Customer Reviews

CliffsTestPrep CSET: Social Science

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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!

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!

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.

This is a terrible book. I have taken all three subtests and this book will not help you AT ALL. It just lists names and does not go into detail about the importance. I suggest using the AP World History book by Barons. It's big but detailed. Also, study the CA standards.

Save your money. Save your time. This book is worthless (so is the XAM one)

Some people seem to think that a study guide will give you the exact material that will be on the test. Well, they are wrong. I looked all over for a good social science cset study guide and could not find one. I bought this book because it provides a guide on how to take the test, rather than spending hundreds of pages recapping information available in the survey books that we all own already (hopefully). There is, however, some review, but the book is valuable for familiarizing you with each subtest. I read this book cover-to-cover and completed all of the practice sections (took two days) before taking the tests. I passed all three subtests on my first attempt. You should have learned all you need from school (considering you paid attention and made reasonable effort), but this book will show you the areas that you need to study as you assess your performance on the practice sections. There is no single book that will adequately prepare you for the cset. Using the practice guidelines from the cset website, reviewing your education, reading this book, and researching areas that you show weakness, in my opinion, will prepare you for the test. I recommend this book to supplement your studies. Good Luck!!!

Greetings Folks--I have been studying heartily for the CSET exam, and I have used several books from Cliff Test Prep, Princeton Review (AP), Barron (AP) and McGraw Hill, among other sources.

In preparing for this test, having so many test booklets to compare, I can say without doubt that Cliff Test Prep books are by far the worst books to use. Not only is the material covered so simplistic and general (you would get more information from Wikipedia), the questions are absurd and seem to have little to do with the CSET exam for social sciences. I do not recommend any of these books at all. It is as if they are written by high school graduates and not professors.

Buying books from Cliff Test Prep is a total waste of money.

Regards,

the friendlyskeptic

You do not need this book if you're trying to pass the CSET. Although I passed all portions of the test in one pain-filled seating, this book was no help at all. Not a single question in the economics section was even eluded to on the CSET (fyi, there aren't too many economics questions). Get a copy of the state standards for social science, and come to a general understanding of as many standards as you can - you'll know the important ones when you see them on the standards list.

While it's nearly impossible to find an accurate CSET Social Science study guide, this one does well to point out the various areas that you need to study on for each of the subtests. It is true that the books explanation is very brief (approx. 1-2 paragraphs per topic) and therefore should purchase other texts to supplement your studying. I purchased this guide and then went out and bought a standard middle school-high school World History textbook, US History textbook, Cliff's economics guide & a standard text on Civics for my preparation. I would look at each topic in the Guide and then search for it in the corresponding textbook. I hope this helps all you future CSET test takers out there. :)

I solely used this book for my CSET SS prep. It was not difficult to pass all three subtests. SS is such a wide field that you may want to read additionally elsewhere, but this book does a fine job of giving the basics needed to pass the tests.

I bought this study guide to study for the CSET Social Sciences test and read the whole book. The information is extremely bare bones and is presented in outline form. It leaves so much important information out! It is hard to remember anything you read just based on the way the information is presented. On the positive side, this guide had to practice tests with explanations, which I found to be extremely helpful in pinpointing what I need to study more off. Do not rely solely on this study guide when studying because one you have the test in front of you for real you will be cursing it! Long story short, it doesn't do a good job of preparing you for the test. I actually preferred the XAM study guide to this one. At least when I read that one I felt like I was learning something! Good luck studying!