Customer Reviews

CSET: Multiple Subjects (Cliffs Test Prep)

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I just received my scores for the CSET exam, and I passed ALL THREE subtests on my first try, and all taken on the same day, thanks in large part to Cliff's CSET test prep book by Jerry Bobrow and Stephen Fisher.

There was a test prep workshop that I enrolled in that recommended the MSAT book by Research & Education Association. However, the CSET exam replaces the MSAT exam; the reason given for using the older MSAT book was because it contained more detail in the history and literature sections. To this day, I never opened the MSAT book; rather, I used the Cliff's CSET book extensively.

Here is how the Cliff's CSET book worked for me:

First, I studied the CSET Web site (URL: http://www.cset.nesinc.com/) to find out exactly what the exam was all about. There is a link that provides you with a comprehensive outline of the subject matter requirements that you are responsible for on the CSET. Print this out and study it! THEN, I started reviewing Cliff's CSET book and saw how closely it mirrored the official CSET Web site's content requirements that would be tested for on the exam. It was this organization, and additional detail not found on the CSET official Web site, that helped me tremendously in preparing for the exam.

Second, after reviewing each section in the Cliff's CSET book, I referred to a series of books that provided additional detail. I have read complaints about this book not having enough detail from other reviews of this book. I also read reviews that recommended supplementing this lack of detail with a series of books by Hirsch: "What Your 4th (or 5th or 6th) Grader Needs to Know." When I took a look at these books, I said to myself, they are good resources if you have the time to sift through them all by grade. But I am a busy mom raising gradeschool children, trying to maximize my time studying in order to work towards obtaining my teaching credential. I am also 40-something with a several-year period break in my career to raise kids, and I don't remember a thing about what I learned in gradeschool. I referred to a series of books that were a TREMENDOUS help to me, and moreso in a shorter period of time: the "Everything You Need to Know About (World History, American History, Science, English, Geography, and Math) Homework" series by Anne Zeman and Kate Kelly. I purchased all six (there are more, but I focused only on the key subject areas). You can either buy them new or used, or check your local library. If you are a visual learner like I am, these books are for you.

Third, having reviewed the CSET Web site, reviewing all sections of the Cliff's CSET test prep book, reviewing content areas in more detail using the homework series of books, I then took the entire Practice Test 1 in the Cliff's book. For those that I missed, I read the detailed analysis of what the correct answers were, and why. The Cliff's book does an EXCELLENT job of explaining the answers to each question. Once I reviewed my mistakes, and tallied my scores, which the book tells you how to do, I then took Practice Test 2. I also made sure that I answered all of the practice essay exam questions. Again, the book does an EXCELLENT job of describing to you how to approach answering the essay questions. When you review the breakdown of the entire CSET exam, you will see that the essay questions are worth a lot of your score. But if you practice the ones in the book, you will realize that you do not have to write perfectly written prose to answer the question correctly. You can make a list of your answers or draw diagrams with labels if you want to, so long as you get the main points identified.

Finally, I then had two days to go before exam time - all five hours of it on an early Saturday morning. There were no surprises. And I had 10 minutes to spare to double check my exam booklets that I had answered every question.

The Cliff's CSET book guided my overall test taking strategy: I focused more on those content areas that were worth the most points (e.g., history, science, math, and language arts comprising Subtests I and II) and less on those areas that were worth less points (e.g., human development and the arts in Subtest III). But I did not ignore any of these subject areas.

I also kept reminding myself that this is an exam of what I should know as a future teacher of gradeschool kids, and NOT as a single subject high school teacher or college professor (those require different exams [grin]). This is why I found the homework series of books I mentioned above helpful; they kept me focused on what my appropriate level of understanding should be. And it made my studying actually quite fun. Otherwise, it is very easy to get overwhlemed with too much information. I only needed to pass the exam, not get 100%. Perfection was not my goal here; a passing score that demonstrated my basic level of competency was; and I achieved that.

I believe that if you focus your study around this book, you can easily test for what you know, identify what you don't know, list and prioritize the additional resources you need to refer to to get the additional content detail you require. Further, if you continue to work through the book's practice tests, it is highly probable that you will be well prepared, and with minimal surprises, when you take the actual exam.

Thank you Cliff's, and thank you Jerry Bobrow and Stephen Fisher for a very effective study guide. This book definitely took the "anxiety" out of the test for me.

First of all, let me say that this book, the CliffsTestPrep guide on the CSET, is a big disappointment. I waited 2 months for this book to be published, and when it finally came to my door i was overjoyed. I happily scanned through the pages, and by the time i got to the last page, i felt like there was something missing. The contents seemed very general and not thorough enough. The book was filled with outlines and reviews on the topics that were "supposed" to be on the test, however, it does not go in depth with these topics.

Nevertheless, i stuck with it anyways, since i had never taken the CSET before, and Cliffs had gotten me out of trouble many times in the past. So i studied this book religiously for 3 weeks. Then when it came time to take the CSET, i thought i was ready. I went into taking the CSET with confidence, and came out shattered. The topics that were covered in the book came reasonably close to the actual test, but it didn't matter because the questions in the test requires you to know more of the details... which was not provided in this book.

Let me give you a preview of Cliff's guide on the CSET. There are three parts to it. The first part is: Analysis of Exam Areas, which is pretty pointless, because this info could be downloaded off the CSET website. The second part is a review of the subject areas. And like i said earlier, was insufficient. Finally, the third part of the book consists of 2 practice exams with detailed answers. The only thing i thought was useful about this book.

I did not get my results yet, but it doesn't look good for me. If i didn't pass, i don't blame anyone but myself. I guess if there is an advice i can give you is to use more than one study aid. I don't recommend this book, but you can buy it for reviewing if you have extra money and time to spare. Hope this helps.

The Cliff's Notes covered the basic material of the new CSET, but I thought it wasn't as thorough as it should of been. The CSET test had questions that were not covered on this book. The route I took was to read some of Hirsch's work. It helped out more than the Cliff's. Also if you are a new CSET test taker, don't purchase any of the products from teaching solutions. I just read about it on the internet that it is a scam and a bogus product. I had just got mine, and I could tell you to save your money. It's a no go.
Hirsch's book is probably the best bet to go.

Most negative reviewers found this book lacking because it did not contain all the information found on the CSET - and it doesn't. There is no way one book can cover American history, world history, English, geometry, P.E., science, dance, etc., etc., etc... What it does do is give a good outline. Do not plan on using this book as a "bible". Use it as a good starting point and if you lack knowledge in any of the subjects you'll just have to spend a bit of time in the library.
(When one buys a Cliffs book there is the expectation that one is buying a short cut (i.e. the answers). Don't expect that from this book.)

I agree with the poster below me. The CSET test prep book was a complete waste, that did not come close to providing the necessary material for the real test. The test questions are really a breeze and compared to the actual thing.
I took the subtest II science/math on November '03, and I can honestly say that the material from this book was scant, weak, and just too light. The actual CSET tests you on material and concepts that you won't find in this book.

If you want to fool yourself into thinking that this test prep has the whole package because it is by "Cliff's Notes" and the author has a PhD, your in for a BIG surprise come test day.

I am really starting to wonder if the author is publishing these superficial books just to make a quick buck. I am beginning wonder if this is the type of quality he is shooting for in all of his test books. The best bet would be to go with the Hirsch's series. They tend to cover a wide range of relevant material. If you still are not convinced by what I am saying, then just sit down in the bookstore, and flip through the CSET Cliff's Notes book instead of buying it. Save your money for the next subtest you need to take.

I thought the Cliff Notes was a good study guide to start with. It gives a nice overview of the contents (maybe not as detailed-but hey) and it gives some sample tests in the back, so it was a big + for me. I had a good feel for how the CSET would test me out in terms of the format of the test. Although I had to use "What my XX grader needs to know" to supplement my studies, I found the CLiff's study guide a helpful tool.

I also purchased the Teaching Solutios CD (cateachingsolutions.com) and it is a total bogus product! Watch out for this product, cause the material is not relevant to the CSET AT ALL. They have weird fonts all over the material, they have NO sample test or sample test questions, and the content is nowhere near what the CSET is testing. This is one of those internet scam companies, so watch out. I deeply encourage serious customers to do an internet online search about this product, to re-verify what I am saying (if you think I'm making this up). If you had already purchased this product, file a complaint with your credit card company, and have it removed and blocked from your account. Just my thoughts ...

I used this book three months prior to taking the 3 cset multilple subjects tests. It took that much time for me to read all of the material covered in the book! Don't expect to read through the book one week before the test and ace the exam. You'll be covering alot of material and will have to remember alot of it. This book is comprehensive, well organized and breaks down the material covered into palatible slices. Just start early with it and like me you will be able to pass the cset tests in the first go!

Just received the good news. I passed all 3 subsets of the CSET the first time. Must say studying for and taking the test was one of the hardest things I've ever done. The volume of material (7 subjects) was overwhelming at times. Here's how I prepared. Hope it helps you. I started with Cliffs and the Hirsch series (4th, 5th, 6th grades). I then took an online practice test from the CSET website and failed all but the PE questions. It was very unsettling and discouraging. With one week left before the test (I started studying one month before it), I purchased and read the Boosalis book. After not doing very well on another online practice test, I went back and reviewed the history and science sections (my weaknesses) of Hirsch. One day before the test I reviewed test taking strategies. Although I'm glad I was scared by the practice tests and they forced me to study more than I thought would be necessary, know that the real test isn't quite as hard. Do not rely on Cliffs alone. They are a good starting point. Hirsch and Boosalis go deeper. Part of the challenge of the real thing is time management. I finished it with only 10 minutes to spare. It's a 5 hour test that seems to fly by. Be sure to manage your time wisely if you are taking all 3 subsets on the same day. The good news is it is possible to pass it all at once. I'm 25 years out of college and admittedly was a bit rusty. Had I known how difficult the test would be, I might have taken it in parts. Good luck everyone!

Book gave a nice overview of the CSET content, but I thought it wasn't as thorough as it should of been. There were lots of questions on the CSET test that wasn't covered on the practice tests or in the contents. The best way to go is to use Hirsch's books. It helped out. And to any new students taking the CSET, don't purchase any of the products from Teaching Solutions. I had just learned that it is a scam, and the CD (they say they have a book, but they don't) is just filled with useless, garbled information.

I disagree with the poster who was giving the Cliff's CSET book such a glowing review. A CSET test taker knows a bad study guide after having taken and seen a real exam.

As with the majority of the posters here, I agree that the content of the Cliff's Notes fell short of meeting the contents for subtest I, II, and III. The material presented in the Cliff's Notes, is either based on a loosely outline format, or will contain sporadic information that is basically a rehash of the contents of its previous edition (MSAT). If you really need to study for these tests, you CAN include the Cliff's Notes, but only use it as a last minute review. The sample tests in the Cliffs Notes are just exercises, and do not reflect the real CSET multiple subject test in question format or content. Hirsch's book (and yes, this is the correct spelling, not the one made by the previous poster) is a good reference, and you can find this book here on amazon. I also agree with the previous poster who said that you should save your money and not purchase the Teaching Solutions CD. All in all, just study, make flash cards, use other resources, and you should be fine.