CBEST Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CBEST facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the area of a triangle with a base of 14 cm and a height of 9 cm? → 63 cm²
2. The total of seven numbers is more than 140 but not more than 210. Which of the following could represent the numbers' average (arithmetic mean)? → 26
3. Which statement is the least important to the second paragraph's core idea? → Sentence 5
4. Which transition word or phrase best signals that the information that follows will contradict what was just stated? → Nevertheless
5. A CBEST essay prompt asks you to analyze the causes of a social problem. Which approach is MOST analytical? → Listing causes and explaining how each contributes to the problem
6. Which words or phrases, if added into the passage's blank lines in the proper order, would aid the reader in understanding the author's ideas in order? → For instance; Yet
7. A student wants to add a supporting detail to strengthen this claim: 'Daily exercise improves mental health.' Which addition best supports the claim? → Studies show that 30 minutes of daily exercise reduces depression symptoms by 40%.
8. Which of the following units would be most appropriate for measuring the amount of water in a standard bathtub? → Gallons
9. What teaching strategies encourage pupils to connect two events? → Associative learning
10. A sentence reads: 'The novel's protagonist undergoes a profound metamorphosis by the final chapter.' Based on context, 'metamorphosis' most likely means: → A deep and fundamental transformation
11. Which revision corrects the run-on sentence: 'I studied every night I was determined to pass the test I knew I could do it'? → I studied every night because I was determined to pass the test, and I knew I could do it.
12. Of these, which one is not a teaching strategy? → Self-study
13. Which of the following statements can be true if Heidi is working in the paint department today and is not donning her black boots? → Snow is not forecast for today.
14. The bar graph shows students scored: 70, 75, 80, 80, 85, 90, 90, 90, 95. What is the mode? → 90
15. A thesis statement should relate the points listed to the _____. → topic sentences in the body paragraphs of an essay.
16. A CBEST prompt presents a controversial policy and asks you to 'assess its potential consequences.' Which approach earns the highest score? → Identify and analyze multiple likely consequences with supporting reasoning
17. The window in Jane's bedroom is 2 yards and six inches wide and 1.5 yards high. What is the window's size in inches in her bedroom? → 78 x 54
18. Identify the sentence with a dangling modifier. → Running to catch the bus, the bag was dropped.
19. A recipe uses 2½ cups of flour for 24 cookies. How many cups are needed for 48 cookies? → 5 cups
20. A wall is 8 feet tall and 15 feet wide. How many square yards of paint coverage is needed? → About 13 sq yd
21. A bag of potatoes weighs 5 pounds 8 ounces. How many total ounces does it weigh? → 88 ounces
22. What is the function of a 'pivot moment' in a personal experience essay? → It marks the turning point where the writer's perspective or situation changes
23. Which inequality represents 'a number is at most 15'? → n ≤ 15
24. If 5x − 3 = 22, what is the value of x? → 5
25. A jacket is originally priced at $120. It is on sale for 25% off. If the sales tax is 8%, what is the final price of the jacket, including tax? → $97.20
26. Which of the following best defines the word 'contended' as used in the sentence: 'Critics contended that biodegradable alternatives are more expensive'? → Argued or maintained
27. A car travels 240 miles in 4 hours. At the same rate, how far will it travel in 7 hours? → 420 miles
28. Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' versus 'less'? → She made fewer mistakes on this test than on the last.
29. Which of the following best defines 'coherence' in a personal experience essay? → Ideas flow logically from one to the next with smooth transitions
30. Which of the following fractions is between 1/3 and 1/2? → 2/5