100+ Free CSET Science (215 / 217-220) Practice Questions

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A teacher demonstrates that a closed container of gas exerts more pressure when heated. This relationship between temperature and pressure at constant volume is best explained by:

The container expanding to release pressure

A decrease in the number of gas particles

Faster-moving particles colliding with the walls more frequently and forcefully

The gas turning into a liquid

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ArticleFREE CSET Exam Guide 2026: California Teacher Subject Prep6 min read

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CSET Science (215 / 217-220) Exam

100

Multiple-Choice Questions on Subtest I (215)

Official CSET Foundational-Level General Science test structure

4 hours

Testing Time for Subtest I

Official CSET Science 215 test page

220

Scaled Passing Score Per Subtest

Official CSET score-report guidance

$99

Fee Per Subtest

Official CSET fee table

4 domains

Subtest I Content Areas (33/23/22/22 MC)

Official CSET 215 test guide

217-220

Subtest II Concentration Codes (Life, Chemistry, Earth/Space, Physics)

Official CSET Science test pages

50 MC + 3 CR

Subtest II Question Count Per Concentration

Official CSET Science Subtest II test structure

2026

Alternative Competency Pathways Still Active

California Commission on Teacher Credentialing guidance

For 2026 planning, the official CSET: Science structure has Subtest I, Foundational-Level General Science (test code 215), with 100 multiple-choice questions and 4 constructed-response questions in a 4-hour session, scored 80% multiple-choice and 20% constructed-response. Subtest I covers four domains: Scientific Practices, Engineering Design and Applications, and Crosscutting Concepts (33 MC); Physical Sciences (23 MC); Life Sciences (22 MC); and Earth and Space Sciences (22 MC). A full science authorization also requires Subtest II in a concentration (Life Sciences 217, Chemistry 218, Earth and Space Sciences 219, or Physics 220), each with 50 multiple-choice and 3 constructed-response items. The passing standard is a 220 scaled score per subtest at $99 each. California continues to allow alternative subject-matter-competence pathways in some routes, so verify whether you need CSET before registering.

Sample CSET Science (215 / 217-220) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CSET Science (215 / 217-220) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A student designs an experiment to test how light intensity affects plant growth. Which variable should the student deliberately change?

A.The independent variable

B.The dependent variable

C.A controlled variable

D.A confounding variable

Explanation: The independent variable is the factor the experimenter deliberately manipulates to observe its effect. Here, light intensity is changed on purpose, making it the independent variable.

2Which statement best distinguishes a scientific theory from a scientific hypothesis?

A.A theory is a well-substantiated explanation supported by extensive evidence, while a hypothesis is a testable proposed explanation

B.A theory is a guess, while a hypothesis is a proven fact

C.A theory cannot be tested, while a hypothesis can

D.A theory and a hypothesis mean the same thing in science

Explanation: In science, a theory is a broad, well-tested explanation supported by many lines of evidence. A hypothesis is a specific, testable proposed explanation that may later be supported or refuted.

3A graph shows a straight line through the origin relating distance to time. What does this indicate about the object's motion?

A.The object moves at constant speed

B.The object is accelerating

C.The object is at rest

D.The object is decelerating

Explanation: A straight (linear) distance-time graph means distance increases at a steady rate, so the speed is constant. The slope equals the constant speed.

4Which of the following is the most appropriate use of a control group in an experiment?

A.To provide a baseline for comparison without the experimental treatment

B.To increase the number of trials

C.To change multiple variables at once

D.To eliminate the need for repeated measurements

Explanation: A control group does not receive the experimental treatment and serves as a baseline. Comparing the treatment group to the control isolates the effect of the variable being tested.

5In the engineering design process, what is the primary purpose of defining criteria and constraints at the start of a project?

A.To specify the requirements for success and the limits the solution must work within

B.To eliminate the need for prototyping

C.To guarantee the first design will succeed

D.To avoid testing the solution

Explanation: Criteria are the requirements a successful solution must meet, and constraints are the limitations (cost, materials, time) it must respect. Defining them early guides design and evaluation.

6Which crosscutting concept is most directly illustrated when a scientist studies how energy flows from producers to consumers in a food web?

A.Energy and matter: flows, cycles, and conservation

B.Stability and change

C.Structure and function

D.Scale, proportion, and quantity

Explanation: Tracing energy from producers through consumers in a food web is a direct application of the crosscutting concept of energy and matter flows within a system.

7A measurement is recorded as 0.00420 grams. How many significant figures does this value contain?

A.Three

B.Five

C.Six

D.Two

Explanation: Leading zeros are not significant. The significant figures are 4, 2, and the trailing 0, giving three significant figures in 0.00420.

8Which of the following best describes the difference between accuracy and precision in measurement?

A.Accuracy is closeness to the true value; precision is reproducibility of repeated measurements

B.Accuracy is reproducibility; precision is closeness to the true value

C.Accuracy and precision both mean the same as reliability

D.Precision describes the number of trials, while accuracy describes the units used

Explanation: Accuracy measures how close a result is to the accepted true value. Precision measures how closely repeated measurements agree with each other, regardless of correctness.

9When using the metric system, which prefix indicates one one-thousandth of a base unit?

A.Milli-

B.Kilo-

C.Centi-

D.Mega-

Explanation: The prefix milli- means one one-thousandth (10^-3) of a base unit, so a milligram is 0.001 gram.

10A teacher wants students to identify a pattern in data collected over many trials. Which scientific practice does this primarily develop?

A.Analyzing and interpreting data

B.Constructing explanations only

C.Defining problems

D.Obtaining information from text

Explanation: Recognizing patterns across data sets is central to the practice of analyzing and interpreting data, one of the NGSS science and engineering practices.

About the CSET Science (215 / 217-220) Exam

CSET: Science is the California subject-matter exam for science teaching credentials. Subtest I, Foundational-Level General Science (test code 215), integrates scientific practices with content across the physical, life, and earth and space sciences. Subtest II is taken in one of four concentrations: Life Sciences (217), Chemistry (218), Earth and Space Sciences (219), or Physics (220).

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

4h for Subtest I (215); 2h for Subtest II (217-220)

Passing Score

220 scaled on each subtest

Exam Fee

$99 per subtest (California Commission on Teacher Credentialing / Pearson Evaluation Systems)

CSET Science (215 / 217-220) Exam Content Outline

33 MC + 1 CR

Scientific Practices, Engineering Design, and Crosscutting Concepts

Designing investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, measurement and units, modeling, the engineering design process, and crosscutting concepts such as patterns, cause and effect, scale, systems, energy and matter, structure and function, and stability and change.

23 MC + 1 CR

Physical Sciences

Properties and states of matter, atomic structure and the periodic table, chemical bonding and reactions, conservation of mass, forces and Newton's laws, energy forms and conservation, waves, heat transfer, and electricity and magnetism.

22 MC + 1 CR

Life Sciences

Cell structure and function, cellular respiration and photosynthesis, genetics and heredity, DNA and protein synthesis, evolution and natural selection, ecology and energy flow, and human body systems and homeostasis.

22 MC + 1 CR

Earth and Space Sciences

The rock cycle, plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes, weather and climate, the water cycle, the atmosphere and oceans, the solar system, astronomy, and Earth's history through fossils and relative dating.

How to Pass the CSET Science (215 / 217-220) Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 220 scaled on each subtest
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 4h for Subtest I (215); 2h for Subtest II (217-220)
Exam fee: $99 per subtest

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 Science (215 / 217-220) Study Tips from Top Performers

1Study by the official Subtest I blueprint: scientific practices and crosscutting concepts carry the most multiple-choice weight, so prioritize investigation, data, and modeling skills

2Do not ignore the constructed responses; they are about 20% of the Subtest I score, with one focused prompt in each domain

3For physical science, drill atomic structure, the periodic table, conservation of mass, Newton's laws, energy forms, and basic circuits

4For life science, master cells, photosynthesis and respiration, Punnett-square genetics, evolution by natural selection, and ecology energy flow

5For earth and space science, review the rock cycle, plate tectonics, the water cycle, weather versus climate, and the solar system and seasons

6If your credential route allows a coursework-based subject-matter pathway, confirm it before paying for expensive retakes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CSET Science exam?

CSET: Science is the California subject-matter exam for science teaching credentials. Subtest I, Foundational-Level General Science (code 215), covers broad science content, and Subtest II is taken in one concentration: Life Sciences (217), Chemistry (218), Earth and Space Sciences (219), or Physics (220).

How many questions are on CSET Science Subtest I (215)?

Subtest I has 100 multiple-choice questions and 4 short constructed-response questions. The multiple-choice section counts for about 80% of the score and the constructed responses for about 20%, with one constructed response in each of the four domains.

What are the four domains on CSET Science Subtest I?

The four domains are Scientific Practices, Engineering Design and Applications, and Crosscutting Concepts (33 MC); Physical Sciences (23 MC); Life Sciences (22 MC); and Earth and Space Sciences (22 MC), for 100 multiple-choice questions total.

What passing score do I need for CSET Science?

The official passing standard is a scaled score of 220 on each subtest. Because Subtest I and Subtest II are scored separately, passing one does not pass the other; you must meet the 220 standard on each subtest required for your authorization.

How much does CSET Science cost in 2026 planning?

The current fee is $99 per subtest. A full single-subject science authorization typically requires both Subtest I (215) and one Subtest II concentration, so plan for roughly $198. Always confirm the fee in your registration cart before checkout.

Do I have to take a concentration subtest in addition to 215?

It depends on the authorization. Subtest I (215) supports Foundational-Level General Science. For a full single-subject science credential you also pass Subtest II in your concentration: Life Sciences (217), Chemistry (218), Earth and Space Sciences (219), or Physics (220).