So…you want to be a teacher in the state of California? Awesome! This state is in need of passionate, educated, and qualified teachers. Once you have decided that you want to be a teacher you have to enroll in a teaching credential program. One of the requirements to get into a program is passing the CSET or California Subjects Examinations for Teachers.
I took the multiple subjects CSET exam which is the exam you should take if you want to be an elementary school teacher. When I first started looking at the test I got overwhelmed instantly. I was a psychology major in my undergrad and had not taken a History or English class in many years. Needless to say, there was a lot of content I did not know. I created a study plan, gathered every study material I could, and studied my butt off! I ended up passing all my CSET exams on my first try.
This post was created to help you start thinking about how you plan to tackle your CSET exam and pass it on your first try!
Create a Study Plan
Begin with a timeline. When do you need to have your exams done by? Are you taking your exams all at once or separately? Starting your studying 1-3 months before the actual test date is a good idea. Personally, I took my exams separately and I studied for about 1 month in between each exam. It made each exam less cumbersome.
Set time aside everyday to study. It can be hard to find time to study with everything else in life going on (especially during this pandemic). Set aside 30 minutes a day where you can study without any interruptions. I studied first thing in the morning before I went to work or after dinner before I went to bed.
Get Study Materials
I just made a blog post all about the various different types of study materials that helped me study for this exam. Click here to take a look. Let me give you the Cliff Notes version.
What kind of learner are you? Are you a visual learner where you need someone to teach you the information? Are you a kinesthetic learner where you learn through doing? Are you a reading/writing learner where you learn through writing copious amounts of notes to get information in your head?
Find out what type of learner you are and find a study resource that compliments it. If you need someone to tell you the information then go to study.com and watch the videos or take an in-person course (highly recommend!) Get a test prep book and take notes if you learn through reading and writing. Find something that mirrors your way of learning and stick to it!
Join a Traditional Course
I know what you are thinking…taking an in-person class for 8 hours somewhere you do not know does not sound like the best way to spend a Saturday. That is exactly what I thought when I signed up for a Teacherstestprep.com in-person class for the Subset 1 Exam. They had it in a hotel meeting room a few towns away from Sacramento where I live. When I entered I was greeted by the kindest Professor who was teaching the class for the day. After I saw the other students in the room all my worries melted away.
The class was extremely detailed and went over everything that I needed to know for the exam. They provided me with an outline, slides, and a practice test that we went over as a group. The professor also gave me insight on some examples of short-answer questions that were probably going to be on the exam.
I highly recommend taking an in-person course even if you feel confident in your studying. You might find more information or get clarification on topics you don’t understand.
Take Practice Exams
There are many ways that you can take practice exams for the CSET exams including:
- Study.com has multiple practice exams but you have to have a subscription.
- Test prep books including Princeton Review and Cliff Notes have one or two in the book as well as access to an online version.
- The CTC Exams website has online or print out practice exams.
- Teacherstestprep.com has free practice exams in multiple subjects.
- 240tutoring.com has a free practice exam.
Get Familiar with the Exam
I did not get familiar with how the exam was going to be taken before I went to the testing center. I did not know that I would have to be finger printed, photographed, and have all my belongings put in a locker when I arrived. Be sure to read the CTC Policies and Procedures before you go to your testing center just so there are no surprises when you arrive.
Get familiar with how the test is going to be formatted before you take the actual exam. The CTC website has a tutorial that you can access to get familiar with the exam structure.
Don’t Give Up
Studying can be stressful and exhausting! Sometimes you feel slightly overwhelmed with all the information you have in your head. When this happens it is okay to close the book and take a break. Don’t lose sight of WHY you are taking this exam in the first place! You are going to be the most amazing teacher to some little minds someday. This exam is just one of the stepping stones you have to go through before your dreams become reality! Good luck 🙂