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Exam Overview
Subtest I is a computer-based test given at Pearson VUE testing centers by appointment, year-round, Monday through Saturday. It combines 100 multiple-choice questions with four short constructed-response assignments in a single 4-hour session.
Key Facts About CSET Science Subtest I
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Official name | CSET: Foundational-Level General Science (Subtest I: General Science of CSET: Science) |
| Test code | 215 |
| Program | California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) |
| Multiple-choice questions | 100, each with four answer choices |
| Constructed response | 4 short (focused) assignments, one per domain |
| Testing time | 4 hours, plus 15 minutes for the tutorial and nondisclosure agreement |
| Provided on screen | Scientific calculator and periodic table |
| Fee | $133 |
| Passing score | 220 (CSET scaled scores run from 100 to 300) |
| Results | Within about 7 weeks of testing |
Domains and Question Counts
Domains on CSET Science Subtest I
| Domain | Competencies | Multiple-Choice | Constructed Response |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Scientific Practices, Engineering Design and Applications, and Crosscutting Concepts | 0001 to 0003 | 33 | 1 |
| 2. Physical Sciences | 0004 to 0009 | 23 | 1 |
| 3. Life Sciences | 0010 to 0014 | 22 | 1 |
| 4. Earth and Space Sciences | 0015 to 0019 | 22 | 1 |
Domain 1 is the largest single domain, and its questions are almost always set inside a real investigation, data set or design problem from physics, chemistry, biology or earth science. Strong practice skills therefore raise your score across the whole test.
How the Test Is Scored
The multiple-choice section counts for 80% of your score and the four constructed responses for 20%. Your multiple-choice score depends only on the number of questions you answer correctly, so there is no penalty for guessing; never leave a question blank. Some questions are being tried out for future tests and do not count, but you cannot tell which ones, so give every question your best effort.
Trained California educators score each constructed response, looking at how fully it answers the assignment, how accurate the science is, and how well it supports its points with evidence, examples and reasoning. All results are combined into a scaled score, and you need 220 to pass.
What Kinds of Questions to Expect
- Investigation questions: identifying variables and controls, spotting flaws in a procedure, choosing tools and safety steps
- Data questions built on tables, graphs described in words, and measurements with units and uncertainty
- Engineering questions about criteria, constraints, trade-offs and improving a design from test results
- Concept-application questions in physical, life, and earth and space science, many with a short calculation
- Four constructed-response assignments, each asking for a brief written explanation, analysis or design in one domain
If You Also Need a Concentration Subtest
Single Subject Science candidates pair Subtest I with one concentration subtest: 217 Life Sciences, 218 Chemistry, 219 Earth and Space Sciences, or 220 Physics. Each concentration subtest has 50 multiple-choice questions and 3 constructed-response assignments in 2 hours, and you may take it in the same 6-hour appointment as Subtest I. Each subtest is scored and passed separately.
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