100+ Free CSET: Music (226 / 227) Practice Questions
Pass your CSET California Subject Examinations for Teachers: Music (Subtest I 226 / Subtest II 227) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
A teacher selects a varied concert program spanning Baroque, Romantic, and contemporary works from several cultures. Which goal does this selection best serve?
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Key Facts: CSET: Music (226 / 227) Exam
2 subtests
Codes 226 (Subtest I) and 227 (Subtest II)
Official CSET: Music test page
40 MC
Multiple-Choice Questions Per Subtest
Official CSET: Music test structure
220
Scaled Passing Score Per Subtest
Official CSET: Music score guidance
$133 / $134
Subtest I / Subtest II Fee
Official CSET: Music fee table
70% / 30%
Multiple-Choice vs Constructed-Response Weight
Official CSET: Music test structure
4 domains
Artistic Perception, Creative Expression, Historical/Cultural & Aesthetic, Connections/Methodology
CSET: Music Subject Matter Requirements
2 videos
Video-Recorded Performances Required on Subtest I
Official CSET: Music video performance procedures
2026
Alternative Competency Pathways Still Active
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing guidance
For 2026 planning, the official CSET: Music structure remains two separately scored subtests. Subtest I (code 226) has 40 multiple-choice questions plus three constructed-response questions, two of which require submitting video-recorded performances, and allows 1 hour 45 minutes. Subtest II (code 227) has 40 multiple-choice questions plus two constructed-response questions and allows 2 hours 15 minutes. Each subtest is scored as 70% multiple-choice and 30% constructed-response, with a 220 scaled passing score per subtest. Fees are $133 for Subtest I and $134 for Subtest II. California also continues to allow alternative subject-matter-competence pathways for some credential routes, so verify whether you need CSET before registering.
Sample CSET: Music (226 / 227) Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your CSET: Music (226 / 227) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1On a staff using the treble clef, the four spaces from bottom to top spell which word?
2How many half steps are contained in a perfect fifth?
3A key signature with two sharps (F-sharp and C-sharp) indicates which major key?
4In 6/8 time, how many eighth notes fill one complete measure?
5Which triad is built by stacking a root, a minor third, and a diminished fifth?
6A V7-I progression at the end of a phrase, with the bass moving from scale degree 5 to scale degree 1, is best described as which cadence?
7A B-flat trumpet plays a written C. What concert pitch actually sounds?
8Which conducting pattern would a director most appropriately use for a piece in 3/4 time?
9A choir consistently sings slightly below the written pitch over the course of a phrase. This problem is best described as what?
10Which texture is defined by a single melodic line accompanied by chords, as in a typical folk song with guitar accompaniment?
About the CSET: Music (226 / 227) Exam
CSET: Music is the California subject-matter exam used to demonstrate competence for a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Music. It is divided into two separately scored subtests built on four content domains drawn from the California Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards: artistic perception, creative expression, historical and cultural foundations and aesthetic valuing, and connections, applications, and methodology.
Questions
80 scored questions
Time Limit
1h 45m (Subtest I) + 2h 15m (Subtest II)
Passing Score
220 scaled on each subtest
Exam Fee
$133 (226) + $134 (227) (California Commission on Teacher Credentialing / Pearson Evaluation Systems)
CSET: Music (226 / 227) Exam Content Outline
Artistic Perception
Aural musicianship and aural analysis (error detection, transcription, describing form/style/expression) plus written theory and analysis of Western music: clefs, key and time signatures, scales, intervals, triads and chords, figured bass, rhythm and meter, and harmonic analysis of scores.
Creative Expression
Instrumental and vocal proficiency, sight-singing and sight-reading, functional keyboard skills, conducting patterns and cuing, score interpretation, and composing, arranging, harmonizing, and improvising music.
Historical and Cultural Foundations
Stylistic differences across periods and cultures, the history of Western music, the history of music in the United States and California, world-music traditions and instruments, and the roles of musicians in diverse cultures.
Aesthetic Valuing
Knowing and applying criteria to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of performances, compositions, and arrangements, including comparison with exemplary models and self-evaluation of one's own performance.
Connections, Relationships, and Applications
Integrating the arts, shared organizing principles across disciplines, links between music and other subjects such as acoustics, music careers, and how music functions in media and the entertainment industries.
Music Methodology and Repertoire
Learning methodologies (Orff Schulwerk, Kodaly, Dalcroze, Suzuki, Gordon), solfege, instrumental and vocal/choral techniques, ensemble rehearsal, sequencing, assessment and evaluation tools, technology, copyright, and repertoire selection from diverse cultures.
How to Pass the CSET: Music (226 / 227) Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 220 scaled on each subtest
- Exam length: 80 questions
- Time limit: 1h 45m (Subtest I) + 2h 15m (Subtest II)
- Exam fee: $133 (226) + $134 (227)
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: Music (226 / 227) Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CSET: Music exam?
CSET: Music is California's subject-matter exam used to demonstrate competence for a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Music. It is split into two separately scored subtests, code 226 (Subtest I) and code 227 (Subtest II), that together cover music theory, aural skills, performance, conducting, history, world cultures, pedagogy, and aesthetics.
How many questions are on CSET: Music?
Each subtest has 40 multiple-choice questions. Subtest I (226) adds three constructed-response questions, two of which require submitting video-recorded performances, and Subtest II (227) adds two constructed-response questions. Each subtest is scored as 70% multiple-choice and 30% constructed-response.
What passing score do I need for CSET: Music?
The official passing standard is a scaled score of 220 on each subtest. Because the subtests are scored separately, passing one does not pass the other; you must meet the 220 standard on both 226 and 227.
How much does CSET: Music cost in 2026 planning?
The current official fee table lists $133 for Subtest I (226) and $134 for Subtest II (227), for a combined total of about $267. Always confirm the fee in your registration cart before checkout.
What is the video-recorded performance on Subtest I?
When you register for Subtest I (226), you are assigned one of six functional keyboard proficiency exercises and one of four excerpts for your chosen instrument or voice from the official Vocal/Instrumental Proficiency Repertoire List. You submit video-recorded performances through your account as part of the constructed-response section.
Do I still need CSET: Music in 2026 to show subject-matter competence?
Not always. California Commission on Teacher Credentialing guidance continues alternative pathways that can satisfy subject-matter competence through an approved subject-matter preparation program or qualifying coursework in some cases. Verify your specific credential route before paying for the exam.