100+ Free CSET: American Sign Language Practice Questions
Pass your CSET California Subject Examinations for Teachers: American Sign Language (186/187/188) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
The early-1900s film project of the National Association of the Deaf, including George Veditz's 'The Preservation of the Sign Language,' was significant because it
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Key Facts: CSET: American Sign Language Exam
3 subtests
ASL Subtests 186, 187, and 188
Official CSET ASL test structure
220
Scaled Passing Score Per Subtest
Official CSET ASL score guidance
$99
Fee Per Subtest
Official CSET fee table
30 MC + 2 CR
Items on Each of Subtests I and II
Official CSET ASL test structure
18 MC + 4 CR
Items on Subtest III
Official CSET ASL test structure
1960
Year Stokoe Established ASL as a Full Language
Sign Language Structure (William Stokoe)
1817
Founding of the First U.S. Deaf School by Clerc and Gallaudet
American School for the Deaf history
1988
Deaf President Now Protest at Gallaudet
Gallaudet University history
For 2026 planning, the official CSET: American Sign Language structure remains three separately scored subtests. Subtest I (186) has 30 selected-response and 2 constructed-response items on literary/cultural texts and cultural analysis; Subtest II (187) has 30 selected-response and 2 constructed-response items on general linguistics and ASL linguistics; and Subtest III (188) has 18 selected-response and 4 constructed-response items on receptive comprehension and expressive production. Each subtest requires a 220 scaled passing score, costs $99, and is taken separately. Subtest I allows responses in ASL or written English, Subtest II requires written English, and Subtest III requires responses produced in ASL. California also allows approved subject-matter program pathways, so verify whether you need CSET before registering.
Sample CSET: American Sign Language Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your CSET: American Sign Language exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1According to the model developed by William Stokoe, which set of features constitutes the basic phonological parameters of an ASL sign?
2Two ASL signs that are identical in every parameter except handshape, such that the change in handshape alone produces a different meaning, are an example of what linguistic phenomenon?
3In ASL, raised eyebrows, a slight backward head tilt, and a held pause that mark the beginning of a sentence most commonly signal which grammatical function?
4The 1880 Second International Congress on Education of the Deaf, held in Milan, is significant in Deaf history primarily because it
5The 1988 Deaf President Now protest at Gallaudet University resulted directly in
6Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet are best known in Deaf history for
7An ASL story in which the signer tells a narrative using the handshapes of the manual alphabet in order from A through Z, while maintaining ASL grammar, is known as
8Which feature of ASL allows a single sign to simultaneously convey the verb, its subject, and its object through changes in the direction of movement?
9In ASL, a handshape that stands in for a class of nouns (for example, a vehicle, a person, or a flat surface) and is then moved through space to show location or action is called a
10When contrasting ASL and English, which statement accurately describes a structural difference?
About the CSET: American Sign Language Exam
CSET: American Sign Language is the California subject-matter exam for the Single Subject credential in World Languages: ASL. It is divided into three separately scored subtests covering Deaf culture and ASL literature (186), general and ASL linguistics (187), and receptive and expressive ASL (188).
Questions
78 scored questions
Time Limit
5h combined across 3 subtests (1h 30m / 1h 15m / 2h 15m)
Passing Score
220 scaled on each subtest
Exam Fee
$99 per subtest ($297 for all three) (California Commission on Teacher Credentialing / Pearson Evaluation Systems)
CSET: American Sign Language Exam Content Outline
Literary and Cultural Texts and Traditions
Genres of ASL literature (ABC stories, classifier and handshape stories, number stories, ASL poetry, folklore), literary devices such as personification and role shift, and major Deaf authors and performers like Clayton Valli and Ben Bahan.
Cultural Analysis and Comparisons
Deaf culture, values, and identity; key history including Laurent Clerc, the American School for the Deaf, the 1880 Milan Conference, the NAD, Deaf President Now, and the ICED apology; community norms, audism, Deaf gain, and CODA.
General Linguistics
Subfields of linguistics (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics) and design features of language such as arbitrariness, displacement, and duality of patterning applied to signed and spoken languages.
ASL Linguistics: Structures, Contrastive Analysis, Sociolinguistics
ASL phonological parameters (handshape, location, movement, palm orientation, non-manual signals), morphology (classifiers, agreement verbs, reduplication, numeral incorporation), syntax (topic-comment, non-manual marking), ASL/English contrast, and sociolinguistic variation including Black ASL.
Receptive Comprehension
Understanding signed ASL discourse, including main ideas, details, inferences, non-manual markers, spatial grammar, and classifier constructions, assessed through selected-response and constructed-response performance tasks.
Expressive Production and Error Analysis
Producing grammatically accurate, fluent ASL with appropriate non-manual markers and use of space, and analyzing learner errors, demonstrated through recorded ASL responses.
How to Pass the CSET: American Sign Language Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 220 scaled on each subtest
- Exam length: 78 questions
- Time limit: 5h combined across 3 subtests (1h 30m / 1h 15m / 2h 15m)
- Exam fee: $99 per subtest ($297 for all three)
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
CSET: American Sign Language Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CSET: American Sign Language exam?
CSET: American Sign Language is the California subject-matter exam for the Single Subject teaching credential in World Languages: ASL. It is divided into three separately scored subtests (186, 187, 188) covering Deaf culture and ASL literature, general and ASL linguistics, and receptive and expressive ASL.
How many questions are on CSET ASL?
Subtest I (186) has 30 multiple-choice plus 2 constructed-response items, Subtest II (187) has 30 multiple-choice plus 2 constructed-response items, and Subtest III (188) has 18 multiple-choice plus 4 constructed-response items. The three subtests together include 78 selected-response questions and 8 constructed-response tasks.
What passing score do I need for CSET ASL?
The official passing standard is a scaled score of 220 on each subtest. Because the subtests are scored separately, passing one subtest does not automatically pass the others, and you must pass all three to satisfy subject-matter competence.
How much does CSET ASL cost in 2026 planning?
The current official fee is $99 for each subtest, so all three ASL subtests together total about $297. Always confirm the fee in your registration cart before checkout.
In what language do I answer the constructed-response tasks?
For Subtest I you may respond in either ASL or written English; for Subtest II you must respond in written English; and for Subtest III you must respond in ASL through recorded performance tasks. Plan your preparation around these format requirements.
Do I always need CSET ASL to show subject-matter competence?
Not always. California continues to allow alternative pathways, such as completing an approved subject-matter preparation program in ASL, that can satisfy subject-matter competence in some credential routes. Verify your specific route with the CTC before paying for the exam.