CliffsTestPrep CSET: Social Science [Paperback]

Shana Pate (Author), Tony Napoli (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0470165014 | ISBN-13: 978-0470165010 | Edition: 1

Your complete guide to a higher score on the CSET: Social Science.

Why CliffsTestPrep Guides?

• Go with the name you know and trust.
• Get the information you need--fast!
• Written by test-prep specialists

Contents include the format and content of the exam, proven test-taking strategies and tips, approaches for answering both multiple-choice and constructed-response questions.

Subject Area Review entails focused reviews of all subjects tested: world history, U.S. history, geography, civics, economics, and California history and practice questions to aid in subject review and test preparation.

Two Full-Length Practice Examinations

• Structured like the actual exam
• Complete with answers and explanations
• References for Additional Study

Test-Prep Essentials from the Experts at CliffsNotes

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Your complete guide to a higher score on the CSET: Social Science

Why CliffsTestPrep Guides?

Go with the name you know and trustGet the information you need—fast! Written by test-prep specialists

About the contents:

Introduction

• Format and content of the exam

• Proven test-taking strategies and tips

• Approaches for answering both multiple-choice and constructed-response questions

Subject Area Review

• Focused reviews of all subjects tested: world history, U.S. history, geography, civics, economics, and California history

• Practice questions to aid in subject review and test preparation

Two Full-Length Practice Examinations

• Structured like the actual exam

• Complete with answers and explanations

References for Additional Study

Test-Prep Essentials from the Experts at CliffsNotes

About the Author

Shana Pate, Ph.D., has been teaching for over fifteen years. She has taught elementary school language arts and social studies, and teacher preparation courses in social studies, reading, and curriculum at the university level.

Tony Napoli is a writer and editor with more than twenty-five years' experience creating social studies materials for educators and students.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Cliffs Notes; 1 edition (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470165014
• ISBN-13: 978-0470165010
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.6 x 10.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,995 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A waste of time and money, July 20, 2008

By 

El Diablito - See all my reviews

This review is from: CliffsTestPrep CSET: Social Science (Paperback)

Well, I have now completed the Social Science tests this weekend and with this text and the all important test fresh in my memory, I must say that Cliffs Test Prep was a good way to distract me from what I needed to know. Much of the information in this book was a simple list of terms and names with little reference as to why they are important or why they are relevant to the test. Likewise, I found that many of the test questions came in a different format than found within this book's sample exams.

What was far more valuable for my time and my study were the California State standards: those are free, and give some connection as to why a specific person or vocabulary term is relevant. Don't waste your money on this book!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars worst test prep book I've ever read, March 31, 2008

By 

A. Crane "Joy to read" (LA, California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: CliffsTestPrep CSET: Social Science (Paperback)

This book is a complete embarrassment. I teach test prep and am therefore very familiar with many, many (high school) test prep books. Some are better, some are worse, but this book is not even in the same running with even the worst of them.
It's broken into three sections; the introduction to the test section has illuminating info. such as: "What score do I need to pass the test...? Each subject has it's own passing score..." Basically, the answer to every FAQs question is "Contact...[...]..." These questions can be answered in about two minutes on the CSET site, but I bought the book for a bit more insight into such things as the scaled scoring (they don't even mention it) and how long the test is. Any prep book worth anything would give these answers and more. If you need the test-taking tips they provide you shouldn't be let near a classroom.
The second section is a joke summary of the subject matter. If you're going to have such a section, take it seriously. This book is more expensive and thinner than any SAT etc. book and yet has this poorly written, pathetic and often inaccurate summary of all world history.
The worst offense is that the two practice tests are terrible. The questions don't reflect the test questions, are often almost incomprehensibly or woefully vaguely written, are often wrong, and regularly have hopeless explanations as mentioned in the above post. My favorite not only said that A, B, and C were obviously wrong as an explanation, but then marked the answer as...C!
Needless to say, my advice is, DON'T BUY THIS BOOK!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't Buy This Book, December 16, 2007

By 

F. B. Craig (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: CliffsTestPrep CSET: Social Science (Paperback)

Because I have appreciated Cliffs products in the past, I was suprised by this one. It will not help you pass the CSET. First of all, the section that tells you what you need to know for each subtest is so incredibly brief as to be annoying. And it doesn't even include enough information for the question in their sample tests. The sample test answers are sometimes inaccurate and often unhelpful (a,b, and c are clearly wrong, so it must be d--gee thanks). I regret purchasing this book and wish I could find something better. In the meantime, I'm just using the CA state standards for history grades 4-12.