Table of Contents
Introduction to the CBEST: California Basic Educational Skills Test 1
General Description 1
Exam Format 1
Exam Scoring 2
Questions Commonly Asked about the CBEST 2
Getting Started: Five Steps to Success on the CBEST 4
Test-Taking Strategies 4
Multiple-Choice Test-Taking Strategies 4
Stick to the CBEST Test Specifications 4
Read Each Question Carefully 5
Budget Your Time Wisely 5
Use the Elimination Approach 5
Use the Plus-Minus Approach 5
Be on Alert for EXCEPT and NOT Questions 7
Don't Misread the Question 7
Taking the Computer-Based CBEST 8
Computer-Based Tutorial 8
Chapter 1 The Reading Section 9
Overview of the Reading Section 9
Skills and Concepts Tested 9
Sample: Reading Passage and Question 9
Question Types 10
Critical Analysis and Evaluation Questions 10
Comprehension and Context Questions 11
Research and Reference Skills Questions 12
General Strategies 12
A Four-Step Approach to Reading Comprehension 13
Step 1 Preread the Question 14
Step 2 Read Actively 14
Step 3 Reread the Question 14
Step 4 Answer the Question 15
Practice Using the Suggested Strategies 15
Strategy 1 Look for the Main Point of the Passage 15
Strategy 2 Look for Supporting Points 16
Strategy 3 Make Inferences 16
Strategy 4 Draw a Conclusion 17
Strategy 5 Identify the Author's Point of View 18
Strategy 6 Identify Word Meanings 18
Strategy 7 Evaluate Strengths and Weaknesses 19
Strategy 8 Distinguish Fact from Opinion 19
Strategy 9 Identify Key Transitional Words 20
Strategy 10 Summarize the Passage 21
Strategy 11 Identify the Sequence of Events 21
Strategy 12 Organize the Ideas or Events 22
Strategy 13 Identify Facts and Details 22
Strategy 14 Compare and Contrast 23
Strategy 15 Identify Assumptions and Predictions 24
Strategy 16 Determine the Meaning of Figurative Language 24
Strategy 17 Identify Inconsistencies 24
Strategy 18 Identify Information 25
Strategy 19 Notice How Information Is Organized 27
Strategy 20 Locate Specific Information 28
Chapter 2 The Writing Section 29
Overview of the Writing Section 29
Essay Question Types 29
Skills and Concepts Tested 29
Directions 30
Scoring the CBEST Essays 30
Scoring Rubric 31
Test-Taking Strategies 33
Stay Focused on the Question 33
Use Your Time Wisely 33
Use the Three-Step Essay Writing Process 33
Step 1 Prewriting 34
Step 2 Writing 39
Step 3 Proofreading (Editing) 41
Practice Writing Essays 41
Descriptive Essay 42
Practice Question 1 42
Practice Question 2 47
Analytical Essay 49
Practice Question 3 49
Practice Question 4 54
Practice Essay Topics 57
Charting and Evaluating Your Essays 58
Chapter 3 Introduction to the Mathematics Section 59
Introduction 59
Overview of the Math Section 59
Skills and Concepts Tested 59
Question Types 61
General Strategies 62
Specific Strategies with Examples 62
Use Reasoning 63
Write Down Key Words 65
Pull Out Information 66
Work from the Answer Choices 68
Plug In Simple Numbers 69
Approximate 71
Make Comparisons 72
Show Procedural Steps 73
Analyze Statistical Data 75
Find the "Possibilities" in Probability Questions 76
Mark or Draw Diagrams 77
Interpret Graphs 78
Chapter 4 Arithmetic Review 81
Arithmetic Diagnostic Test 82
Scoring the Diagnostic Test 83
Answer Key 83
Charting and Analyzing Your Diagnostic Test Results 84
Arithmetic Review 84
Common Math Operation Symbols 84
The Number System 85
Sets of Numbers 85
Number Line 86
Basic Math Properties and Operations 86
Properties of Addition and Substraction 87
Properties of Multiplication and Divison 87
Math Words and Phrases 88
Math Operations and Number Rules 89
Addition 89
Subtraction 90
Multiplication 91
Division 91
Grouping Symbols 92
Order of Operations 93
Fractions 93
Negative Fractions 94
Proper Fractions, Common Fractions, and Improper Fractions 94
Mixed Numbers 94
Reducing/Simplifying Fractions 95
Least Common Denominator 95
Adding and Subtracting Positive and Negative Fractions 96
Adding Mixed Numbers 97
Subtracting Mixed Numbers 97
Multiplying Fractions 98
Multiplying Mixed Numbers 99
Dividing Fractions 99
Complex Fractions 99
Decimals 100
Place Value 100
Rounding Off (Approximation) 101
Estimating 101
Adding and Subtracting Decimals 103
Multiplying Decimals 103
Dividing Decimals 104
Changing Decimals to Fractions 104
Changing Fractions to Decimals 105
Ratios and Proportions 105
Ratio 105
Proportion 106
Percents 107
Changing Percents 108
Fraction-Decimal-Percent Equivalents 108
Solving Percent Problems 109
Solving Percent Problems Using Proportion 110
Finding Percent Increase or Percent Decrease 111
Chapter 5 Algebra Review 113
Algebra Diagnostic Test 113
Scoring the Diagnostic Test 114
Answer Key 114
Charting and Analyzing Your Diagnostic Test Results 114
Algebra Review 114
Seeing the Structure in Expressions 115
Variables 115
Equations 115
Algebraic Multiplication 116
Evaluating Equations 117
Monomials and Polynomials 117
Reasoning with Algebra 117
Algebraic Word Problems 117
Chapter 6 Statistics and Probability Review 121
Statistics and Probability Diagnostic Test 121
Scoring the Diagnostic Test 122
Answer Key 122
Charting and Analyzing Your Diagnostic Test Results 122
Basic Statistics Review 123
Frequency Distribution 123
Measures of Central Tendency 124
Mean 124
Median 124
Mode 125
Range 126
Interpreting Standardized Test Scores 126
Raw Score 126
Percent Score 126
Percentile Score 126
Stanine Score 127
Probability Review 128
Measuring Probability 128
Chapter 7 Math Reasoning Problems 133
Measurement 133
Unit of Measurement Equivalents 133
Converting Units of Measure 134
Units of Measure - English System 134
Units of Measure - Metric System 136
Measuring Perimeter 136
Rectangle 136
Square 137
Word Problems 138
Words That Signal Math Operations 139
Strategies to Solve Word Problems 139
Graph Interpretation 142
Strategies to Solve Graph Interpretation Problems 142
Types of Graphs 143
Circle (Pie) Graphs 143
Bar Graphs 145
Line Graphs 147
Venn Diagrams 149
Tables and Charts 151
Chapter 8 Practice Test 1 153
Answer Sheet 153
Section I Reading 155
Section II Mathematics 167
Section III Writing 175
Topic 1 175
Topic 2 175
Answer Key 176
Section I Reading 176
Section II Mathematics 176
Scoring Your CBEST 177
Charting and Analyzing Your Multiple-Choice Test Results 177
Charting and Evaluating Your Essays 178
Answers and Explanations 179
Section I Reading 179
Section II Mathematics 183
Section III Writing 193
Topic 1 193
Topic 2 194
Chapter 9 Practice Test 2 197
Answer Sheet 197
Section I Reading 199
Section II Mathematics 211
Section III Writing 219
Topic 1 219
Topic 2 219
Answer Key 220
Section I Reading 220
Section II Mathematics 220
Scoring Your CBEST 221
Charting and Analyzing Your Multiple-Choice Test Results 221
Charting and Evaluating Your Essays 222
Answers and Explanations 223
Section I Reading 223
Section II Mathematics 227
Section III Writing 235
Topic 1 235
Topic 2 236
Chapter 10 Practice Test 3 237
Answer Sheet 237
Section I Reading 239
Section II Mathematics 251
Section III Writing 261
Topic 1 261
Topic 2 261
Answer Key 262
Section I Reading 262
Section II Mathematics 262
Scoring Your CBEST 263
Charting and Analyzing Your Multiple-Choice Test Results 263
Charting and Evaluating Your Essays 264
Answers and Explanations 265
Section I Reading 265
Section II Mathematics 270
Section III Writing 278
Topic 1 278
Topic 2 279
Chapter 11 Practice Test 4 281
Answer Sheet 281
Section I Reading 283
Section II Mathematics 295
Section III Writing 304
Topic 1 304
Topic 2 304
Answer Key 305
Section I Reading 305
Section II Mathematics 305
Scoring Your CBEST 306
Charting and Analyzing Your Multiple-Choice Test Results 306
Charting and Evaluating Your Essays 307
Answers and Explanations 308
Section I Reading 308
Section II Mathematics 312
Section III Writing 321
Topic 1 321
Topic 2 322
