Click Study Flashcards above to open the flashcard hub — hundreds of CBEST cards you can flip, match, type, or quiz yourself on. Every card is drawn from the three official CBEST sections, so you study exactly what the test measures.[2] Pair them with our free practice test and study guide.
CBEST Flashcard Study Modes
Flip mode lets you study each card front and back at your own pace. Match turns terms and definitions into a timed pairing game. Type shows the definition and asks you to spell the term back, so a card like PEMDAS has to come from memory, not recognition. Quiz builds multiple-choice questions from the same cards for quick checks.
Why Flashcards Work for the CBEST
Mathematics is the largest section of this CBEST deck at 107 cards, and it covers the vocabulary behind estimation, computation, numerical and graphic relationships, and applied problem solving. You get the core statistics language on cards such as Mean and Mode, the arithmetic and geometry terms behind Sum, Area, and Square, and the comparison ideas drilled by Rate and Ratio. The card for PEMDAS keeps order of operations straight, which matters when a test question buries several operations in one expression.
Reading follows with 78 cards focused on the language of critical analysis and comprehension. Some cards name what an author does, such as Tone, Mood, and Bias, while others separate types of statements, which is what Fact and Claim are there for. Theme handles the larger point of a passage, Simile covers figurative language, and Index reflects the research and reference skills the CBEST reading section tests through tables, charts, and book parts.
Writing rounds out the deck with 60 cards on essay structure and standard English conventions. Thesis and Focus give you the language for stating and holding a central idea, while Unity describes how supporting sentences stay on that idea. Prompt names the thing you are actually responding to on test day. Mechanics cards like Comma and Colon, plus broader terms such as Usage and Grammar, cover the sentence-level choices readers notice first when they score written responses.
Because CBEST scores all three sections, spreading attention across Mathematics, Reading, and Writing works better than draining the largest pile first and leaving the other two untouched.
The CBEST spans a lot of ground — reading skills and vocabulary, math computation and statistics, and writing conventions.[1] Spaced flashcards are the most efficient way to keep it all fresh. Used alongside our practice test and study guide, they turn review time into measurable progress.
CBEST Flashcards by Section
The cards are organized by the three official CBEST sections. Because you can take each section separately, drill one at a time — start with whichever you find hardest:
| Section | Format |
|---|---|
| Reading | 50 multiple-choice questions |
| Mathematics | 50 multiple-choice questions (no calculator) |
| Writing | 2 essays (expressive + analytical) |
How to Get the Most Out of These Flashcards
- Start with Mathematics. At 107 cards it is the biggest domain here, and terms like Ratio and Mean show up inside word problems you cannot solve without them.
- Type the terms you confuse. PEMDAS and Simile are good candidates, since recognizing them in a list is far easier than producing them from a definition alone.
- Use Match for paired opposites. Cards that sit close together, such as Fact and Claim or Mood and Tone, are exactly where a timed pairing game exposes shaky memory.
- Switch to the practice test once recall is steady. Flashcards give you the vocabulary; the practice test shows whether you can apply it under section timing.
- Keep a rotating cadence. Run one domain per session, revisit missed cards the next day, and let Quiz mode confirm the 60 Writing cards before essay drafting.
CBEST Flashcards FAQ
Hundreds of free CBEST flashcards, organized across all three sections — Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. They cover the high-yield terms and concepts each section measures, and they're free with no account required.
Yes. Flashcards use active recall — pulling an answer from memory — which research shows is one of the most effective study methods, especially in short, spaced sessions. They're ideal for the CBEST's reading vocabulary, math procedures, and writing-convention rules.
All three: Reading (main idea, inference, fact vs. opinion, author's purpose), Mathematics (percents, estimation, mean/median/mode, ratios, order of operations), and Writing (thesis, essay structure, subject-verb agreement, run-ons and fragments).
Focus on one section at a time, since you can take each CBEST section separately. Mix the modes: flip to learn, type to test recall, match for speed, and quiz to check yourself before a full practice test. Drill your weakest section until you're comfortably clearing 41.
Yes — 100% free, all four study modes, no paywall.
Yes. The cards are organized to the current CBEST content from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Pearson: Reading (50 MC), Mathematics (50 MC), and Writing (2 essays), each scaled 20–80 with 41 to pass.
CBEST flashcard bank
All 245 cards, by topic
A reference copy of every card in this deck. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to show it. To study with Flip, Match, Type and Quiz modes and track what you have mastered, use Study Flashcards at the top of the page.
Reading (78)
- Main idea
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The central point a passage conveys — what the whole text is mostly about.
- Supporting detail
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A fact, example, statistic, or reason that explains or develops the main idea.
- Author's purpose
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The reason a text was written — to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain.
- Tone
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The author's attitude toward the subject, shown through word choice.
- Mood
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The feeling a passage creates in the reader.
- Inference
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A logical conclusion drawn from text evidence plus reasoning — not stated outright.
- Conclusion (reading)
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A judgment the reader reaches based on the details in a passage.
- Fact
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A statement that can be verified or proven true.
- Opinion
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A belief, judgment, or feeling that cannot be proven.
- Fact vs. opinion
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Facts can be proven; opinions are beliefs or judgments that cannot.
- Context clues
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Hints in surrounding words and sentences that reveal an unfamiliar word's meaning.
- Denotation
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The literal, dictionary meaning of a word.
- Connotation
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The emotional or implied meaning a word carries beyond its literal sense.
- Topic sentence
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The sentence (often first) that states a paragraph's main idea.
- Summary
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A short restatement of a passage's main idea and key points in your own words.
- Paraphrase
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Restating a passage's meaning in different words, keeping the original idea.
- Text structure
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How a passage is organized — cause/effect, compare/contrast, sequence, problem/solution.
- Cause and effect
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A text structure showing why something happens (cause) and its result (effect).
- Compare and contrast
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A text structure showing how two things are alike and different.
- Sequence
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A text structure presenting events or steps in order.
- Problem and solution
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A text structure that presents an issue and a way to resolve it.
- Chronological order
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Arrangement of events in the order they happened in time.
- Argument
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A claim supported by reasons and evidence.
- Claim
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A debatable statement an author argues for.
- Evidence
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Facts, examples, and reasoning used to support a claim.
- Counterargument
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A point that opposes or challenges the author's main claim.
- Assumption
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An unstated belief an author takes for granted within an argument.
- Bias
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A one-sided slant favoring a particular view, often shown by loaded language.
- Loaded language
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Emotionally charged words used to influence the reader's feelings.
- Persuasion
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Writing meant to convince the reader to accept a view or take action.
- Generalization
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A broad statement applied to a whole group, which may or may not be supported.
- Valid argument
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An argument whose conclusion is well supported by sufficient, relevant evidence.
- Relevant evidence
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Information that directly supports the claim being made.
- Point of view
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The perspective from which a text is written or an issue is considered.
- Audience
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The intended readers a text is written for.
- Implied main idea
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A central point the passage suggests without stating directly.
- Theme
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The underlying message or insight about life in a literary passage.
- Literal meaning
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What a text says directly, word for word.
- Figurative language
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Language that goes beyond literal meaning, such as metaphor or simile.
- Metaphor
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A comparison that states one thing is another (without 'like' or 'as').
- Simile
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A comparison using 'like' or 'as'.
- Table of contents
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A list at a book's front showing chapters/sections and their page numbers.
- Index
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An alphabetical list at a book's back giving the pages where topics appear.
- Glossary (reference)
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An alphabetical list of specialized terms and their definitions.
- Citation
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Source information identifying an author, title, and publication details.
- Primary source
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A firsthand or original record of an event or idea.
- Secondary source
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A source that analyzes or interprets primary sources.
- Skimming
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Reading quickly to get the general idea or find a section.
- Scanning
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Reading quickly to locate a specific fact or detail.
- Interpreting a graph
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Reading a trend, value, or comparison from a chart, table, or graph.
- Legend (key)
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The part of a chart or map that explains its symbols or colors.
- Transition word
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A word like however or therefore that links ideas and signals relationships.
- Coherence (reading)
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The logical, connected flow of ideas in a text.
- Drawing conclusions
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Combining text evidence to reach a reasonable judgment.
- Predicting
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Using clues in a passage to anticipate what will come next.
- Main idea vs. theme
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Main idea is what a text is about; theme is the deeper message it conveys.
- Objective writing
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Writing based on facts, free of personal feelings or bias.
- Subjective writing
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Writing shaped by personal opinions, feelings, or interpretation.
- Rhetoric
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The art of using language effectively to persuade an audience.
- Word analysis
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Using prefixes, roots, and suffixes to determine a word's meaning.
- Prefix
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A word part added to the front of a root that changes its meaning (e.g., un-).
- Suffix
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A word part added to the end of a root (e.g., -ful, -tion).
- Root word
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The base part of a word that carries its core meaning.
- Synonym
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A word with the same or nearly the same meaning as another.
- Antonym
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A word with the opposite meaning of another.
- Detail question
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A question asking you to find a specific fact stated in the passage.
- Best summarizes
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A main-idea question asking which choice captures the whole passage.
- Explicit information
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Information stated directly in the text.
- Implicit information
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Information suggested by the text but not stated directly.
- Logical relationship
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How ideas connect — such as cause/effect, sequence, or contrast.
- Evaluating sources
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Judging whether a source is credible, relevant, and well supported.
- Heading
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A label that introduces a section and signals its content.
- Caption
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Text that explains an image, table, or figure.
- Footnote
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A note at the bottom of a page giving a source or extra detail.
- Outline
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A structured plan listing a text's main points and subpoints.
- Inference vs. fact
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An inference is reasoned from clues; a fact is stated directly.
- Supporting an inference
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Pointing to the specific lines that justify a conclusion.
- Comparing two passages
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Identifying how two texts agree, differ, or address an issue.
Mathematics (107)
- Estimation
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Rounding numbers to convenient values to compute a quick, approximate answer.
- Rounding
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Replacing a number with a nearby simpler value (e.g., 7.89 ≈ 8).
- Place value
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The value a digit has based on its position (ones, tens, hundreds…).
- Whole numbers
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The numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, … with no fractions or decimals.
- Integer
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Any whole number and its negative (…, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, …).
- Sum
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The result of addition.
- Difference
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The result of subtraction.
- Product
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The result of multiplication.
- Quotient
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The result of division.
- Factor
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A number that divides evenly into another number.
- Multiple
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The product of a number and an integer (e.g., 12 is a multiple of 4).
- Prime number
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A number greater than 1 with exactly two factors: 1 and itself.
- Composite number
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A number greater than 1 with more than two factors.
- Even number
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An integer divisible by 2.
- Odd number
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An integer not divisible by 2.
- Greatest common factor (GCF)
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The largest factor two or more numbers share.
- Least common multiple (LCM)
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The smallest multiple two or more numbers share.
- Fraction
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A number written a/b showing parts of a whole.
- Numerator
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The top number of a fraction — how many parts you have.
- Denominator
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The bottom number of a fraction — the total equal parts.
- Equivalent fractions
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Fractions that name the same value (e.g., ½ = 2/4).
- Simplifying a fraction
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Dividing numerator and denominator by their GCF to reduce it.
- Common denominator
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A shared denominator used to add or subtract fractions.
- Improper fraction
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A fraction whose numerator is greater than or equal to its denominator.
- Mixed number
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A whole number combined with a fraction (e.g., 2½).
- Adding fractions
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Find a common denominator, add the numerators, keep the denominator.
- Multiplying fractions
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Multiply numerators and denominators straight across.
- Dividing fractions
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Multiply by the reciprocal of the second fraction.
- Reciprocal
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The fraction flipped: the reciprocal of 3/4 is 4/3.
- Decimal
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A number using a point to show parts of a whole (e.g., 0.25).
- Decimal place value
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Positions after the point: tenths, hundredths, thousandths.
- Fraction to decimal
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Divide the numerator by the denominator (¾ = 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75).
- Decimal to percent
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Multiply by 100 (0.25 → 25%).
- Percent
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A part per hundred; 25% means 25 out of 100.
- Percent to decimal
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Divide by 100, or move the point two places left (25% = 0.25).
- Percent of a number
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Convert the percent to a decimal and multiply: 20% of 80 = 0.20 × 80 = 16.
- Percent change
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(new − old) ÷ old × 100.
- Percent increase
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A positive percent change when a value goes up.
- Percent decrease
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A negative percent change when a value goes down.
- Discount
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A reduction in price; a 25%-off price equals 0.75 × the original.
- Equivalent forms
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A fraction, decimal, and percent that name the same value (½ = 0.5 = 50%).
- Ratio
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A comparison of two quantities by division (3 to 4, or 3:4).
- Proportion
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An equation stating two ratios are equal; solve by cross-multiplying.
- Cross-multiplying
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Setting the cross products of a proportion equal to solve for a variable.
- Unit rate
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A ratio with a denominator of 1, such as miles per hour or price per item.
- Scale factor
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The ratio by which a quantity or figure is enlarged or reduced.
- Order of operations
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Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction (PEMDAS).
- PEMDAS
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The order: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply/Divide (left to right), Add/Subtract (left to right).
- Exponent
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A small number showing how many times a base is multiplied by itself (3² = 9).
- Square
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A number multiplied by itself (5² = 25).
- Square root
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A value that, multiplied by itself, gives the number (√25 = 5).
- Absolute value
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A number's distance from zero, always non-negative (|−4| = 4).
- Negative number
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A number less than zero.
- Mean
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The average — add all values and divide by how many there are.
- Median
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The middle value of a data set arranged in order.
- Mode
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The value that appears most often in a data set.
- Range (statistics)
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The difference between the highest and lowest values.
- Outlier
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A value far from the rest of a data set, which can skew the mean.
- Mean vs. median
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The median resists outliers; the mean is affected by extreme values.
- Probability
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Favorable outcomes ÷ total outcomes, a number from 0 to 1.
- Certain event
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An event with probability 1 — it will always happen.
- Impossible event
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An event with probability 0 — it never happens.
- Data table
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A grid organizing values in rows and columns.
- Bar graph
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A graph using bars to compare quantities across categories.
- Line graph
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A graph using points connected by lines to show change over time.
- Pie chart
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A circular graph showing parts of a whole as slices.
- Reading a graph
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Use the title, axis labels, and units to find the value you need.
- Word problem
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A math question stated in words that you translate into a calculation.
- Keyword: 'of'
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In word problems, 'of' usually signals multiplication.
- Keyword: 'per'
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Signals a rate or division (miles per hour).
- Keyword: 'total'
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Signals addition or a sum.
- Measurement
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Quantifying length, weight, volume, or time using units.
- Unit conversion
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Changing a measurement from one unit to another (feet to inches).
- Perimeter
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The total distance around the outside of a shape.
- Area
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The amount of surface a shape covers, measured in square units.
- Area of a rectangle
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Length × width.
- Area of a triangle
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½ × base × height.
- Volume
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The amount of space a solid occupies, in cubic units.
- Average speed
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Total distance divided by total time.
- Elapsed time
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The amount of time that passes between a start and end time.
- Estimating a product
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Round each factor, then multiply: 6 × 7.89 ≈ 6 × 8 = 48.
- Number line
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A line showing numbers in order, used to compare and locate values.
- Comparing numbers
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Rewrite values in one form (all decimals or fractions) to order them.
- Greater than / less than
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Symbols > and < show which value is larger or smaller.
- Pattern
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A sequence that follows a rule; find the rule to extend it.
- Sequence (math)
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An ordered list of numbers following a pattern.
- Variable
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A letter standing in for an unknown number.
- Expression
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A combination of numbers, variables, and operations with no equals sign.
- Equation
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A statement that two expressions are equal (has an = sign).
- Solving an equation
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Doing the same inverse operation to both sides to isolate the variable.
- Inverse operations
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Operations that undo each other (addition/subtraction; multiplication/division).
- Coordinate plane
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A grid formed by a horizontal x-axis and vertical y-axis.
- Ordered pair
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Coordinates (x, y) that locate a point on the plane.
- Rounding to estimate sums
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Round addends to friendly numbers, then add to approximate.
- Fraction of a quantity
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Multiply the fraction by the quantity (⅓ of 90 = 30).
- Halving and doubling
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½ of a number is dividing by 2; doubling is multiplying by 2.
- Tip / sales tax
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A percent added to a bill; compute the percent and add it on.
- Common percent fractions
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25% = ¼, 20% = ⅕, 50% = ½, 10% = ⅒ — useful for mental math.
- Rate
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A ratio comparing quantities with different units (e.g., $ per pound).
- Proportional reasoning
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Using equal ratios to scale a quantity up or down.
- Estimating a quotient
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Round to compatible numbers that divide easily.
- Mental math
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Computing without paper or a calculator — required on the CBEST.
- Logical reasoning
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Drawing a valid conclusion from given numerical information.
- Mixed operations
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A problem requiring more than one operation, done in PEMDAS order.
- Interpreting remainders
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Deciding what a remainder means in a real-world division problem.
- Significant digits in estimates
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Keeping enough precision to compare answer choices.
- Equivalent ratios
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Ratios that reduce to the same value (2:4 = 1:2).
Writing (60)
- Thesis
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A clear sentence stating an essay's central idea or position.
- Expressive essay
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The CBEST essay about and reflecting on a specific personal experience.
- Analytical essay
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The CBEST essay that takes and defends a position with reasons and examples.
- Two CBEST essays
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One expressive (personal experience) and one analytical (defend a position).
- Prompt
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The question or topic an essay must respond to.
- Introduction
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The opening paragraph that states the thesis and previews the essay.
- Body paragraph
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A paragraph that develops one main point with specific support.
- Conclusion (essay)
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The closing paragraph that restates the central idea briefly.
- Topic development
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Supporting a point with specific, relevant details and examples.
- Specific support
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Concrete examples and details that prove a point, not vague claims.
- Coherence
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The logical flow of ideas across an essay.
- Unity
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Keeping every sentence in a paragraph focused on one main idea.
- Transition
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A word or phrase (however, therefore, for example) that links ideas.
- Organization
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The logical order and structure of an essay's ideas.
- Focus
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Keeping an essay centered on the prompt and the thesis.
- Audience (writing)
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The readers a piece of writing is intended for.
- Purpose (writing)
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The reason for writing — to narrate, explain, or persuade.
- Standard written English
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The conventional grammar, usage, punctuation, and spelling of formal writing.
- Grammar
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The rules governing how words combine into correct sentences.
- Usage
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The accepted way words and phrases are used in standard English.
- Mechanics
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Punctuation, capitalization, and spelling conventions.
- Subject
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The noun or pronoun that performs the action in a sentence.
- Predicate
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The part of a sentence containing the verb and what it says about the subject.
- Subject-verb agreement
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A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject a plural verb.
- Verb tense
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The form of a verb showing when an action happens (past, present, future).
- Consistent tense
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Keeping verb tense the same unless the time frame truly changes.
- Pronoun
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A word that replaces a noun (he, she, it, they).
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement
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A pronoun must match the noun it refers to in number.
- Pronoun reference
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Every pronoun must clearly point to one specific noun.
- Complete sentence
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A group of words with a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
- Sentence fragment
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An incomplete sentence missing a subject, verb, or complete thought.
- Run-on sentence
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Two complete sentences joined without proper punctuation or a conjunction.
- Comma splice
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Two complete sentences joined by only a comma — an error.
- Independent clause
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A clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- Dependent clause
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A clause that cannot stand alone and needs a main clause.
- Conjunction
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A word that joins words or clauses (and, but, or, because).
- Coordinating conjunction
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Joins equal parts: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS).
- Comma
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Punctuation that separates items and sets off phrases and clauses.
- Apostrophe
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Shows possession or contraction — not plurals.
- Semicolon
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Joins two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction.
- Colon
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Introduces a list, explanation, or quotation after a complete sentence.
- Capitalization
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Beginning sentences and proper nouns with a capital letter.
- Parallel structure
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Items in a list or comparison share the same grammatical form.
- Modifier
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A word or phrase that describes another part of a sentence.
- Misplaced modifier
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A modifier positioned so it seems to describe the wrong word.
- Dangling modifier
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A modifier with no clear word in the sentence to describe.
- Word choice (diction)
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Choosing precise, appropriate words for the meaning and tone.
- Wordiness
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Using more words than needed; concise writing scores higher.
- Active voice
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The subject performs the action (The teacher graded the tests).
- Passive voice
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The subject receives the action (The tests were graded).
- Concise writing
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Expressing ideas clearly in as few words as needed.
- Spelling
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Writing words with their correct letters.
- Homophones
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Words that sound alike but differ in meaning/spelling (their/there/they're).
- Proofreading
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Reviewing writing to catch grammar, usage, and mechanics errors.
- Revising
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Improving an essay's ideas, organization, and clarity.
- Outline (writing)
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A plan listing the thesis and supporting points before drafting.
- Supporting example
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A specific instance used to back up a point.
- Counterargument (writing)
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Acknowledging the opposing view to strengthen your own argument.
- Restating the thesis
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Reminding the reader of your central idea in the conclusion.
- Sentence variety
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Mixing sentence lengths and types to keep writing engaging.
References
- 1.California Commission on Teacher Credentialing / Pearson. “CBEST Test Structure.” ctcexams.nesinc.com. ↑
- 2.California Commission on Teacher Credentialing / Pearson. “CBEST Test (Reading, Mathematics, Writing sections).” ctcexams.nesinc.com. ↑
- 3.California Commission on Teacher Credentialing / Pearson. “CBEST Scoring & Score Reports.” ctcexams.nesinc.com. ↑
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