Each examination is designed to allow sufficient time for examinees to complete all subtests in a five-hour session. The subtests are not individually timed and you may spend as much time as you choose on each subtest.
Some examinees may finish testing well before the scheduled ending time of the test session. However, you should be prepared to use the entire test session. You will be allowed no more than the allotted time to complete the subtest(s).
Some of the factors that determine the number of Subtests you want to take at one sitting are:
a) Purpose of your appearance: Since most candidates have only the vaguest notions of what the CSET is about, many take one or more (usually 2) of the Subtests to simply 'get a feel' for the test. I strongly recommend it!
However, as I've stated in an earlier posting, even if you're appearing for 'experimental' purposes, go as best prepared as you can possibly be!
This way, you'd get a surer understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, and you wouldn't be wasting money and time simply sitting for a couple of hours, skimming the questions languidly, then throwing your hands up and retreating in some consternation!
b) How prepared you are: Each of us has a 'gut-feel' for our state of preparedness. Sure, there are many imponderables that relate to the test - for instance, have you studied enough about a certain topic? Could the emphasis on certain skills/concepts have changed from the previous time? - but ultimately, one either feels confident or not!
But how do you know if you should feel confident?!
Well, for one thing if you can answer at least 75% of the Qs on this site without much trouble, you should do just fine!
Likewise, if you've obtained my database of Qs and feel self-assured in solving most of them, you can feel upbeat!
So, the number of Subtests you should take depends on your comfort with the subject matter.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Quick links: Articles Index, TESTIMONIALS & FEEDBACK and CONTACT ME!
--------------------------------------------------------------
In general, if you're reasonably well-prepared, you should plan to allocate about 3-4 minutes for each of the 30 MCQs. Similarly, for the Free Response section, you should budget for about 20 minutes (perhaps, even 30, if you're determined to solve a particularly nettlesome Q that you know you should get!)
Of course, there shall be a few Q (like, on Abstract Algebra / Number Theory: most guess on these Qs!) in the MCQ format that you'd be clueless about and shan't be able to possibly attempt. But to compensate for these, there shall be other Qs that simply consume more time because they're just more extensive, or because you made errors and the choices don't tally!
A similar case holds for the Free Response section. A good assumption is that you attempt just 2 of the 4 Qs.
All this implies that unless you have a robust grasp of Math and are confident - prior to the Test! - that you can do pretty much whatever they throw at you, you should plan to devote about 3+ hours on each Subtest. (I knew my stuff: it took me about one and a half hours / Subtest...)
This means that for most of you it's extremely prudent (financially and otherwise) to take only 1 Subtest per appearance. This way you shan't have to hurry up mid-way on the first, do a poor job of it, and then end up mucking the second one too for want of sufficient time!
Alternately, prepare extremely well for any one Subtest: spend an hour and a half or so browsing through the test where you're weak to get a good idea, and then concentrate the meat of your time on the Subtest you've mastered. This maximizes your chances of success!
Hankering for more CSET Math Qs? Click on Need More Practice Questions? To purchase a vast database of Qs that I've compiled from my experience as a test taker and CSET Single Subject Math instructor at Cal State, San Bernardino, email me at innovationguy@yahoo.com. The CSET Qs on this site are taken from that collection of questions!
If you found this site useful, be an evangelist and please spread the word to other CSET Single Subject Math examinees, and support this site with a contribution via Paypal!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment