CSET Multiple Subjects I, II, III: TEST PREPARATION

SUBTEST I - READING, LANGUAGE, and LITERATURE

Make sure to read relevant sections of the CSET Tips page as it contains invaluable strategies to help you do well on test day.

From the CSET website, print and read the description of the test. http://www.cset.nesinc.com/PDFs/CS_101subtestdescription.pdf

Study the questions and choices from the practice test. http://www.cset.nesinc.com/CS_viewPT_opener.asp

The tests are based on content standards and frameworks: English Language Arts standards http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/elacontentstnds.pdf; Reading/Language Arts frameworks & glossary: http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/pn/fd/documents/rlafw.pdf

Phonemic Awareness

Phonemic Awareness is a key concept to understand. See the links below, and use them to expand your study of the teaching of reading.

National Institute for Literacy fifty-page booklet below gives a comprehensive introduction to teaching reading.
Put Reading First: Kindergarten Through Grade 3
http://lincs.ed.gov/publications/pdf/PRFbooklet.pdf

Phonological and Phonemic Awareness:
http://www.bridgew.edu/Library/CAGS_Projects/VCAIN/

Spelling

Be prepared for one of the constructed responses to address children’s spelling development, as in the practice test. See the two articles below to learn how.

Developmental Spelling, Dr. J. Richard Gentry

www.readingonline.org/articles/handbook/templeton/index.html

Reading a Poem:
For an approach to another possible constructed response, go to http://sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu/~egjbp/readpoem.html

Glossary of Literary Terms relevant up to 8th grade: www.virtualsalt.com/litterms.htm

Study terms from this handbook of Rhetorical devices, as appropriate:
www.virtualsalt.com/rhetoric.htm

Grammar for style and usage and punctuation information:
http://englishplus.com/grammar/

SUBTEST I - HISTORY and SOCIAL SCIENCE

From the CSET website, print and read the description of the test.
http://www.cset.nesinc.com/PDFs/CS_101subtestdescription.pdf

Study the questions and answer choices from the practice test. http://www.cset.nesinc.com/CS_viewPT_opener.asp

The content standards listed in outline form are available from http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/histsocscistnd.pdf.

As narrative, from p. 54:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/pn/fd/documents/hist-social-sci-frame.pdf
Read both focusing on 4th through 7th grades.

Many schools are using Houghton Mifflin textbooks, online in outline form.
http://eduplace.com/ss/hmss/4/laag/99/toc99.html
Replace the 4 with 5/6/7/ to get 5th, 6th, or 7th grade material.

U.S. History: Study the Outlines and Charts, Practice Quizzes, and Chronologies.

http://faculty.polytechnic.org/gfeldmeth/lecturesok.html

Ancient World History: http://www.awhistory.com/

Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt: http://library.thinkquest.org/10805/index.html

American/World History: http://www.mce.k12tn.net/history/historypages.htm

California History: http://www.californiahistory.net/

California History: We Are California: http://www.weareca.org/index.php/en

History of Kids: http://www.historyforkids.org/

Browse the World: http://www.mrdowling.com/

Search for particular topics online, identified by the subtest description.

SUBTEST II - SCIENCE

Make sure to read relevant sections of the CSET Tips page as it contains invaluable strategies to help you do your best on test day.

Print the test description and study all the topics listed for Science.

http://www.cset.nesinc.com/PDFs/CS_102subtestdescription.pdf

Study the test questions and answers from the CSET online practice test.
http://www.cset.nesinc.com/CS_viewPT_opener.asp

Study Chapter 3 The Science Content Standards for Kindergarten through Grade Five and Chapter 4 The Science Content Standards for Grades Six through Eight:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/allfwks.asp

References for Science in 7th and 8th grade: http://www.svusd.org/p_subject.asp?sid=5827

SUBTEST II - MATHEMATICS

Print the test description and study all the topics listed.
http://www.cset.nesinc.com/PDFs/CS_102subtestdescription.pdf

Study test questions and answers from the online practice test.
http://www.cset.nesinc.com/CS_viewPT_opener.asp

Study Chapter 2 The California Mathematics Content Standards for Kindergarten through Grade Seven and Chapter 3 Grade-Level Considerations for Kindergarten through Grade Seven from http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/allfwks.asp
Explore Appendix D and the Glossary for more.

SUBTEST III - PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Make sure to read relevant sections of the CSET Tips page as it contains invaluable strategies to help you do your best on test day.

Familiarize yourself with the content from test descriptions:

http://www.cset.nesinc.com/PDFs/CS_103subtestdescription.pdf

Study the test questions and answers from the CSET online practice test.
http://www.cset.nesinc.com/CS_viewPT_opener.asp

Read the Physical Education Content Standards for grades K-6:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/pn/fd/documents/pestandards.pdf

PE Central: http://www.pecentral.org/; PE Links http://www.pelinks4u.org/

SUBTEST III - HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Familiarize yourself with the content from the CSET test descriptions:

http://www.cset.nesinc.com/PDFs/CS_103subtestdescription.pdf

Study the test questions and answers from the CSET online practice test.
http://www.cset.nesinc.com/CS_viewPT_opener.asp

Learning Theories: www.nova.edu/~burmeist/learning_theory.html

SUBTEST III - VISUAL and PERFORMING ARTS

Familiarize yourself with the content from the CSET test descriptions:
http://www.cset.nesinc.com/PDFs/CS_103subtestdescription.pdf

Study the test questions and answers from the CSET online practice test.
http://www.cset.nesinc.com/CS_viewPT_opener.asp

Study Chapter 3 Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards for Kindergarten through Grade Six and Chapter 4 Guidance for Visual and Performing Arts Programs for Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/allfwks.asp

Review key terms from the Glossary and strengthen your knowledge of academic language of visual and performing arts from the frameworks.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/pn/fd/vpaframework.asp

Excellent for Visual Arts preparation and to learn key terms, see:
http://www.vcss.k12.ca.us/Portals/VcssoPortals/tss/visarts/index.htm

Other materials are available at UCI in the Student Resource Center, 2010 Education. For an appointment or more assistance, email gse-test-prep@uci.edu stating your availability during the week.