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Create AccountThe California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) Reading is one of 3 required CBEST subtests in the state of California that tests general knowledge for all prospective teachers. The CBEST Reading is a 90 minute computer-based test composed of 50 multiple-choice questions. There is a fee for all 3 of the CBEST subtests. CBEST results are commonly received within 3 weeks of taking the test itself. The CBEST reading questions will test your ability to read a given short passage and answer multiple-choice questions. These questions will test your comprehension of the passage and commonly involve sequence, language, and identifying a main idea. Other questions may test your critical thinking abilities, such as identifying logical problems, comparing viewpoints, or inferring things implied by the text.
| Test Name | CBEST Reading |
| Test Cost | $30 |
| Number of Questions | 50 multiple-choice questions |
| Time Allotted | 90 min |
| Test Sections | 1. Critical Analysis and Evaluation 2. Comprehension and Research |
The CBEST reading subtest is divided into two sections. In each section you will be given a short reading passage followed by one or more multiple-choice question. The reading may be from a range of sources such as a report, book, or article. There are two question sections in the CBEST reading test. The first covers Critical Analysis and Evaluation, requiring an in-depth analysis of the text and considering argument, techniques, language and authorial ideas. Around 40% of the test questions come from this section. The second section involves both Comprehension and Context, and Research and Reference Skills. The latter involves information in graph or other technical arrangements, while the former considers the ideas and word choice of the provided text. The remaining 60% of questions come from this section.
Composed of two subsections explained below, Comprehension and Research assesses your ability to understand information in a reading passage. This information may also include graphical data and charts, as well as a number of written formats from articles, books, or reports. This section is the most literal of the two, focusing broadly on presented ideas and surface understandings of language.
This subsection focuses on identifying and retrieving information, using common research and retrieval skills to identify what is needed from a question, find its location within a text, and select the correct multiple choice answer. In this section you may be asked to identify information from a series of reference arrangements, such as a table of contents, an index, section headings, or other structural parts of a book. For example, you may also be asked to identify the chapter location of a certain subject from a contents page. You may also have to identify the location of a particular piece of research information within a text from a range of different text types. You may also be asked to look at a provided graph or table and identify any relationships and information implied by the arrangement of data. This section also focuses on organization of the provided reading, and to answer questions accordingly.
This subsection requires you to understand at various levels the meanings of the provided text. This could include identifying relationships and sequences within the reading. You may be asked to generalize conclusions or make inferences from an informational text. You may encounter new vocabulary or figurative language and have to use context clues or apply your understanding of prefixes, suffixes and roots to determine their meaning. This area may also ask you to use context to resolve an ambiguous word, sentence or passage within the reading. Finally, it may test your understanding of important transitional phrases such as "however" and "by contrast" and how they affect meaning in a reading passage.
This subsection of the CBEST reading test assesses your understanding of a text's main idea, viewpoint, and argument from short provided samples. You are likely to encounter questions focusing on the evidence (facts, examples, etc.) behind an author's main idea. This may involve comparing and contrasting sources or identifying facts and assumptions to support this argument. You may be asked to decide if an argument is strengthened or weakened by a statement, to distinguish between facts and opinions, and recognize persuasive techniques. This section also focuses on an understanding of an author's viewpoint and how they organize and present facts and combine this with opinions in a given text. The test could provide you with multiple sources with inconsistent points of view or require you to recognize the intended audience, then deciding if a tone is inconsistent or inappropriate. These passages may come from a range of sources but all are intended to engage your critical thinking at a deeper, more analytical level than the comprehension section.
Your first step is to register for the test. You can currently register for any of the three ways to take the CBEST reading exam: paper-based, online-proctored, or computer-based. The test content is the same however on all tests: 50 multiple-choice questions. Additionally all questions are in English and all answers must also be in English. No matter which method you choose you must register for the test at the CTC Exams website. They require you to create an account, select a method and date, then pay the CBEST registration fee, which differs depending on your chosen method.
This method is available year-round at a Pearson testing center, Monday through Saturday. You will sit at a testing center computer with other test takers, and take the test within 1 hour and 30 minutes. You can locate CBEST test locations at the CTC website. One advantage of this method is that test takers receive preliminary test results immediately after the test, with full scores available within 2 weeks of the test date. It costs $30 to register for this test. The testing center permits very few items on your person as you take the test and you should arrive promptly for your appointment to avoid being denied entry to the testing room.
CBEST online proctoring is a new method due to COVID lockdown. This allows you to take the CBEST Reading exam from home or a workplace. There are strict requirements for this method:
Be sure to consult the CTC website for all regulations, as there are many. They will send your CBEST scores within two weeks of the testing date. It costs $30 to register for this test.
The paper test is not currently available. California is now phasing out the paper test and there are far less available appointments at testing centers across the country, around 5 per year. Additionally, all future test dates may be cancelled at any time and there are a limited number of CBEST test locations across California. The test format is different for the paper exam. Firstly, the registration fee is $41. You may register for 1, 2 or all 3 of the CBEST test sections for the paper-based test (reading, writing, mathematics) but whichever you choose the test length is 4 hours. Test results will be available within 3 weeks of your testing date, rather than 2. Similar restrictions on what you can bring into the testing room exist for this, as for the computer-based test.
Your raw score is available to you after the computer-based test but the other two methods require a longer wait. The raw score will simply show how many of the 50 multiple-choice you answered correctly. The CBEST scaled score for individual sections, for which you have to wait, will be a score ranging from 20 to 80. A scaled score of 41 is a passing score for all 3 CBEST sections, and a total score of 123 for all 3 tests is needed to pass the CBEST as a whole. However a scaled score of 37 on the CBEST Reading is a fail, and you will need to retake the test.
CBEST Reading practice tests are invaluable ways to gauge both your knowledge and readiness to take the final CBEST test. A CBEST reading comprehension practice test such as the official one from California Educational Credentialing, who create the test, is an efficient way to help you understand your skill challenges as you prepare. CBEST Practice tests contain CBEST reading practice questions close to those on the final exam and the same number (50) of questions. Depending on what form of test you choose to do, paper or digital, it should have either an answer sheet or will automatically analyze your answers. Try to take the practice test under similar timed conditions as the final test should inform you after completion which answers are incorrect. You can then review which skill areas need review before testing day and to what amount. Multiple incorrect answers in, for example, critical analysis, likely means you should devote more of your study time to improving your understanding in that area and finding relevant CBEST reading section tips.
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
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Bryan McMahon, M.A. is a high school biology and special education teacher in New Jersey with over 14 years of teaching experience. He has hundreds of hours of experience tutoring aspiring teachers to take the CSET/CBEST exam suite. He has successfully passed the science and special education Praxis exams. Bryan completed a B.S. in Education from Seton Hall University and an M.A. in Teaching from Mangrove College.
As the CBEST is composed of three subtests, a passing score on the CBEST Reading depends on the score on the other two. Any scaled score lower than 37 is a fail. An overall CBEST score of 123 is needed to pass all three. Taking a CBEST reading comprehension practice test is a good way to increase your likelihood of passing.
The CBEST reading has 50 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour and 30 minutes. The paper-based test allows you 4 hours for all 3 of the CBEST subtests. Read the article for more CBEST reading section tips.
Taking a CBEST reading comprehension practice test to prepare you for the format and content is an excellent strategy for passing the final exam.
There are 50 multiple-choice questions on the CBEST reading test. You can familiarize yourself with the question types and formats by taking a CBEST reading comprehension practice test.
