100+ Free WEST-B Practice Questions
Pass your Washington Educator Skills Tests-Basic (WEST-B) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
Read the passage, then answer the question. "It is high time the school board stopped ignoring our crumbling gymnasium. Year after year they find money for new offices while our students practice in a building that floods every spring. Enough is enough." What is the author's primary purpose in this passage?
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Key Facts: WEST-B Exam
60 + 60
Reading and Math MC Questions
WEST-B test page
240
Passing Scaled Score per Subtest
WEST-B test page
$32
Fee per Subtest (2026)
WEST-B test page
$96
Fee for All Three Subtests
WEST-B test page
2 hours
Time per Subtest
WEST-B test page
3 subtests
Reading, Math, Writing
WEST-B test page
095/096/097
Subtest Codes
WEST-B test page
6 objectives
Per Reading and Math Subtest
WEST-B test objectives
WEST-B is Washington's basic-skills test for educators, delivered by Pearson across three subtests: Reading (095), Mathematics (097), and Writing (096). Reading and Mathematics each contain 60 multiple-choice questions; Writing has 50 multiple-choice questions plus two writing prompts. Each subtest is 2 hours (Writing is 3 hours), and all three together run 5 hours. The passing standard is a scaled score of 240 per subtest, though Washington does not require passing WEST-B for certification because approved SAT/ACT scores can substitute. The current remote fee is $32 per subtest or $96 for all three together. This free 100-question bank mirrors the official Reading and Mathematics objectives so candidates can practice every selected-response area.
Sample WEST-B Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your WEST-B exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Read the passage, then answer the question. "Urban community gardens do more than supply fresh produce. They reduce neighborhood crime by putting more residents outdoors, lower nearby temperatures by adding greenery, and create informal spaces where neighbors who would otherwise never meet form lasting friendships." Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?
2Read the passage, then answer the question. "The library extended its weekend hours last fall. Within three months, weekend visits rose by 40 percent, and circulation of children's books nearly doubled. Staff report that families now treat Saturday mornings as a regular library outing." Which detail from the passage best supports the idea that the extended hours benefited families specifically?
3Read the passage, then answer the question. "Many people believe that goldfish have a memory of only a few seconds. In fact, studies show goldfish can be trained to respond to sounds and colors and can remember those associations for months. The myth persists largely because it is repeated so often." Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
4Read the passage, then answer the question. "Although the new highway shortened the commute for thousands of drivers, it cut directly through a wetland that had filtered the region's drinking water for decades. City planners now face the cost of building an artificial filtration plant the wetland once provided for free." Which statement best summarizes the passage?
5Read the passage, then answer the question. "Sleep is not a passive state. While we rest, the brain consolidates memories, clears metabolic waste, and regulates hormones that control appetite and mood. People who chronically lose sleep show measurable declines in attention and emotional control." The author most likely included the final sentence in order to:
6Read the passage, then answer the question. "The committee proposed three changes: lengthening lunch periods, adding a mid-morning recess, and removing soda machines. Each change was designed with one shared goal in mind, even though they address different parts of the school day." Based on the passage, the shared goal of the three changes is most likely to:
7Read the passage, then answer the question. "Coral reefs occupy less than one percent of the ocean floor, yet they shelter roughly a quarter of all marine species. This concentration of life makes reefs among the most biologically valuable ecosystems on Earth, and it also makes their decline alarming." Which detail most directly supports the claim that reefs are biologically valuable?
8Read the passage, then answer the question. "Critics praised the novelist's debut as 'fearless,' but her second book received mixed reviews. Some readers admired its ambition while others found its experimental structure confusing. The novelist herself called it the most honest thing she had written." Which statement is the best paraphrase of the passage's main point?
9Read the passage, then answer the question. "For most of the twentieth century, economists assumed that people make decisions by coolly calculating costs and benefits. Behavioral research has since shown that emotions, habits, and mental shortcuts shape choices far more than pure logic does." Which sentence, if added, would best serve as a supporting detail for the second sentence?
10Read the passage, then answer the question. "The first paragraph of the report describes the problem of food waste. The second paragraph explains the causes. The third paragraph proposes solutions, and the final paragraph estimates the savings each solution could produce." Which choice best describes the overall organizational pattern of the report?
About the WEST-B Exam
The WEST-B (Washington Educator Skills Tests-Basic) assesses the basic reading, mathematics, and writing skills of candidates entering Washington educator preparation programs. It comprises three subtests: Reading (095) with 60 multiple-choice questions, Mathematics (097) with 60 multiple-choice questions, and Writing (096) with 50 multiple-choice questions plus two writing prompts. This free 100-question bank focuses on the Reading and Mathematics selected-response objectives, spanning comprehension, critical reasoning, vocabulary, numbers, geometry, algebra, data, and reasoning.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
2 hours per subtest (Reading and Mathematics); 5 hours for all three together
Passing Score
240 scaled score per subtest
Exam Fee
$32 per subtest (remote); $96 for all three together (Washington PESB / Pearson)
WEST-B Exam Content Outline
Reading (095): Comprehension and Analysis
Objectives 0001-0006 assess main idea and supporting details, relationships among ideas, critical reasoning and evaluation of evidence, the writer's purpose, intent, and point of view, the meaning of words and phrases in context, and study skills for interpreting graphs, tables, and charts. The Reading subtest is entirely multiple-choice.
Mathematics (097): Quantitative Skills
Objectives 0013-0018 assess numbers and operations (fractions, decimals, percents, ratios, order of operations), measurement (units, scale, perimeter, area, volume, rate), geometry (figures, triangles, coordinate grids, transformations), probability and statistics (probability, mean, median, data interpretation), algebra (linear equations, expressions, slope, patterns), and mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, and communication. The Mathematics subtest is entirely multiple-choice.
Writing (096): Conventions and Composition
The Writing subtest combines 50 multiple-choice questions on the conventions of Standard American English with two constructed-response writing prompts. Because it includes constructed-response tasks, this practice bank focuses on the fully selected-response Reading and Mathematics subtests.
How to Pass the WEST-B Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 240 scaled score per subtest
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: 2 hours per subtest (Reading and Mathematics); 5 hours for all three together
- Exam fee: $32 per subtest (remote); $96 for all three together
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
WEST-B Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is on the WEST-B test?
The WEST-B has three subtests: Reading (095) with 60 multiple-choice questions, Mathematics (097) with 60 multiple-choice questions, and Writing (096) with 50 multiple-choice questions plus two writing prompts. Reading covers comprehension, reasoning, vocabulary, and graphics; Mathematics covers numbers, measurement, geometry, statistics, algebra, and reasoning.
How many questions are on the WEST-B and what is the format?
The Reading and Mathematics subtests each have 60 computer-based multiple-choice questions. The Writing subtest has 50 multiple-choice questions and two written prompts. This free bank includes 100 practice questions for the Reading and Mathematics selected-response sections.
What is the passing score for the WEST-B?
The passing standard is a scaled score of 240 on each subtest. However, Washington does not require a passing WEST-B score for certification, because approved SAT, ACT, or other qualifying scores may be used to meet the basic-skills requirement instead.
How much does the WEST-B cost in 2026?
The remote-proctored fee is $32 per subtest, and taking all three subtests together costs $96. Always confirm the exact amount in your Pearson registration account before checkout, since fees can change.
How long is the WEST-B test?
Each of the Reading and Mathematics subtests has a 2-hour testing time, and the Writing subtest has a 3-hour limit. If you schedule all three subtests in one appointment, you have 5 hours of testing time.
Is a calculator allowed on the WEST-B Mathematics subtest?
The WEST-B Mathematics subtest provides an on-screen four-function calculator and a reference sheet of mathematical symbols, abbreviations, and formulas within the testing platform, so you do not bring your own. Practice using estimation and the provided formulas rather than memorizing every relationship.