CSET Home Economics Exam
The Home Economics test has three subtests. The first subtest covers personal, family, and child development. This portion has 40 multiple-choice questions and 1 extended constructed-response question. The second subtest covers nutrition, foods, and hospitality. This portion has 40 multiple-choice questions and 2 short-answer questions. The third subtest has 12 multiple-choice questions and 1 short-answer question dealing with fashion and textiles; 12 multiple-choice questions and 1 short-answer question dealing with housing and interior design; and 16 multiple-choice questions and 2 short-answer questions dealing with consumer education.
The first Home Economics subtest has sections on personal, interpersonal, and family relationships, parenting, and child development and education. The candidate should be able to explain how values, goals, and morals affect self-concept, and how a person relates to other people. The parenting section deals family planning, stages of pregnancy, and parenting techniques for children at each stage of development. The section on child development requires the candidate to understand theories of development, and to identify age appropriate activities for each developmental level.
The second Home Economics subtest has sections on food and nutritional science, and food preparation and hospitality. The food and nutritional science portion tests the candidate's knowledge of digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients. It also tests on terminology used in the food science industry, and cultural and environmental factors that affect diet, nutrition, and health. The food preparation and hospitality section tests the candidate's knowledge of food safety and sanitation, effective kitchen design, and identification of hazards in the kitchen both as food-borne illnesses, and as mechanical dangers. The candidate is also expected to show familiarity with FDA standards. Finally, the candidate is tested on the differences in food preparation and ingredients used in different geographical locations and amongst different cultures.
The first section of the third Home Economics subtest covers fashion influences, wardrobe management, fibers, fabrics, and finishes, and apparel construction. This section tests on the history of fashion, the elements of fashion design, and how fashion choices relate to different lifestyles. The second section covers housing, interior design, and furnishings. This section requires the candidate to understand the basic principles of housing construction, as well as how interior construction and design impact the activities conducted in those rooms. The third section covers personal and family resources, consumer rights and responsibilities, economic systems, and personal finances.