Customer Reviews

CA CSET Math 7-12 (REA) - The Best Teachers' Test Prep for the Cset

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Recently I took the Algebra/Number Theory (domain I) CSET exam recently. I am applying to the Credentials and M.A. in Education progarm at UC Davis, and needed to take any of the 3 domains / modules.

Some people think they have to take all 3 domains (algebra, geometry, and calculus), but the only one required is the subject matter one intends to teach in. I decided to take the Algebra/Number Theory domain exam, thinking that this would take the least time to prepare. I actually procrastinate and read the review material for 5 hours in the morning before taking the exam. Actually, it turned out to be a good strategy, as it was a good warmup for harder problems, but I had the theory fresh in mind. I also found that using probability/statistics and calculus knowledge helped me solve some problems faster.

THE EXAM:

When taking the CSET (1 to 3 modules) one has 5 hours to complete the exam (they recommend answering/filling out all questions). Each module is made up of 30 multiple choice questions (A,B,C,D) that are quite challenging and time-consuming, and 4 constructed-response questions (where one has to show all the steps in the proof/solution work). I know at $70 the exam seems quite pricey, and one may feel tempted to do all 3 modules, but one has to consider also the time pressure and desired score.

WHY THIS BOOK:

First of all, this book is newly published (and very current with the latest exam objectives), very well organized, easy to use, comprehensive, and has practice exams and extras on CD.

IF YOU ARE TAKING MODULE 1 (Albegra + Number Theory):

I would recommend you do some difficult/challenging problems from other sources on these topics and understand the theory very well:

* Integers, Real numbers, Rational and Irrational, and their components. How to write proofs and use definitions.

* Review and know well your Complex numbers (eg, if given two different roots, realize that their conjugate is also a root)

* Polynomials, polynomials, polynomials (how theory/definitions apply, higher orders -5th, 7th, functions and their inverse graphs etc.)

* Quadratic functions, Absolute Values, Inequalities, and Vectors are a sure thing.

* Know how to find domains of various functions, and how to use composite functions.

* Logarithms, logarithms, and extensible logarithms.

* Matrices and Linear Equations will be thoroughly tested via a more than a couple of problems (know about matrix arithmetic rules, identity matrix, and especially how to work with invertible matrixes, and matrix multiplications).

ABOVE ALL, if you understand the theories and definitions, you can work out the problems with some time consumption, but if you think you can backward engineer the answers from the multiple choices on the exam you are in for a big surprise. This exam will test your patience and your math skills.

WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY:

I spent 3 hours finishing up module 1. I realized that the multiple choice questions took me between 4 and 5 minutes, and I spent 15 min. per constructed-response question. I would spend 6 weeks as the author recommends to pace oneself, and take some sample exams under test conditions.

The only additional materials I would supplement this study-book with, are real practice CSET exams, and textbook problems that are more challenging and make one think on how the theory applies in real problems. Reviewing the theory the morning of the exam has helped me tremendously, but I felt the book lacked difficult sample problems, and also I found a few typos here and there (eg. page 18 wrong sign on a polynomial formula. This exam will test your patience and your math skills. I also plan on using this book as a reference for future graduate work. Good luck on your exams!!!

I first reviewed for the CSET with this book. I found that for the most part, it covered the formulas I needed to know for the Subtest I and II but for the Calculus part of it (test III) and History of Math I had to learn a lot more about those subjects for the test. Especially with Calculus, you have to know Taylor and Maclaurin series and all this EXTRA stuff that even an AP Calc student probably didn't put too much effort into studying. Also, it seems there is no really great resource for learning history of math - I just went through an online time line and picked and chose relevant mathematicians and made flash cards and that seemed to be enough for the test. The tough part is one of the constructed response questions uses a history of math topic so it may be an old formula that isn't true anymore and you have to use the formula and then use a contemporary formula and compare the results....at least that's what my test had on it.....it's pretty tough....you also need to know some of the more obscure trig identities like the half angles and the addition and sum formulas....lots of memorizing for that test.

I ended up checking out a Calc book and a Stats book - the stats in this book covers the basics but you're going to have to know how to conduct all the different tests - t test, hypothesis tests, p values, Chi square tests, z scores, confidence intervals - none of this stuff is in this book. So, it's a great starting point if you need to get your feet wet but you're not going to pass the CSET with this book alone :( sorry to say.....but at the same time I learned a lot from it and it's a great resource for formulas and for the practice tests.

For Subtest I, the book is kind of light in the Number theory section - the test requires you to know about fields and rings and prime number history...also to be able to prove that a set of numbers is a field or ring using properties of commutativity, associativity, distributivity, inverses, addition and multiplication identity, etc etc. The 'nuance' and subtlety that the CSET is testing is not really present in the review materials in any of the subtests but they are hinted at in the test questions in the book. I would recommend using the book as an initial refresher and then getting into textbooks and wikipedia for reinforcement.

I have been tutoring pre-algebra and algebra for several years now, and decided to take Level 1 CSET/ Math test so I could teach Middle School math. A musician by training and K-12 homeschool teacher in my previous life, I know this math pretty well.

I have not worked the whole CSET/Math TP book, nor will I, but so far I have found the how-to-do-it explanations worse than any textbook I have tutored from, and that is saying a lot. Their explanation for finding slope barely touches on y = mx+b, which is the standard equation, and left me scratching my head in disbelief.

Perhaps they are trying to keep clear thinkers out of math education -- (I have certainly suspected this in the Math for Teachers classes.) Perhaps the practice tests are fairly standard, but I will NOT use this TP book at all. It is terrible.

the explanations and practice problems they give dont even compare to questions that are asked on the cset. the explanations are too simple and are not detailed enough for what you will be tested on. i wouldnt recommend this test prep book to anyone. its a waste of money, in my opinion.

This book is very over-simplified and didn't compare at all to the actual test. It goes into detail about easy math, glosses over harder math, and doesn't even come close to the depth you'll need for the test. The sample questions on the CSET site are much closer to being like the test, and it would be better to get real high school math books and review every chapter.

I went to pick up this edition of the book rather than the book w/ CD. For being out of the undergraduate scene for a couple of years, this book has plenty of great material for those who are looking to become secondary math teachers. It is very helpful, in my opinion, that you read through and practice the problems presented in this book if you are near the end or recently graduated from college/university. The book presents theorems and explanations very much like a summary of one's mathematical journey taking math classes from middle school years through college. You will definitely need to fill in the gaps in several places to keep up with material continuity.

Practice material in this book do not reflect the difficulty of the actual CSET Math Subtests. I hear different things from those who have taken the test. For the most part, the actual test is much harder. Some people had the delight of seeking roots of functions more often. Some people had the equivalent joy of working with algebraic concepts of Groups, Fields, and Rings (which this book does not present). And others had stories of the Statistics. What ever you happen to endure when taking the subtests in the future, make sure that you are solid. This book helps but isn't the be-all end-all prep material for CSET Math.

a good starting point, maybe. the practice tests are nothing like the real cset. the cset asks much more abstract (that's the best word i can think of) type of questions--the sample test on the cset website gives a much better idea of the type of questions on the exam. this book's subject matter review is also very basic and doesn't go in-depth enough. I didn't rely solely on this book for studying, and would NOT recommend it for anyone to use as their only study guide. there were some topics on the cset that weren't in this book at all, and most other topics were woefully inadequate.

I wanted to write this review almost as a warning. I bought this book hoping that it would help me pass the CSET after hearing that the exam has around a 35% pass rate. The problem with this book is that it almost dumbs down the subjects and makes you feel as though you will smash the exam. The real test however is immensley more difficult and had this book been the only resource I utilized, I do not believe I would have passed. The book is okay if you have been away from mathematics for a long time, but if you are fairly confident in your mathematics ability it would be best to find a county CSET Math review course. Also the CSET website has a good sample test to work through so buying this book isn't quite neccessary. Hope this helps any future math teachers. Good Luck.

Unfortunately, there are not many good test prep books out there. Instead, try to look for good websites to help you out with the material. You probably want to brush up on your matrices, rings, and open and closed formulas. Other than that, this book is good at reviewing material but is not helpful in detailing out what you can expect to see on the test. I would like to re-emphasize that this is the best book out there right now, but not that great. A place to start. Try UCI's website (apparently they have a site that goes over CSET material).

I bought this book in Barnes and Noble for around $35. I studied 5 nights a week for 3 months. I just walked out of the Math CSET test, and I definitely did not pass the test. This book had inadequate explanations of math concepts. I regret buying this book because I was diligent in doing my part, and the book did not prepare me. There was a lot of stuff in this book that was not on the test, and there was a lot on the test that was not covered in this book. I just called a private math tutor to help me pass the Math CSET (because now I have to take it a 2nd time), and the first think she said was, "No, not the green. That book is the worst!"