Customer Reviews

CBEST: California Basic Educational Skills Test (Complete Preparation Guide)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sample tests with explinations of answers were good. Especially usefull were the essay writing examples of what is a 4 point, 3 point, 2 point, 1 point answer to the topic questions. I passed the first time while my sister using Clift's guide did not. CD was not compatible with my Apple computer.

I did not have much time to study so I read through this book and did a reading and math practice test using the cd-rom. I did not practice essay writing at all but did review the essay section in the book. I would not suggest my approach to anyone but thankfully I passed with pretty good scores. The reading and essay sections are practically just as the book says. The math is too except the test gives you some formulas that the book tells you to memorize.

I recently completed the CBEST exam, and found this book to be better organized, more concise, and more representative of the actual CBEST exam than "The Best Test Preparation for the CBEST" by REA. (Words of advice: if you're like me and have become all too accustomed to doing all of your writing on a keyboard, practice writing some essays with a pencil first.) Good luck!

Overall the book was pretty good. The Reading section was almost identical to the actual test, EXCEPT for the poetry. The test did not include any poetry. The math section was close to the test EXCEPT the test did not test on definitions like "whole number", "integer" etc... If you can do well on the practice exams, you will pass the test for sure. One thing that the book failed to note is that TIME is the most crucial of all. Nearly everyone stayed right up until the end of the four hours and some did not finish.

I took the CBEST on February 9, 2002. It was SO EASY compared to the tests in this book. The math was harder in the book than on the real test. The reading comprehension was about equal. The essay section gave good pointers. I only had about a month to study and this book helped me cram. But parts of it seemed like they over explained.
All in all, I would recommend this book because I did feel over prepared going into the test. I would rather know too much than too little!

This book was a fairly accurate representation of the actual exam. It also had concise review sections for skills that one might have forgotten, and words of advise for avoiding panic.

This book isn't accurate to the test. The math is much harder in this book than it was on my test. This book made me very nervous about my test and was not very helpful. The CD-ROM included is also disappointing and more of a bother than a help. Get a different CBEST book.

This book completely prepared me for the CBEST.
The reading comprehension section and the essay section
were completely accurate in comparision to the actual test.
However, having just taken the exam, the math in the book is actually
a little harder. The book did make me nervous in that way - I found
the math pretty hard and expected the exam to be the same. However,
I am glad the math was harder than the actual test because it really prepared me. Not only that, it prepares you for the even HARDER math that is on the CSET, the next exam you must take to become a teacher in CA. Overall, a very good book.

Facing a test can be stressful. One way to counter the stress is to feel adequately prepared and this book is making me feel as though I have a good chance at passing the CBEST the first time. I no longer feel as though I'm flying blind. The multiple practice tests give me a good idea what to expect and the instruction on how to approach different aspects of the test is invaluable.