CSET — Social Science

The CSET — Social Science exam has three subtests. The first subtest has 35 multiple-choice questions, 1 extended-response question, and 1 short-answer question dealing with world history; and 4 multiple-choice questions, and 1 short- answer question dealing with world geography. The second subtest has 35 multiple-choice questions, 1 extended-response question, and 1 short-answer question dealing with U.S. history; and 4 multiple-choice questions, and 1 short- answer question dealing with U.S. geography. The third subtest has 18 multiple-choice questions and 1 short-answer question dealing with civics; 15 multiple-choice questions and 1 short-answer question on economics; and 7 multiple-choice questions, and 1 short-answer question dealing with California history.

The first CSET — Social Science subtest breaks down world cultures into several sections, including ancient civilizations, medieval and early modern times, and modern world history. The next section covers principles of geography including tools and perspectives of geographic study, geographic diversity of natural landscapes and human societies, and culture and the physical environment.

The second CSET — Social Science subtest covers U.S. history, including sections on the pre-revolutionary and the war for independence; the development of the Constitution and the Early Republic; emergence of a new nation; the civil war and reconstruction; the “Gilded Age;” the U.S. as a world power; the 1920's; the great depression and the New Deal; World War II; post-World War II America; post-World War II U.S. foreign policy; and the civil rights movement. There is also a section on the principles of geography including tools and perspectives of geographic study, geographic diversity of natural landscapes and human societies and culture and the physical environment.

The third CSET — Social Science subtest deals with the principles of American democracy; fundamental values and principles of civil society; the three branches of government; landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases; issues regarding campaigns for national, state, and local elective offices; powers of the national, state, local and tribal governments; the media in American political life; political systems; and tensions within our Constitutional democracy. The economics section covers economic terms and concepts and economic reasoning; elements of America's market economy in a global setting; the relationship between politics and economics; elements of the U.S. labor market in a global setting; aggregate economic behavior of the American economy; and international trade and the American economy. The final section covers California history from pre-Columbian through modern times.

CSET Social Science Practice Questions