Start Here · 4 min read
Exam Overview
Exam Overview
The California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET): Spanish is the subject-matter examination the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) uses to verify that a candidate knows Spanish well enough to teach it. Passing Subtests I, II and III meets the subject-matter requirement for a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Spanish. Passing Subtests III, IV and V earns the Spanish Bilingual Authorization, which lets a teacher deliver instruction in Spanish and English to English learners.
5
Subtests (I–V)
220
Passing scaled score on each subtest
100–300
Scaled score range
$99
Fee per subtest
Who Administers the Exam
| Role | Organization |
|---|---|
| Sets credential requirements and passing standards | California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) |
| Develops and delivers the exam | Evaluation Systems group of Pearson |
| Official information, registration and test guides | ctcexams.nesinc.com |
Structure of the Five Subtests
| Subtest (code) | Domains | Questions | Session time |
|---|---|---|---|
| I (145) | General Linguistics; Linguistics of the Target Language | 40 MC + 3 short CR | 1 h 45 min |
| II (146) | Literary and Cultural Texts and Traditions; Cultural Analysis and Comparisons | 40 MC + 1 extended CR | 1 h 30 min |
| III (147) | Language and Communication: Oral Expression, Listening, Reading, Written Expression | 30 MC + 6 CR (spoken and written) | 2 h 15 min |
| IV (250) | Bilingual Education and Bilingualism; Intercultural Communication; Instruction and Assessment | 50 MC | 1 h 15 min |
| V (258) | Geographic and Historical Contexts; Sociopolitical and Sociocultural Contexts | 50 MC | 1 h 15 min |
Each session also includes 15 minutes for a nondisclosure agreement and a computer tutorial. You register for subtests individually and may take one subtest per session, so you can spread the subtests over several appointments and retake only a subtest you do not pass.
Which Subtests You Need
Single Subject Credential in Spanish
Subtests I, II and III. Subtest I covers linguistics, Subtest II literature and culture, and Subtest III your own listening, reading, speaking and writing in Spanish.
Spanish Bilingual Authorization
Subtests III, IV and V. Subtest III is the same test used for the credential, so a teacher who passes it once can apply it to both goals.
Good to Know
Subtest III is not required for the Bilingual Authorization if you already hold a valid California Single Subject or Standard Secondary credential with a Spanish major, or a degree of three or more years from a foreign institution, equivalent to a regionally accredited U.S. institution, where all instruction was in Spanish.Question Formats
- Multiple-choice questions have four answer choices. In Subtests I, II, IV and V the questions are written in English and include Spanish words, sentences and texts. Subtest III listening and reading questions are written in Spanish.
- Short (focused) constructed responses ask for a brief, precise answer of about 100–200 words, for example defining a linguistic concept with examples or justifying the written accents in a sentence.
- Extended constructed responses ask for a fuller essay, such as the literary or cultural analysis in Subtest II and the essays in Subtest III.
- Spoken responses (Subtest III Oral Expression) are recorded through a headset after a short preparation time.
Scoring
- Each subtest is scored and reported on its own. The passing standard is a scaled score of 220 on a scale of 100 to 300.
- Raw points from the multiple-choice and constructed-response sections are weighted and combined into the scaled score. The official score information describes the usual split as about 70% multiple choice and 30% constructed response.
- At least two trained California educators score each constructed response. They judge Purpose (does it do what the assignment asks?), Subject Matter Knowledge (is the content accurate?) and Support (are the examples and evidence specific and relevant?).
- There is no penalty for a wrong multiple-choice answer, so answer every question.
- Passing scores must be used toward a California credential within ten years of the test date.
Test Delivery
| Subtest | Testing center (computer-based) | Online proctored |
|---|---|---|
| I and II | By appointment during selected testing windows | Available during selected one-week windows |
| III | By appointment; windows vary by test center. Uses a headset for listening and speaking | Not available |
| IV and V | By appointment year-round, Monday through Saturday | Available during one-week windows each month |
At a testing center, restroom breaks are allowed but the clock keeps running. Online sessions allow no breaks. Subtests I, II and III provide an on-screen tool for typing Spanish characters and accent marks; practice with it before test day.
How This Guide Maps to the Exam
| Subtest domain | Where to study it in this guide |
|---|---|
| General Linguistics (I) | Section 3 · General Linguistics |
| Linguistics of the Target Language (I) | Section 5 · Linguistics of the Target Language |
| Literary and Cultural Texts and Traditions; Cultural Analysis and Comparisons (II) | Section 2 · Literature, Culture and Context |
| Language and Communication (III) | Section 6 · Language and Communication Skills |
| Bilingual Education and Bilingualism; Instruction and Assessment (IV) | Sections 1 and 4 |
| Geographic, Historical, Sociopolitical and Sociocultural Contexts (V) | Sections 1 and 2 |
Always Confirm Current Details
Fees, testing windows and policies are set by the CTC and Pearson and can change. Check ctcexams.nesinc.com before you register.Finished reading?
Next, start the first chapter.