Coverage by content domain
Lessons and questions are organized around the exam’s content areas so your preparation reflects the structure of the assessment.
Why Test Alignment Matters for Your CSET: Social Science Subtest I Study Guide
Certification test standards are broad, but the exam questions are very specific. Our team of curriculum experts uses the 240 Study Guide Creation Process to ensure the most aligned, specific content for your CSET: Social Science Subtest I (114) test — so you are not wasting time on broad subject review that may not show up on exam day.
Why 240 is the best choice for the CSET 114 study guide
- Built around the official exam framework
- Organized by the competencies actually used on the exam
- Shows exactly what is covered and where depth is partial
- Includes aligned questions, flashcards, study materials, and videos
- Helps candidates study what is actually tested instead of broad generic content
Transparent coverage is a strength. We show where the guide is strong, where depth is partial, and where a gap has been identified so you can make an informed study decision.
How to Read This Alignment Review
2Domains
55Competencies reviewed
69%Test-aligned
38Covered
0Partially covered
17Gaps
- CoveredCompetency is comprehensively supported by the guide.
- Partially coveredCore content is covered, but some depth gaps remain.
- Coverage gap identifiedA content gap has been identified.
This study guide is based on the current official exam framework. We review and update alignment whenever the official framework changes so candidates are always studying current, accurate material.
World History (Domain 1)Covered
SMR 1.1 · Ancient Civilizations111 questions · 10 materials · 60 cards · 4 videosCovered
| Official competency | Matching 240 topics | Alignment | Qs | Mats | Cards | Vids | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. Describe what is known of the early physical and cultural development of humankind from the Paleolithic era to the agricultural revolution, explaining how the methods of archaeology and anthropology contribute to the understanding of prehistory. | Human Evolution | Covered | 10 | 1 | 5 | 0 | Covered by 1 topic (10 questions, 1 materials, 5 cards, 0 videos). |
| b. Describe and analyze the impact of human interaction with the physical environment (e.g., climate, landforms, soils, water) on the development of the ancient cultures of Fertile Crescent (e.g. Sumerian, Babylonian, Hebrew), Persia, Egypt, Kush, Greece, India, China, Rome, and pre-Columbian America. | Ancient Egypt; Ancient Greece; Ancient Rome; Mesopotamia; Kingdom of Kush; Ancient Hebrews; Ancient Persia; Ancient India; Ancient China | Covered | 101 | 9 | 57 | 4 | Covered by 9 topics (101 questions, 9 materials, 57 cards, 4 videos). |
| c. Describe and analyze the religious, social, economic, and political structures of the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, Kush, Greece, India, China, Rome, and pre- Columbian America, and describe and analyze their intellectual, ethical, scientific, and artistic accomplishments and values. | Ancient Egypt; Ancient Greece; Ancient Rome; Mesopotamia; Kingdom of Kush; Ancient Persia; Ancient India; Ancient China | Covered | 97 | 8 | 54 | 4 | Covered by 8 topics (97 questions, 8 materials, 54 cards, 4 videos). |
| d. Describe and analyze the foundations of western political and philosophical thought in ancient Greek, Roman, and Judeo-Christian traditions. | Ancient Greece; Ancient Rome; Ancient Hebrews | Covered | 35 | 3 | 22 | 2 | Covered by 3 topics (35 questions, 3 materials, 22 cards, 2 videos). |
| e. Describe and analyze the foundations of Asian political and philosophical thought found in ancient Chinese and Indian traditions (e.g., Legalism, Taoism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism). | Ancient India; Ancient China | Covered | 28 | 2 | 17 | 1 | Covered by 2 topics (28 questions, 2 materials, 17 cards, 1 videos). |
| f. Describe and analyze the importance and patterns of expansion and contraction of empires, religions, and trade that influenced various regional cultures through the decline of the Roman Empire. | Ancient Rome | Covered | 19 | 1 | 3 | 1 | Covered by 1 topic (19 questions, 1 materials, 3 cards, 1 videos). |
SMR 1.2 · Medieval and Early Modern Times173 questions · 17 materials · 71 cards · 0 videosCovered
| Official competency | Matching 240 topics | Alignment | Qs | Mats | Cards | Vids | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. Analyze the impact of geography, including both human and physical features, on the development of medieval and early-modern Asian, African (including sub-Saharan), Middle Eastern, pre-Columbian American, and European civilizations. | Trends in Early Civilizations; Environment and Medieval Development | Covered | 24 | 2 | 5 | 0 | Covered by 2 topics (24 questions, 2 materials, 5 cards, 0 videos). |
| b. Trace the decline of the Western Roman Empire and the development of the Byzantine Empire, and analyze the emergence of these two distinct European civilizations and their views on religion, culture, society, and politics. | Decline of Western Roman Empire; Byzantine Empire; The Ottoman Empire | Covered | 32 | 3 | 13 | 0 | Covered by 3 topics (32 questions, 3 materials, 13 cards, 0 videos). |
| c. Describe the role and expansion of Christianity in medieval and early modern Europe and the Middle East. | Christianity in Early Europe; Crusades; Great Schism | Covered | 19 | 3 | 13 | 0 | Covered by 3 topics (19 questions, 3 materials, 13 cards, 0 videos). |
| d. Identify the basic tenets of Islam, and describe Islamic society and culture between the beginning of the 7th century and the end of the 18th century. | Growth of Islam | Covered | 14 | 1 | 6 | 0 | Covered by 1 topic (14 questions, 1 materials, 6 cards, 0 videos). |
| e. Analyze the religious and secular contributions of Islam to European, African and Asian civilizations and the impact of medieval Muslim civilization on Asia, Africa, and Europe between the beginning of the 7th century and the end of the 18th century. | Growth of Islam | Covered | 14 | 1 | 6 | 0 | Covered by 1 topic (14 questions, 1 materials, 6 cards, 0 videos). |
| f. Analyze and compare and contrast the development of feudalism as a social, political, and economic system in Europe and Japan. | Rise of Feudalism | Covered | 10 | 1 | 6 | 0 | Covered by 1 topic (10 questions, 1 materials, 6 cards, 0 videos). |
| g. Compare and contrast the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of pre-Columbian American civilizations in North and South America between A.D. 500 and the end of the 18th century. | Native American Groups Pre-Colonization; Culture of the Pre-Columbian Americas; Maya, Inca, Aztec | Covered | 36 | 3 | 14 | 0 | Covered by 3 topics (36 questions, 3 materials, 14 cards, 0 videos). |
| h. Analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of Asia and Africa between A.D. 500 and the end of the 18th century. | Middle Eastern Influence on World Culture and Technology; African Influence on World Culture and Technology | Covered | 17 | 2 | 4 | 0 | Covered by 2 topics (17 questions, 2 materials, 4 cards, 0 videos). |
| i. Analyze the art, literature, music, science, and technology of the Renaissance and their diffusion and impact throughout Europe. | Scientific Revolution and the Renaissance | Covered | 13 | 1 | 11 | 0 | Covered by 1 topic (13 questions, 1 materials, 11 cards, 0 videos). |
| j. Analyze the political and religious transformations caused by the Reformation and their impact on Europe. | Reformation | Covered | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | Covered by 1 topic (8 questions, 1 materials, 7 cards, 0 videos). |
| k. Analyze the historical developments of the Scientific Revolution and the ideas of the Enlightenment and their effects on social, religious, political, economic, and cultural institutions. | Scientific Revolution and the Renaissance | Covered | 13 | 1 | 11 | 0 | Covered by 1 topic (13 questions, 1 materials, 11 cards, 0 videos). |
SMR 1.3 · Modern World History232 questions · 20 materials · 102 cards · 5 videosCovered
| Official competency | Matching 240 topics | Alignment | Qs | Mats | Cards | Vids | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. Describe and evaluate the significance of the “Age of Exploration,” and the main ideas of the Enlightenment and their influences on social, political, religious, and economic thought and practice. | Enlightenment; Origins of Democracy | Covered | 47 | 2 | 26 | 1 | Covered by 2 topics (47 questions, 2 materials, 26 cards, 1 videos). |
| b. Compare and contrast the American Revolution and the French Revolution and their enduring worldwide effects on political expectations for self-government and individual liberty. | French Revolution and Napoleon | Covered | 10 | 1 | 7 | 0 | Covered by 1 topic (10 questions, 1 materials, 7 cards, 0 videos). |
| c. Describe and analyze the emergence of nationalism in the 18th and 19th centuries and its impact on Western, African, and Asian societies. | Nineteenth Century Europe | Covered | 9 | 1 | 11 | 0 | Covered by 1 topic (9 questions, 1 materials, 11 cards, 0 videos). |
| d. Analyze the causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution, including its impact on science, technology, and society. | First Industrial Revolution | Covered | 24 | 1 | 8 | 0 | Covered by 1 topic (24 questions, 1 materials, 8 cards, 0 videos). |
| e. Describe the emergence and origins of new theories regarding politics, economics, literature, and the arts in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. | Nineteenth Century Europe | Covered | 9 | 1 | 11 | 0 | Covered by 1 topic (9 questions, 1 materials, 11 cards, 0 videos). |
| f. Analyze the economic, political, social, and geographic factors contributing to the emergence of 19th-century imperialism, and evaluate its impact on Africa, Southeast Asia, China, India, Latin America, and the Philippines. | French Imperialism; British Empire; Nineteenth Century Europe; Japanese Imperialism | Covered | 37 | 4 | 23 | 0 | Covered by 4 topics (37 questions, 4 materials, 23 cards, 0 videos). |
| g. Compare and contrast the social, political, and economic factors that influenced the Russian revolutions of 1905 and 1917. | Revolutions of the Early 20th Century; Rise of Communism and Fascism | Covered | 17 | 2 | 9 | 0 | Covered by 2 topics (17 questions, 2 materials, 9 cards, 0 videos). |
| h. Analyze the origins and course of World War I and its effects on Europe and the rest of the world, including its impact on science, technology, the arts, politics, society, economics, and geography. | World War I V1 | Covered | 21 | 1 | 11 | 1 | Covered by 1 topic (21 questions, 1 materials, 11 cards, 1 videos). |
| i. Analyze the conflict between fascist and Marxist/communist ideologies, and the rise, goals, and policies of dictatorships and totalitarian governments between the two World Wars. | Rise of Communism and Fascism | Covered | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | Covered by 1 topic (10 questions, 1 materials, 2 cards, 0 videos). |
| j. Analyze the origins, course, and consequences of World War II, including the human cost of the war (e.g., the Holocaust), the resulting redrawing of boundaries, and the movement of peoples in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. | World War II V1; Rise of Japan and Germany Post World War II | Covered | 21 | 2 | 9 | 1 | Covered by 2 topics (21 questions, 2 materials, 9 cards, 1 videos). |
| k. Analyze the international developments of the post-World War II era, including de- colonization, nationalism, nation-building, the development of international organizations, and global migration. | Latin American Wars of Independence; Decolonization in Africa and Asia; Post-World War II India; The European Union | Covered | 32 | 4 | 6 | 0 | Covered by 4 topics (32 questions, 4 materials, 6 cards, 0 videos). |
| l. Analyze the Cold War from its origins in the post-World War II 1940s to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, including its impact on social, cultural, political, economic, technological, and geographic developments in the world. | The Cold War; The Cold War - Divided Germany | Covered | 13 | 2 | 9 | 1 | Covered by 2 topics (13 questions, 2 materials, 9 cards, 1 videos). |
| m. Analyze the emergence of a global economy and its impact on the environment, epidemiology, and demographics, and the development and impact of the information, technology, and communications revolutions. | Rise of Globalism | Covered | 10 | 1 | 4 | 1 | Covered by 1 topic (10 questions, 1 materials, 4 cards, 1 videos). |
| n. Describe the causes and effects of genocide in the 20th century, including, but not limited to, the Armenian genocide, the Holocaust, and post-World War II “ethnic cleansing.” | World War I V1 | Covered | 21 | 1 | 11 | 1 | Covered by 1 topic (21 questions, 1 materials, 11 cards, 1 videos). |
| o. Explain and evaluate the strategic importance of the Middle East and the volatile political relations within the region. | Rise of Globalism | Covered | 10 | 1 | 4 | 1 | Covered by 1 topic (10 questions, 1 materials, 4 cards, 1 videos). |
World Geography (Domain 6)Partially covered
SMR 6.1 · Tools and Perspectives of Geographic Study50 questions · 4 materials · 19 cards · 1 videosCovered
| Official competency | Matching 240 topics | Alignment | Qs | Mats | Cards | Vids | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. Describe the criteria for defining regions and identify why places and regions are important. | Regions V1 | Covered | 10 | 1 | 5 | 0 | Covered by 1 topic (10 questions, 1 materials, 5 cards, 0 videos). |
| b. Explain the nature of map projections and use maps, as well as other geographic representations and technologies (including remote sensing and geographic information systems) to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective. | Using Maps; Types of Maps - Projections; Mapping Tools | Covered | 40 | 3 | 14 | 1 | Covered by 3 topics (40 questions, 3 materials, 14 cards, 1 videos). |
SMR 6.2 · Geographic Diversity of Natural Landscapes and Human Societies46 questions · 3 materials · 25 cards · 1 videosPartially covered
| Official competency | Matching 240 topics | Alignment | Qs | Mats | Cards | Vids | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. Analyze how unique ecologic settings are encouraged by various combinations of natural and social phenomena, including bio-geographic relationships with climate, soil, and terrain. | Weather and Climate; Ecosystems | Covered | 27 | 2 | 22 | 0 | Covered by 2 topics (27 questions, 2 materials, 22 cards, 0 videos). |
| b. Analyze the patterns and networks of economic interdependence across the earth’s surface during the agricultural, industrial, and post-industrial revolutions, including the production and processing of raw materials, marketing, consumption, transportation, and other measures of economic development. | None | Coverage gap identified | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No matching topic found in the study guide. |
| c. Describe the processes, patterns, and functions of human settlements from subsistence agriculture to industrial metropolis. | None | Coverage gap identified | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No matching topic found in the study guide. |
| d. Analyze the forces of cooperation and conflict among peoples and societies that influence the division and control of the earth’s surface (e.g., boundaries and frontiers, the control of resources, centripetal vs. centrifugal forces, spheres of influence). | Human-Environment Interaction | Covered | 19 | 1 | 3 | 1 | Covered by 1 topic (19 questions, 1 materials, 3 cards, 1 videos). |
SMR 6.3 · Culture and the Physical Environment60 questions · 5 materials · 31 cards · 2 videosCovered
| Official competency | Matching 240 topics | Alignment | Qs | Mats | Cards | Vids | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. Describe and analyze ways in which human societies and settlement patterns develop in response to the physical environment, and explain the social, political, economic, and physical processes that have resulted in today’s urban and rural landscapes. | Basic Concepts in Sociology; Branches of Anthropology; Causes of Human Migration; Population Change (DTM) V1 | Covered | 41 | 4 | 28 | 1 | Covered by 4 topics (41 questions, 4 materials, 28 cards, 1 videos). |
| b. Recognize the interrelationship of environmental and social policy. | Human-Environment Interaction | Covered | 19 | 1 | 3 | 1 | Covered by 1 topic (19 questions, 1 materials, 3 cards, 1 videos). |
How 240 Creates The CSET: Social Science Subtest I (114) Study Guide
Every 240 study guide starts with the official exam framework. From there, we organize lessons, practice, and study tools around the categories the exam uses to measure candidate knowledge.
Review the official exam framework
We begin with the standards, domains, competencies, objectives, or content categories published by the testing authority.
Map the tested categories
We map every major area the exam is designed to cover so the guide reflects the real structure of the test.
Build lessons around tested content
We create study materials to support the official blueprint, not broad filler content.
Cross-check practice against exam expectations
We review practice content against the framework and real exam patterns so preparation stays targeted.
Review and update as standards change
When official frameworks change, we review guides and update alignment as needed.
Reviewed by subject-matter experts and maintained to reflect current standards.
Why 240 Is Better Than Other Generic Study Guides
Not all study guides are built the same way. Here is what separates a test-aligned guide from a generic one — and why it matters when you are preparing for the CSET: Social Science Subtest I.
Generic prep
- Covers broad subject areas without structure
- No clear connection to the official exam framework
- Practice questions may not reflect the real test format
- May not update when official standards change
- Can be helpful for quick, broad review
240 test-aligned CSET 114 prep
- Every lesson maps to an official domain or competency
- Built directly from the official exam framework
- Practice questions aligned to what the exam actually measures
- A clear study path by tested category
- Study smarter and enter test day more prepared
FAQs About the CSET: Social Science Subtest I Study Guide
The questions teacher candidates ask us most often about the CSET: Social Science Subtest I study guide.
Is 240 a good study guide for CSET: Social Science Subtest I?
240 is a strong option because the guide is built around the official exam framework and shows detailed alignment by SMR and competency.
How closely does 240 align to the CSET 114 exam?
This guide is 69% aligned based on a competency-by-competency review of the official framework and the study resources included in the guide.
Does 240 cover every competency?
This page shows coverage transparently across covered, partially covered, and identified gaps so candidates can see exactly how the guide maps to the exam.
What does “partially covered” mean?
Partially covered means the guide addresses the core parts of a competency, but some depth or subtopics may still be limited.