from 100 to 300, with 220 being the minimum score to pass.
The score report will also show how your free responses were graded. Short responses are scored on a scale of 1-3 and reflect how well you addressed the particular prompt, how accurate your answer was, and how well you supported your argument.
(If you see a “U” score instead of a number, this means your response was unrelated, not in English, or not original. A “B” means the question was left blank.)
On the reverse side of the report, you should find diagnostic information about how well you did on each content domain. If you did not pass the exam, you can use this data to identify where you’re struggling and which domains you need to study more closely.
Retaking the Exam
If you don’t pass the CSET: Social Science: Subtest III (116) exam on your first try, you are allowed to retake it as many times as you wish. However, you must wait 45 days between each attempt.
Conclusion:
CSET: Social Science: Subtest III (116) exam scores play a key role in establishing your teaching career in California. Understanding how this test is scored and what is required to pass should help you prepare more effectively, maximizing your chances of success.
Even if your first try was unsuccessful, you should feel confident that you can pass the CSET: Social Science: Subtest III test. With diligent study and a clear understanding of the exam, you’ll be well prepared for your next attempt.
More CSET: Social Science: Subtest III Resources
- Kick off your exam prep with a free CSET: Social Science: Subtest III (116) practice test.
- Dig deeper into the structure of this assessment with our CSET: Social Science: Subtest III (116) exam overview
- Looking for more help? Check out our CSET: Social Science: Subtest III (116) study guide.
