CBEST Math Study Guide

Your aspirations of becoming a teacher in California and Oregon could be derailed if you can’t pass the CBEST math exam. Thankfully, MathHelp has created a powerful guide designed to help you study efficiently and effectively. On the efficiency front, we feature a diagnostic quiz before each section of the study guide. If you already know the material and can pass the quiz, you’re free to move on. This allows you to focus your study time solely on the material you need to learn. On the effectiveness side, you can then take full advantage of our premium video tutorials and guided practice sessions to shore up your math skills. These core components of our CBEST math study guide will teach you what you need to know. Finally, you can quiz yourself at the end of each section to make sure it’s sunk in.

“I have no doubt that my time spent using your site helped me achieve my awesome CBEST math score! Reading and writing are typically my best subjects, but I scored better on the math portion of the CBEST than the reading and writing portions!”
SUZANNE

How Do I Pass the CBEST?

To pass the CBEST, you’ll need to be thoroughly prepared. We all have limited time and energy, however, so a laser-focused approach is the key to doing well on this challenging exam. Our study guide immediately points you to the math concepts where you need the most work so that your study hours can be used to maximum effect.

Start our CBEST math study guide now!

Is the CBEST Easy to Pass?

The CBEST, or California Basic Educational Skills Test, is not an easy test to pass because it’s intended to make certain that prospective teachers in California and Oregon have the necessary skills to become credentialed teachers. The math section is particularly challenging, especially if it’s been a while since you you’ve been exposed to math concepts covered in a typical textbook. To make matters worse, the exam, which also covers reading and writing, is timed. Fortunately, you’re allowed to use the allotted four hours however you choose, focusing on whichever sections you like, in any order. The better prepared you are for the math section, the faster you can finish, giving yourself more time for the remaining two sections. If you fail, you can retake the exam as many times as you like, but the longer it takes you to pass, the longer you’ll have to put off your dreams of becoming a teacher. To make sure your plans aren’t put on hold, our study guide covers everything on the test including basic operations, fractions, decimals, equations, inequalities, graphing equations, geometry concepts, probability and statistics, ratios, and much more.

Can You Use a Calculator on the CBEST?

Calculators are strictly forbidden. Not only should you leave yours at home, but you’ll also need to turn in any electronics that can be used as a calculator, such as calculator watches and cell phones. These items will be stored for you during the exam. Getting caught using a calculator during your exam may cause you to be removed from the testing area and forfeit your registration fee. Instead of calculators, all test-takers are given paper booklets and pencils or pens to manually perform the necessary calculations. Needless to say, without the crutch of a calculator to help you, you’ll need to be extra knowledgeable on all the math concepts found on the CBEST in order to pass.

Start studying for your CBEST math test

How Do You Pass the CBEST Math?

If you go into the CBEST test cold and expect to pass the math section, you’re in for a rude awakening. To pass the test, there’s no substitute for smart preparation. Our study guide is unique because it helps you quickly identify the areas where you need work while skipping over the lessons you already know. And if you do need to review a concept, our instruction and practice are direct and to the point, so that you can rapidly gain a full understanding of all the material on the test.

Be sure to take advantage of the reviews at the end of each chapter as well. If you can pass each of these reviews, as well as the final exam that we offer at the end of the course, you’ll have no reason to panic on the big day. Instead, you’ll be able to approach your exam with the quiet confidence that comes from total preparation. Just make sure you get a good night’s sleep, have an energizing breakfast, and then apply what you’ve learned to move one step closer to achieving your goal of becoming a teacher!

Good luck on your exam!

MathHelp.com

4.9

Based on 268 reviews

The Accuplacer went great, I was studying to place a class higher and was able to accomplish that goal. What I appreciated about Math Help was its clean layout and structure to be able to move quickly between videos and practice tests for each skill. I really feel like using this tool was a crucial part of me being able to advance in classes so quickly.

Celesta Allen

17:19 20 Dec 24

The course and the format were very well thought out and it did help me to pass a university math placement enough to not have to take remedial college math classes. It was good refresher even though being away from university and college math for over 30 years. I would highly recommend this math help for anyone that needs to get back to the basics. Also, the way it is taught with explanations, practice problems and test questions for every concept covered.

SgtSurge

23:01 12 Dec 24

Thanks to Mathhelp I scored three levels above where I needed to be on my Aleks test. Fantastic course. I really liked how you could change the speed of playback - I would usually watch at 1.5x speed. If I could have done that when I was taking math in high school I wouldn't have been so bored. The tests and review units were all really well done and everything helped. Thanks so much for all the work you put into this, it's really great!

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15:43 20 Nov 24

This course was amazing!! I recently went back to school and had to take the Accuplacer test for math. I have not been in a math class for over 14 years. This course helped me pass and get placed in college level algebra. Definitely recommend this course.

Madeline Kennedy

13:15 26 Oct 24

My daughter did well on her math placement test to get into college/honors calculus for her high school. She improved her score by 40%. The program helped her "learn" how to study.

Moore Family

01:03 20 Sep 24

The ALEKS test went great. I hadn't taken a math class for over 5 years so I was a little nervous to take the test so I wanted to be as prepared as possible when taking the test. It was really helpful in refreshing my memory and teaching me things I never learned. What I found most helpful was the video lessons as they helped walk me through everything. The program was really helpful.

Macie Jayne

16:17 16 Aug 24

Preparing for any test can be nerve-racking, especially when it’s a subject you struggle with or have not practiced in a while. When I needed to prepare for the Accuplacer Quantitative Reasoning and Statistics I found all the resources I needed on MathHelp. The lessons are concise, thorough, and easy to understand. When my test day rolled around I felt confident in my abilities. I ended up passing with flying colors and even exceeded my own expectations. I would recommend MathHelp to anyone who wants to improve their understanding and confidence before their test day!

Jessica Padgett

13:07 16 Aug 24

passed the TExES core subjects ec-6 math exam!!! The videos really broke down each skills for me. I liked how many practice questions there were after each lesson for practice for the test for the bonus. I really liked it. The videos with the blonde woman were the most helpful. I feel like she really broke down each problem and explained each element that helped me a lot.

Victoria Larkin

01:03 09 Aug 24

Thank you! I passed my NYSTCE Grades 1-6 exam and did surprisingly well. I haven’t taken a math course in 20 years so I was nervous. I liked that I could go through all of the lessons, test my current knowledge and then focus on the areas with the most need. I felt the lessons were taught at a level I could understand. I appreciate the course I took so much, it helped me out for sure. I got a 557 on a test that I thought would be near impossible for me to pass.

Kimberly Youngberg

23:23 04 Aug 24

I annihilated the TSIA2 test! The most helpful part of the course for me was it’s step-by-step format and practice questions and its slowly ramps up in difficulty - which kept me motivated. The way the course is formatted made it incredibly satisfying and easy to learn.

Raul Gamboa

01:21 25 Jul 24

The Accuplacer test went well and my daughter scored high enough to get into the college math class she needed to take. We really liked the program. It was great how there were the explanation videos which were really good and then the practice and then the quizzes. I liked how if she already knew something we could skip right to the quiz part and if she was struggling with something we could watch the explanations a couple times and then see the practice problems worked. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get her ready for that placement test before I found your program and it was just what we needed. I would definitely recommend it.

Clark Melinkovich

20:47 23 Jul 24

Passed the math placement test! I liked the course very much, simple to navigate, videos are very easy to follow; loved the practice part and small test after every lesson. I think you guys did an amazing job putting this together! Thank you!

Tatiana McKenzie

15:44 23 Jul 24

My AccuPlacer test went very smooth thanks to the MathHelp lessons. All throughout the course I was thinking “this is refreshing my brain so well, while also teaching me lessons much more efficiently than what I have learned in the past”. The course was great.

abbie boudreaux

13:34 25 Jun 24

I haven't taken a formal math class for 25+ years. I was worried about the placement test for re enrolling in college. Math help did a great job dusting off the cobwebs and taught me enough to get into the course I needed. I thought the lessons were very good and thorough to give me the refreshers I needed to get the job done.

Taylor Davies

01:11 28 Apr 24

I am very pleased to say that I was able to pass the PRAXIS Elementary test on the first attempt. This wouldn’t been possible without mathhelp. Everything that was offered during the course I saw back at the test as well. For me everything was helpful especially the extra explanations and the subtests.

Lily Castillion

11:16 26 Apr 24

I'm 47 and recently needed to use your site in order to get a training grant for an IT certification. I did well on the CASA exam today - not a perfect score or anything but I passed comfortably. I like how each module is set up. Watch the video, work on practice problems or bonus if necessary and then do the test. I would have loved something like this in grammar or high school. Each module reminded me of the old math books without the extra unnecessary stuff just get right to the point. You guys have a great website, keep up the good work!

Sean Harper

12:56 11 Apr 24

Mathhelp was so helpful to me in passing my ALEKS test and my two other math classes. I am now a college graduate! The instructors were both knowledgeable and patient and the lessons were easy to follow. I could test myself over and over till I understood a problem. As a “non-math person,” whose last math class was over 35 years ago, I would never have made it without Mathhelp. It was worth every penny and then some. I. Will always be grateful. Keep of the great work.

Lynn Johnson

02:40 05 Apr 24

My ALEKS test went well when I used MathHelp! The most helpful tool to use was the review at every section and especially the final exam feature at the end. I loved having practice taking math tests again. It had been a long time! I loved how if I had a problem understanding any topic, I could use the links provided to go back and understand the background for each step. (For me, this applied to a lot of the exponential expressions and geometry stuff). I can't thank you enough for your program! It was great and I feel so much more confident about my success in my math classes coming up!

Hannah Scheib

16:53 29 Mar 24

I passed my TSIA2 test, and honestly I tried out so many different websites; Mathhelp was by far the best and worth every penny! It was easy to follow and went over exactly what I needed to know.

Lydia Vann

05:11 25 Feb 24

I’m a huge fan!Both the Accuplacer and ALEKS courses were spot.I set a goal to see if I could cram learn and test into precalculus/ trigonometry inside of just two weeks - and I did it!I sincerely could barely do the foil method and I didn’t even know how to do long division and because of the course, and particularly Matt’s clarity in the lessons, I now play with functions for fun. :)Super grateful.

Selaznog Mada

19:28 07 Feb 24

I PASSED the PRAXIS test on my first try after using your product. Not only did I pass, I got a 166!!!! That’s a score I never thought I’d get. The small snippet videos were definitely a game changer for me.

Cherie Pecjak [Miller, Bob MS]

18:12 06 Feb 24

My math placement test was so great, I was able to enter directly into my college class without taking the test a second time. I am so grateful. The elements of the course that were most helpful for me were radicals, addition of polynomials, measurements (a lot of questions here), inequalities, and word problems. Again thank you so much, my twin brother is about to subscribe because he also has a math placement test very soon. I told him about this, but he did not believe me. Now, the results have spoken, and he wants to take the course too.

Appelé moi Qúëén Stëph

12:31 27 Jan 24

My PRAXIS test went well - I passed. I wouldn’t have been able to without this course. Thank you! I liked being able to “test out” of a section. I also enjoyed the explanations with each part. I believe it was comprehensive and well structured. Thank you!

Steven Zimmer

23:18 26 Jan 24

Aleks test went well. The videos combined with the practice and test format with extra help videos on the side were great. The course is laid out perfectly.

Austin Collins

18:48 20 Jan 24

Helped me complete a placement test to land in the class I need. The videos were super clear. They showed EVERY step, which had been a problem I was encountering with other learning sites. The instructions were well paced and easy to follow. Also, it gave me enough questions to actually practice the concept I just learned. Being able to practice over and over again, with fresh questions, on the test at the end of each segment was the best part. I'll use it again down the line.

Jonathan Reynolds

00:57 11 Jan 24

The Accuplacer test went well. I was aiming for intermediate algebra so that way I could go straight into statistics for my nursing program. I scored 267 on next-gen quantitative reasoning, algebra and statistics along with a score of 241 in next-gen advanced algebra and functions and placed perfectly into statistics, so thank you again. I believe all of the word problems on the website helped. Any standard graphing, algebra, or geometry questions that came up on the test I was able to solve without much difficulty. I’m coming from graduating high school in 2011 and I have been out of practice with math.

Quinn Martin

17:08 12 Dec 23

I started using MathHelp because I was going to take a placement test to go back to College. The test went really well. My score on Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics was 274 which is very good for the Next-Gen Accuplacer test. The lady at the College said it was the best score she had seen in a while. I have nothing but to thank MathHelp for the review and the very well structured and easy to follow classes, it really helped me. I'm starting College Algebra this upcoming Spring Semester and will definitely come back to MathHelp in case I need some outside help.

Camila Silva

20:47 08 Dec 23

We subscribed to the TSIA2 prep course for my daughter. She took the test today and PASSED! We’re so happy! The course helped her be as prepared as possible. We appreciate it!

Jeremy Traynor

14:56 17 Nov 23

First off, I just want to say thank you because these lessons helped me so much to prepare. I have been out of school for a long time and recently decided to take the plunge to go back. Before I did I had to retake my math Accuplacer and was incredibly nervous about doing so as math was never my strong suit in school. The lessons on Math Help really allowed me to understand the material in a simplistic way that I could retain easily. I took my test today and did way better than I expected. From the bottom of my heart I just want to say thank you so much for this invaluable resource for people like myself who may struggle immensely with math.

Kristina Capron

13:34 04 Nov 23

I did my PERT test today and got 150 on maths. This course was so helpful. I didn't go to high school in America and I basically had to teach myself a lot of the different sections but this program really made it seem so simple and I wouldn't have passed without it.

Rebecca

14:52 17 Oct 23

My PERT test went great! I scored high in the math and met the requirement to enter straight into college level classes. I think overall the structure of the test prep courses are great. Specifically, the exponent rules, factoring binomials and trinomials, and synthetic division lessons were great for me, as I had long forgotten how to do any of it, and they were relevant to many questions on the test.

Logan Stewart

16:09 04 Oct 23

I found the course great! I have been out of school for a while so it was a great refresher before re attending uni. The skills I gained from this course definitely improved what my ALEKS score would have been. I found the tests at the end of each section the most helpful. But I also loved the short video format.

Zoe Thomson

20:34 29 Aug 23

I qualified for my goal of College Algebra. I haven't taken a math class since 2004 and have always disliked it. I found your Accuplacer QAS and AAF lessons to be easy to follow and actually looked forward to them. I liked that the videos and lessons were short so that I could stay focused with review questions at the end. I am very happy with my results, and I would recommend this course to anyone wanting to prepare for the test. i’m

Sally Haag

13:49 23 Aug 23

Mathhelp was very helpful. I never went past Algebra 1 in High School, and then 7 years later I needed to place into precalculus to pursue my first college degree. I studied through all of the ALEKS Mathhelp lessons, and then I got a 64 on the test, placing into the math class I needed to be in.Thank you so much for all the help.

Hannah Burbrink

15:31 21 Aug 23

My Accuplacer test went great, the lessons helped a lot. I’d say the most helpful bit was how each subject had the videos, practice, and a test. It really helped me figure out which sections I needed to study more. Thank everyone with MathHelp for your help!

Brooklyn Scheese

18:04 20 Aug 23

I really loved the course! I thought it was perfect. The videos are short and clear and there is lots of practice! I ended up taking the PERT Math test and scoring high. I am very thankful to this course! Now I can take all my nursing prerequisites (only Math was standing in my way but now I'm good to go).

Tetiana Lapina Arfaras

14:51 18 Aug 23

I am horrible with math was a blank slate prior to MathHelp as I haven’t touched math in nearly 2 years. I found the short 45 second to 1 min videos to be tremendously helpful. Very straight forward and I never felt lost. I made above average on my accuplacer! Will definitely be using again for standardized tests in the future.

Kamren Primeaux

17:22 05 Aug 23

My TSIA2 test went great. I passed the test my first try and math is not my strongest subject so this course helped a lot. Thank you!

Emma Allen

14:28 01 Aug 23

It was very helpful as an overview of all the TABE math concepts. The ability to jump ahead by answering just a few "test" questions was also terrific. I teach math so to have to start from the beginning when I understand several topics already would have been painful 🙂

Michelle Law

17:25 28 Jun 23

Thank you so much. Your easy to use program allowed me to become a military Police officer on my first test try.Thank you again.

Keith A

15:43 23 Jun 23

My AccuPlacer test went well. I had taken it once before, but the score wasn’t high enough to get into the program I wanted to get in to. I signed up for MathHelp and when I retook the test, my score went up 20 points. Everything was very helpful— I’m more of an independent learner so it was nice having something where I could pace myself. I liked the way the lessons were sectioned into categories. Thanks!

morgan

15:37 17 Apr 23

This is a great program that is very straightforward and helpful. I struggle with math and need a higher placement score on the ALEKS test to finish my Bachelor's degree. I studied with the MathHelp step by step plan for a month and did well enough that I placed into my class! Thanks MathHelp!

Jeri Hillegeist

15:42 13 Apr 23

My middle school MTEL went excellently-- I passed on my first attempt! I didn't have a lot of math class exposure after high school, so this test felt very daunting until I found MathHelp. I found the lessons and activities to be very accessible for someone like myself who isn't necessarily the most naturally math-minded person. This was by far the best test preparation experience I've had for any of my teacher licensing exams, and I feel much more confident in my overall math skills after the course. I credit my passing score to the lessons and practice I received from the website. I particularly enjoyed the ability to change the pacing of the video lessons. I also really enjoyed the hints that were available in the practice problems, which helped me adjust some misconceptions I had while I worked through the problems. I'm so grateful I found the site! Thank you so much for making these lessons available at a reasonable price.

Kym Zlogar

14:54 13 Apr 23

The ALEKS prep was very helpful. I was able to test into a much higher math class than I'd expected. I loved the pace of the videos and that there were practice test throughout and at the end of each section. It helped me to figure out where I needed more studying. The whole course is really well organized at thought out. I most definitely recommend!

Lizzy Hitchman

19:29 08 Apr 23

I passed my CASA test with flying colors, thanks to your website! For me the most helpful elements were the instructional videos and then the practice afterwards. Thank you so much!

Morgan W

16:23 28 Mar 23

The ALEKS test actually went really well! I got a 76, which placed me into the best section I could have. I think that the website itself was very organized in finding all the elements, and I also think that the condensed/ shorter videos combined with the examples were most helpful.

Olivia Beth Vaughan

15:08 28 Mar 23

First of all, the order in which your course is structured—lessons, practise exercises, tests, and finally reviews—helped me grasp and assess how well I'm learning a certain topic. This increased my self-assurance while simultaneously addressing my weak areas. There is nothing that could be added because everything is flawless, and I truly appreciate how well everything is laid up. I'm grateful to your organization and the course for helping me perform well on the math placement test for my college. I appreciate your efforts and those of your staff.

Atif Baig

16:15 22 Feb 23

I needed to be placed in Calculus for school and there were many bits of information I haven't reviewed in years. After taking some test prep modules on Mathhelp, I got into Calculus! Mathhelp breaks each topic down step by step and explains without becoming confusing or over complicated. The modules and the mini quizzes were small enough to squeeze in a review without taking too much time out of my schedule. Without this website, I don't think I would have been able to get placed into where I wanted to be as easily!

Arabella Thornhill

20:30 23 Jan 23

I'm a returning college student who hasn't taken a math class in nearly 5 years. I felt like I needed somewhere I could build on my fundamentals, so I turned to MathHelp. I started with the first ALEKS lesson on MathHelp, watching all the videos, and taking every test until I could pass with a 100% all the way up to the end of exponential and logarithmic equations, which was lesson 179. Overall, I'm very satisfied with my time using MathHelp. Topics I remember as being complicated, like logarithms, were actually very easy to understand thanks to the short video format of the lessons. Recently I took the ALEKS placement assessment and scored well enough to place into pre calculus. I’m impressed I was able to do that well, going from barely remembering the fundamentals of algebra to nearly placing into calculus.

Peter Ogbuagu

18:57 20 Jan 23

My Accuplacer test went super well and I’m really glad that I took this course.

Aalaa Abdalla

21:42 17 Jan 23

I absolutely love MathHelp. I had not taken a math class in over 30 years and math has always been a difficult subject for me, so for me to be able to prep for the PERT test, place into College Algebra, and then get an A in the class - that was amazing! I have recommended MathHelp to friends and family and will continue to do so.

goofy girl

15:11 19 Dec 22

My Accuplacer test went well; I passed! I very much enjoyed the lessons, and found them to be helpful and engaging. This is probably the most thorough and well thought out math website I’ve ever used. Thank you for all your hard work!

Sarah Duke

09:11 12 Dec 22

It was beneficial! Not only does this prepare you for the placement test, but it prepares you for mathematics as a subject in general. This is the best maths course money can buy. I was initially skeptical, but I am glad I tried it. I got 68/75 for my maths placement score.

Saint Evita

01:52 30 Sep 22

I have completed and passed the NYSTCE Grades 1-6 Math 222 test. I have also completed the Birth - 2 Math examination, and am awaiting those scores. The MathHelp.com course I feel prepared me for both examinations. Thank you! As for elements of the course that were helpful were that the videos for each lesson were broken down into different steps, rather than one long video for each lesson. Having different sections made it easier to start and stop as I needed and skip when necessary. Having lessons within a unit be separated was a great layout. I also thought the side bar with links to the earlier videos were helpful to remind yourself of some other concept. It was helpful that there were both practice questions and quiz questions. I have recommended this website to my friends who also need to take the Math CST exams!

Dana Klein

17:28 11 Jun 22

My College Algebra course went well thanks to your program. The most helpful elements to me were the multiple videos of explanations that started off extremely basic and built up difficulty. I do not learn very well when I get blasted in the face with information then an overly difficult problem. Also the practice tests helped with learning and then performing which helped me retain the lesson.

tylor qualls

15:50 30 May 22

My last PERT test went amazing, I scored 124 after many attempts before using your program. The most helpful elements of your course where the diagnostic tests and the video reviews.

Vanessa Jammer

16:33 27 May 22

In school I had big problems with math and always considered myself like a liberal arts person. But with this course I prepared for the Accuplacer to be able to take classes I need in college without mandatory remedial classes and I even fell in love with math. And now I understand it very well, thanks to you, and I find it charming to solve different type of equations. Even though English is not my first language I was able to understand everything. So after preparation from scratch I passed this test very easily to the level I needed. So thank you, guys! You’ve made a great product!

Asya Hirst Caron

14:53 16 May 22

I have to say how much I enjoyed your TX PACT class. It was a great reminder of things I haven’t done in years. Your explanations were so simply put and easy to understand. I felt confident while taking my test, and actually enjoyed studying for it.

Sidney Steinle

20:59 29 Apr 22

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