CBEST vs CSET: what is the difference, and do you need both?
If you are working toward a teaching credential in California, you will run into two requirements with similar sounding exams: the basic skills requirement, which the CBEST can meet, and the subject matter requirement, which the CSET can meet. They answer different questions. The CBEST checks your reading, math and writing skills, while the CSET checks what you know about the subjects you plan to teach.
Many future teachers can meet one or both requirements without an exam, so before you register for anything, it helps to see how the pieces fit together.
Try it free first
Every exam below has a free 25-question diagnostic with an explanation for every answer, created by a registered nurse.
The short answer
The CBEST is one of several ways to meet the Commission on Teacher Credentialing's basic skills requirement. The CSET is one of several ways to verify subject matter competence for a teaching credential. Depending on your credential, your degree and your coursework, you might need one exam, both, or neither.
CBEST at a glance
- Three sections: Reading (50 multiple-choice questions), Mathematics (50 multiple-choice questions) and Writing (two essays). You must pass all three.
- Fee: $30 per section, and you register and pay for each section separately.
- Passing: a total score of 123 across the three sections, with rules for individual section scores on the CTC exams site.
- Most credentials require a bachelor's degree, and the Commission says most applicants meet the basic skills requirement through their degree. Some documents, such as the Emergency Substitute Teaching Permit for Prospective Teachers, do not require a degree, which is one reason the CBEST is still common.
CSET: Multiple Subjects at a glance
- The CSET: Multiple Subjects, for future elementary teachers, has three subtests: Subtest I (test code 101), Subtest II (214) and Subtest III (225).
- Subtests I and II each have 52 multiple-choice and 4 constructed-response questions, and Subtest III has 39 multiple-choice and 3 constructed-response questions.
- At a test center, Subtests I and II are 3 hours each and Subtest III is 2 hours and 15 minutes, or 5 hours for all three in one session.
- Fees: $99 per subtest taken separately, or $247 for all three together at a test center. The passing score is 220 per subtest.
Ways around each exam
For basic skills, the Commission lists several options besides the CBEST, including your degree, qualifying coursework, a mix of coursework and exams, and passing the CSET: Multiple Subjects together with the CSET: Writing Skills exam.
For subject matter, the Multiple Subject credential leaflet lists passing the subject matter exams, completing a Commission-approved elementary subject matter program, or completing applicable coursework verified by a Commission-approved preparation program. Your credential program can tell you which option makes the most sense for you.
Where we can help
We offer CBEST prep, with full-length timed reading and math practice tests, essay practice with model responses, and an explanation for every answer. We do not offer CSET prep, so for the CSET we suggest the official preparation materials on the CTC exams site. If the CBEST is on your list, start with the free 25-question diagnostic below to see where you stand.
Ready to see where you stand?
The free CBEST diagnostic takes about 30 minutes, and you will see an explanation for every answer when you finish.
Common questions
Do I need the CBEST if I pass the CSET?
Possibly not. Passing the CSET: Multiple Subjects plus the CSET: Writing Skills exam is one of the listed ways to meet the basic skills requirement, and many applicants meet it through their bachelor's degree. Check the Commission's basic skills leaflet for your situation.
Is the CSET harder than the CBEST?
They measure different things. The CBEST checks basic reading, math and writing skills, while the CSET measures subject knowledge for teaching, with both multiple-choice and constructed-response questions.
How much does the CSET: Multiple Subjects cost?
At a test center, it is $99 per subtest taken separately or $247 for all three subtests together.
Do you offer CSET prep?
Not today. We offer CBEST prep with a free 25-question diagnostic, and we recommend the official CTC exams site for CSET preparation materials.
Sources
We checked these official pages on October 21, 2026. Exam details can change, so always confirm with the exam owner before you register.
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