Test Preparation
The following self-paced preparation guides for CBEST, CSET, and GRE are based upon five years’ experience with preparing students for standardized tests. They are intended to provide road maps for helping students achieve academic success.
Please consult the web page for the program you wish to attend for the tests required. Student Affairs at UC Irvine will assist you, if needed.
CBEST
Please note: If you plan to take the Multiple Subjects (MS) CSET, you may waive CBEST by passing the CSET Writing Skills in combination with the three other MS CSET subtests.
MULTIPLE SUBJECTS (MS) CSET
Three subtests (I, II, and III) are administered in the morning session.
CSET Writing Skills, subtest IV, is administered in the afternoon.
Subtests I, II, III may be taken singly on successive test dates in January, March, May, July, September, or November.
Many students find it more convenient, since Subtest III is the shortest, to combine Subtest III with Subtest I or, most frequently, with Subtest II.
In the morning session, the full five hours are available whether you are completing one, two, or three subtests.
- CSET Tips
- Comprehensive Guide for Preparing for CSET MS subtests I, II, and III
- CSET MS Math Glossary information for CSET II Math
- CSET Writing Skills information for subtest IV
Further assistance and materials are available in the Student Resource Center, 2010 Education. Email gse-test-prep@uci.edu and state your availability in your email.
SINGLE SUBJECT (SS) CSET
Please review the appropriate sections of the CSET Tips page.
SS CSET preparation for Art, English, French, Math, Music, Science, Social Science, and Spanish appears below. Each contains links to sources of information to assist you in your preparation.
Since each SS CSET is divided into subtests, you are strongly urged to take only one (Foundational-level Math) or a maximum of two subtests in one five-hour session.
Not all SS CSET are offered every two months. Check the Registration Schedule carefully for your particular Single Subject CSET.
Preparing for:
- CSET SS ART
- CSET SS ENGLISH
- CSET SS FRENCH
- CSET SS MATH
- CSET SS MUSIC
- CSET SS SCIENCE
- CSET SS SOCIAL SCIENCE
- CSET SS SPANISH
Further assistance and materials are available in the Student Resource Center, 2010 Education. Email gse-test-prep@uci.edu for additional information. Please state your availability in your email.
GRE
The GRE GENERAL test is required by the University of California for admission to most graduate programs and by UC Irvine for admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching program and the UCI Ph.D. in Education.
Further assistance and materials are available in the Student Resource Center, 2010 Education. Email gse-test-prep@uci.edu and state your availability in your e-mail.
CBEST = California Basic Educational Skills Test
CSET = California Subject Examinations for Teachers
GRE = Graduate Record Examination
MS = Multiple Subjects (K-6)
SS = Single Subject (7-12)