If you need help studying for the CSET Social Science test or just want some more information about what the test is like, you’ve come to the right place!
Click below to take a free CSET Social Science practice test!
How to Register
How the Exam is Scored
Retaking the Exam
Online CSET Social Science Prep Course
FAQs
What’s on the Test?
The CSET Social Science test contains 127 questions, and you’ll be timed at 6 hours. Most of the questions are in your standard multiple-choice format, but nine of the questions are in a constructed-response format.
The exam is split into three subtests, which you can choose to take separately or together.
SUBTEST I (114)
42 questions | 2 hours and 15 minutes
World History (37 questions)
- Ancient civilizations
- Medieval and early modern times
- Modern world history
World Geography (5 questions)
- Tools and perspectives of geographic study
- Geographic diversity of natural landscapes and human societies
- Culture and the physical environment
SUBTEST II (115)
42 questions | 2 hours and 15 minutes
US History (37 questions)
- Pre-Revolutionary era and the War for Independence
- Development of the Constitution and the early republic
- The emergence of a new nation
- Civil War and Reconstruction
- The Gilded Age
- The US as a world power
- The 1920s
- The Great Depression and the New Deal
- World War II
- Post-World War II America and US foreign policy
- The civil rights movement
US Geography (5 questions)
- Tools and perspectives of geographic study
- Geographic diversity of natural landscapes and human societies
- Culture and the physical environment
SUBTEST III (116)
43 questions | 1 hour and 45 minutes
Civics (19 questions)
- Principles of American democracy
- Fundamental values and principles of civil society
- The three branches of government
- Landmark US Supreme Court cases
- Issues regarding campaigns for elective offices
- Powers and procedures of tribal, local, state, and national governments
- The media in American political life
- Political systems
- Tensions within our constitutional democracy
Economics (16 questions)
- Economic terms and concepts
- Economic reasoning
- Elements of America’s market economy in a global setting
- Politics and economics
- Elements of the US labor market in a global setting
- International trade and the American economy
California History (8 questions)
- Pre-Columbian period through the end of Mexican rule
- From the Gold Rush to present day
How to Register
To get started with the registration process, you’ll need to create an NES account on their website. You can then register for the exam via your account.
The testing fee is $297 for the full exam. If you choose to split each subtest into their own sessions, each subtest costs $99.
CSET Social Science Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
How the Exam is Scored
The CSET Social Science test is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
For every question you answer correctly, you get one point added to your raw score. At the end of the test, your final raw score will be converted to a scaled score ranging from 100 to 300.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone that takes the test is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Retaking the Exam
If you don’t get the score you want on your first try, that’s okay! You can take the exam again after a mandatory 45-day waiting period.
Online CSET Social Science Prep Course
If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online CSET Social Science prep course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The CSET Social Science course includes:
- Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
- 350+ CSET Practice Questions
- More than 450 Digital Flashcards
- Over 70 Instructional Videos
- Money-back Guarantee
- Free Mobile Access
- and More!
The CSET Social Science prep course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their CSET Social Science exam. Click below to check it out!
FAQs
How many questions are on the CSET Social Science exam?
The full exam contains 127 questions.
What is the time limit for the CSET Social Science exam?
The full exam is timed at 6 hours.
What is the passing score for the CSET Social Science exam?
You’ll need to get a final scaled score of at least 220 on all three subtests to pass.
How much does the CSET Social Science exam cost?
The testing fee for the full exam is $297.
