CBEST Reading Test Breakdown
The reading portion of the CBEST is made up of 50 multiple choice questions, which vary in their difficulty, complexity and subject matter.
You have 4 hours to complete the CBEST, no matter how many sections you take.
The test measures two skill factors, and all of the questions can be answered based solely on the information given in the passages.
CBEST Reading Skill Factors
The reading section of the CBEST has two skill factors:
- Critical Analysis and Evaluation
- Comprehension and Research Skills
There are 50 questions, and not all of them come from reading passages. The test looks at your ability to understand information that comes from written passages, tables and graphs.
The questions cover multiple subjects with different degrees of difficulty and complexity,
But: You can answer all of the questions based only on the information given in the test.
Critical Analysis and Evaluation – 40%
Analysis and Evaluation covers your knowledge of identifying, recognizing, and determining the central ideas, author’s point of view, and intended audience from the passage you read.
These questions cover:
- Identifying what supports a writer’s main idea, and inconsistencies or differences in the point-of-view from a passage or two sources
- Recognizing the writer’s viewpoint, persuasive techniques, audience and how the specific words used communicate the correct/incorrect tone
- Determining relevant information in the writer’s argument, what strengthens/weakens it, and what statements are facts and what are opinions
Comprehension and Research
Comprehension and Research questions test your ability to logically and accurately read the text and make conclusions about specific words and ideas.
These questions cover:
Words – using context clues, syntax and structure to determine meaning of unknown words, figurative or colloquial language, how context changes a word’s meaning or how words can have different interpretations or meanings.
Ideas – identifying the relationship between general/specific ideas, arranging ideas into an outline, recognizing the main idea or purpose statement, identifying accurate paraphrases or summaries of ideas and recognizing implied relationships between people, ideas and events.
With the reading questions, there’s no penalty for wrong answers – so even if you don’t know, make your best guess!
And that is some basic information about the CBEST Reading section.
If you’re ready to see how you’ll do on the exam, check out our free CBEST Reading Practice Test.