Customer Reviews

How to Prepare for the Cbest, California Basic Educational Skills Test (Barron's How to Prepare for the Cbest California Basic Educational Skills Test)

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Some people complain that this book has practice tests that are HARDER than the actual CBEST. It is true... but to me that is a good thing. I'd much rather find the practice tests harder, than to find the actual test more difficult. By completing these practice tests, the ACTUAL CBEST WAS A BREEZE! I've heard that only about 1/2 of the people who take the CBEST pass on the first attempt. I don't know if it's true, but I know that I passed easily and this book was my only preparation.

Having taken the CBEST two days ago, I can assure you this book is a terrible waste of time and money. It covers WAY too much material, only a small portion of which is actually relevant to the test. The inside title page of the book says it all -- portions of the book are taken from Barron's other test prep books for the SAT, LSAT, GRE, California State Universtity Writing Proficiency Exam, and California High School Proficiency Exam! You will be infinitely better off using CliffsTestPrep CBEST by Jerry Bobrow published by IDG -- concise, focused, and accurate.

I took the CBEST and passed on the first try. I used Barron's CBEST and also Cliffs review. If anyone has weaknesses in Math word problems I highly recommend the Barron's guide which gives a great review of these types of problems. That is what I mainly used it for.

I took the Cbest in June 2000. This study guide has too much information. The test is basic. The practice tests were more complicated than the actual test. The Math portion doesn't represent what is on the actual test at all.

I passed the CBEST on the first attempt. I found this book (the only one I used) adequately prepared me. I would recommend it to anyone.

I've been going over the arithmetic section of this book and I have found too many mistakes in the answers and the explantions!!! Wow - one could really get confused and frustrated. How is the rest of the book going to be? Am I going to find a lot of mistakes in the reading section also? I hope not!

I JUST returned home from taking the CBEST. Since I feel pretty good about it, you'd think I'd be happy. But I am simply FUMING over what a horrible job this book did to prepare me.

I agree with what others have posted. This book leads you to believe that the math section is about five times more advanced than it really is. For example, I spent hours laboring over quadratic equations and geometric formulas, particularly applying them in word problems and there was not a SINGLE question invovling ANY of the concepts on the actual CBEST. On the upshot, hey - never hurts to be overprepared, but it was at the expense of a great deal of stress and time.

And to confirm another posting - yes I found typos in the math section as well! Thinking that I must have been the one who was wrong, I asked some math genius buddies of mine and sure enough, it was confirmed. How DARE they let that slip by when so many people struggle with the intricacies of long, drawn out equations!

I will NEVER by another Barron's study guide as long as I live!

This book can help a teacher candidate pass the CBEST, and the ideas can also be used in the classroom to help students improve their reading, writing, thinking, and math skills.

It can be rather confusing when you are trying to review your math skills, and the book contains blatant errors in the solutions. The editor obviously overlooked a few things...on the bright side, if you can get past the frustration, it certainly keeps you on your toes when you are both learning and correcting their work at the same time.