Customer Reviews

How to Prepare for the CSET: California Subject Matter Examinations for Teachers/Multiple Subjects (Barron's Cset)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

I am appalled by the errors in this book - and I have only studied the Math and Science sections so far. Some of the answers are glaringly wrong. Some of the statements are completely inconsistent with each other or with the quiz answers. That said, on the bright side, researching the science inconsistencies has taught me a lot. The breadth of the subject matter is actually helpful and there were some beneficial explanations in this book that I did not find in others - but don't always trust the answers given and do research the inconsistencies.

I only came to amazon to review this book after I had been studying with it for two subtests. I finally had to admit that it has enough errors to be a serious hindrance on an exam. There ARE typos galore, omissions of instructions as well as short answer responses, and duplication of sample questions! If the goal is to pass the CSET, one question might make a difference. I'm going to buy another study guide tomorrow in hopes that it won't be full of these inaccuracies.

That said, the first two parts, "Your Review Plan" and "CSET Overview and Test-Taking Strategies" were worth the money that I paid for the book. A friend had a book from another company that didn't contain some of these sections and I think it is helpful to have them.

This book is a joke. There are so many inaccuracies that you can't trust any information in it. It was clearly NOT proofread for content or grammar before being released. So disappointed in it. Someone mentioned the Father Serra inaccuracies but there are so many more. I couldn't possibly trust the data in this as a study guide.

I found this study guide terribly frustrating. It is badly written, the information within sections badly organized, and some of the "facts" are downright WRONG! For instance, in one place it names the founder of the California missions as Father "Sierra," and in two other places calls him Father "Serna." I happen to be a native Californian and a 4th grade teacher (hello, anyone remember California history?) and his name is Father Serra! In another place two different time frames are given for an Egyptian king's reign IN THE SAME PARAGRAPH! Do they not have fact-checkers? Copy editors? I bought this book because it seemed to have a good way of pacing your study depending on how much time you had before the test. I'm hoping I'll pass the test in spite of this book. I have taught across many grades, so I know a lot of the information they reveiw (at least I know when it's wrong!), but I would not reccomend it to anyone else, especially someone who is counting on using the book to LEARN information! Best of luck on the test. (Your luck will be better if you find a better guide, though.)

This book has numerous typos yes, but it also had wrong info! My education was in biology so I know a lot about that and some of the info is simply wrong. I stopped studying after that point because I was afraid the info I had been learning in the history section, which I know little about was wrong too. PLEASE don't rely on this book!

I concur. I was pretty disappointed with this study guide. I sent the Barron's editing team a list of errors and typos that I found over the course of my studying. Wow--certainly not something I would have expected from a reputable name like Barron's. I will say that I rather liked the way they broke down the information in to bite sized pieces and I also liked their tips and timelines on how to study...but it did not make up for the seriously careless editing of this text. A quick proof read could have caught some, if not all of the stuff.

Forget the 24 hour analog clock example (which is correct, 6:30 PM would be 18:30 military time, no?) there are so many other typos to contend with that I am half-crazed at this point, and I can only assume that this careless lack of proofreading carries over into every section. The math alone has errors on EVERY SINGLE PAGE! Give me a break. DONT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS BOOK. The extra time you spend proofreading the text to determine who is correct, the book or yourself, could be better spent learning from another text.

Cliff's was only helpful in some sections of the CSET, but was not complete in others. Barrons either repeated the same material, or contained extraneous portions that is not tested on the CSET multiple subject. The tips on preparing for the CSET are ok, but it was a little troubling to see some errors (factual)in the study guide. To my dismay, I didn't find the sample tests to be representative of the CSET at all. A good way to get a feel for the test is to look on the official CSET website. The questions there are just what I needed, and expect to see the same difficulty level when you sit down to take the CSET. Even though Barrons is just one tool of many (Hirsch, Scholastics, Dummies) that I used to help fill in gaps in my studies, I still feel I'm being generous when I am giving it 3 stars. Good luck.

I think this is a great CSET book with lots of advice, review and practice that I recommend it to my friends. The analog clock problem is right. The question asks to write 6:30 PM on a 24 HOUR analog clock. The picture in the book shows how to do it. You had to read and think. It is easy to make a mistake like that person but everyone should be able to get this great book.

This book is rife with inaccuracies, typos, answer numbers that don't match up to question numbers... The number of mistakes makes you question the accuracy of the rest of the information. If you are looking for a test prep book it might serve you better to find one that includes the right answers.