So you’re taking the CSET Social Science (114, 115, 116) exam and you’re asking some of the following questions:

  • Where do I find a free practice test?
  • An exam breakdown?
  • How do I register for the test?

Those are all great questions, and you’ve found the right place to get them answered!

My name is Ashley Macken, and at Best in Class we are here to help you get familiar with everything you need to know about the CSET Social Science (114, 115, 116) exam!

CSET Social Science Video Overviews

Choosing the right study material for the CSET Social Science can be overwhelming. 240 Tutoring offers a helpful video on choosing the right study resources for you:

The following video from Mometrix walks you through a handful of practice questions to help you get an idea of what content will be on your CSET exam:

First Thing to Know

The CSET, also known as the California Subject Examinations for Teachers, are a series of exams used to obtain your licensure and certification in the state of California.

This particular exam, the CSET Social Science, is a required exam for any California educators who plan to teach social science at the secondary level.

The identification numbers for the CSET Social Science are 114, 115, and 116. The CSET Social Science exam has three separate subtests, with an identification number for each subtest. The purpose of the identification number is to help differentiate between different state examinations.

CSET Social Science Exam Breakdown

The CSET Social Science is made up of three subtests. You may choose to take one or two subtests separately or all subtests in one testing session. This means you must pass each individual subtest to pass the entire CSET Social Science (114, 115, 116) exam.

CSET: Social Science Exam
Subtest and Test Code Domains Number of Selected-Response Questions Number of Constructed-Response Questions
I (114) World History 35 1 extended response and 1 short response
World Geography 4 1 short response
II (115) U.S. History 35 1 extended response and 1 short response
U.S. Geography 4 1 short response
III (116) Civics 18 1 short response
Economics 15 1 short response
California History 7 1 short response

For Subtests I and II you will have 2 hours and 15 minutes per subtest. For Subtest III you will have 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete it. If you decide to take all three subtests in a single session you will have 6 hours and 15 minutes. If you do not pass a subtest you will need to retake that subtest again to pass the entire CSET Social Science exam.

What is a Passing Score

A passing score is 220. You will need to score at least a 220 on each subtest to pass the CSET Social Science exam.

How to Register for the CSET Social Science Exam

New to Teaching?

Great! Let’s get your registration questions answered!

Before you register for your CSET you will need to apply for your credentials. You can find teaching credentials requirements on the CTC website.

Once your application has been approved you can begin registering for the CSET. Registration is available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

First-time users will be required to create an account.

  1. Click the “Create an account now” link on the login page. You will be asked to enter your account and personal information and review your account to complete your new account.
  2. Sign in to your account.
  3. Choose a test program (CSET), select your test, designate institutions to receive your test results (note: only institutions designated during registration will automatically receive your test results), and choose to have test results emailed to you.
  4. Answer background questions and review and agree to testing rules.
  5. Submit your payment using a credit or debit card and schedule your test appointment.

After you schedule your test appointment, you will be sent an email confirming your appointment.

Register as early as possible before your desired test date. Test appointments are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and seating is limited.

Already Certified?

Great! Registering for the CSET Social Science will be quick and easy!

Step 1: Go to the California Educator Credentialing Assessments website and sign in to your account (or register for an account if you don’t have one).

Step 2: Choose your test program (CSET) and select your test or subtest. You can register for alternative testing arrangements (if applicable).

Step 3: Select institutions to receive your results and choose whether to have results emailed to you.

Step 4: Answer background questions and review and agree to testing rules.

Step 5: Pay using a credit, debit, or check card and schedule your test appointment.

You will get an email with the address and the phone number of the testing center after you have completed the registration.

You will want to register as early as possible. Test appointments are accepted on a first come, first served basis, and seating is limited.

That’s it! Once you pass the exam you are qualified to teach social science at the secondary level in the state of California!

Yay!

CSET Social Science (114, 115, 116) Free Practice Test

Are you preparing to take the CSET Social Science (114, 115, 116)? If so, you’ll want to know what you need to study so you’ll pass.

Practice tests are a great way to figure out what you need to study but you’ll want to make sure you find a reliable practice test.

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve put together a list of the best practice tests for the CSET Social Science.

Best Free Practice Test

240 Tutoring’s Social Science Subtest I (114) Practice Test

240 Tutoring’s Social Science Subtest II (115) Practice Test

240 Tutoring’s Social Science Subtest III (116) Practice Test

240 Tutoring has been helping teachers pass their exams since 2011. They offer an online, completely free practice test for the CSET Social Science, including one test for each of the subtests. Each practice test will give you a free score breakdown, so you can see exactly what you need to study.

CSET Social Science (114, 115, 116) Paid Practice Test

Best Paid Practice Test

240 Tutoring’s Social Science Subtest I (114) Study Guide and Practice Test

240 Tutoring’s Social Science Subtest II (115) Study Guide and Practice Test

240 Tutoring’s Social Science Subtest III (116) Study Guide and Practice Test

240 Tutoring also offers a full study guide that comes with a practice test. Their Social Science Subtest I, Subtest II, and Subtest III Study Guides and Practice Tests include more than 725 practice questions and 190 pages of content. So while it is a paid practice test, it offers a lot of extra benefits.

Best of all? The study guide comes with a money-back guarantee that you will pass the test.

BONUS: 240 Tutoring is a month-to-month subscription. You get all of their CSET study guides — including all three CSET Social Science Subtests — for just one monthly price of $39.99. So simply subscribing to one study guide gives you access to all study guides. If you plan on taking multiple CTC tests, this is a great deal!

Runner-Up for Practice Test

CTC Website’s Social Science Practice Test

The CTC website offers a practice test for each of the CSET Social Science Subtest exams. The reliability of this resource is undeniable, as the questions are provided by the same company that is responsible for the actual test. This practice test includes selected-response and constructed-response sample questions. While reliable, it will likely not fulfill all of your study needs, since it includes fewer than 20 practice questions for each subtest.

Social Science Subtest I (114) Practice Test

Social Science Subtest II (115) Practice Test

Social Science Subtest III (116) Practice Test

Honorable Mention

Study.com Practice Test

Each Study.com CSET Social Science practice test provides a preview of Study.com’s paid resources (such as videos, quizzes and lessons) after each question that is answered. While there seems to be a lot of information to support each practice question, it can be frustrating to get through part of the material only to find out that you need an account to view the rest of the content.

Each practice test also falls short in the number of questions offered. With only 15 practice questions, the limited amount of content will likely not be enough to help you adequately study.

Social Science Subtest I (114) Practice Test

Social Science Subtest II (115) Practice Test

Social Science Subtest III (116) Practice Test

CSET Social Science (114, 115, 116) Free Study Guide

Getting ready to study for the CSET Social Science (114, 115, 116) exam can be overwhelming! With so many study materials available it can be confusing to know which study guide will be the best to help you pass.

Well, no need to worry! We’ve broken down the best study guides to help you pass the CSET Social Science!

Best Free Study Guide

240 Tutoring’s CSET Social Science Ultimate Guide

240 Tutoring offers a free guide, the CSET Social Science Ultimate Guide, to help test takers get their preparation process started off right.

This guide provides a breakdown of each of the three subtests. The Ultimate Guide also provides individual sections on specific concepts that are likely to appear on the exam.

Between the practice tests and the provided study material, this Ultimate Guide is a great starting point. However, depending on your content knowledge, you will likely need to take your studying further than what is offered on this guide, since the free guide won’t include every tested concept.

CSET Social Science (114, 115, 116) Paid Study Guide

Best Paid Study Guide

240 Tutoring’s Social Science Subtest I (114) Study Guide 

240 Tutoring’s Social Science Subtest II (115) Study Guide

240 Tutoring’s Social Science Subtest III (116) Study Guide 

240 Tutoring also offers a full study guide that comes with a practice test. Their Social Science Subtest I, Subtest II, and Subtest III Study Guides include more than 725 practice questions and 190 pages of content. So while it is a paid study guide, it offers a lot of extra benefits.

Best of all? The study guide comes with a money-back guarantee that you will pass the test.

BONUS: 240 Tutoring is a month-to-month subscription. You get all of their CSET study guides — including all three CSET Social Science Subtests — for just one monthly price of $39.99. So simply subscribing to one study guide gives you access to all study guides. If you plan on taking multiple CTC tests, this is a great deal!

Runner-Up for Study Guide

Study.com Study Guide

Study.com offers a CSET Social Science Study Guide. The guide contains a good amount of information, with more than 500 video lessons included. When paired with information from the Study.com practice test exam report, you will be able to target the lessons most important to you. The downside is that at $59.99 per month, this guide is pricier than others.

Study.com CSET Social Science Study Guide

Honorable Mention

Teachers Test Prep

This study guide provides many different ways to study, meaning that there are many different products and packages at many different prices. While this may be a benefit to some, it can also seem overwhelming and might leave you wondering which of the products you really need.

Once you create an account you will gain access to their free study guides but will need to purchase their other products to get more in-depth instruction.

CSET Social Science Study Guides

About the Author

Ashley Macken

Ashley Macken

Ashley is a first-grade teacher who is ending her 10-year teaching career to focus on small group tutoring and being a stay-at-home mom. She feels she has a wealth of knowledge of the education world to share with others. One thing you wouldn’t expect about Ashley is that she owns a working 1926 Model T.

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