CSET Home Economics (181/182/183) Practice Test

Becoming a teacher in California requires you to pass the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET). To obtain a home economics teaching credential, you must take three CSET Home Economics subtests (181, 182, and 183).

Click “Start Test” above to take a free CSET Home Economics practice test, and check out our premium-quality CSET test prep resources by clicking the links below!

CSET Home Economics Exam Outline

Each of the three CSET Home Economics subtests contains a mix of multiple-choice questions and constructed-response questions, and the time limit varies for each subtest.

Subtest I (181)

The first subtest contains 40 multiple-choice questions and one constructed-response question, and you will be given a time limit of 1.5 hours.

The questions are grouped into a single domain:

1. Personal, Family, and Child Development (41 questions)

• Personal, interpersonal, and family relationships
• Parenting
• Child development and education

Subtest II (182)

The second subtest contains 40 multiple-choice questions and two constructed-response questions, and you will be given a time limit of 1.5 hours.

The questions are grouped into a single domain:

1. Nutrition, Foods, and Hospitality (42 questions)

• Food and nutritional science
• Food preparation and hospitality

Subtest III (183)

The third subtest contains 40 multiple-choice questions and four constructed-response questions, and you will be given a time limit of 2 hours.

The questions are grouped into three domains:

1. Fashion and Textiles (12 questions)

• Fashion influences and wardrobe management
• Fibers, fabrics, and finishes
• Apparel construction

2. Housing and Interior Design (12 questions)

• Housing
• Interior design
• Furnishings

3. Consumer Education (16 questions)

• Personal and family resources
• Consumer rights and responsibilities
• Economic systems
• Personal finances

CSET Home Economics Exam Registration

To register for the exam, you must create an online NES account via their website. Once your account has been created, you can use it to register for the CSET Home Economics exam and schedule an exam date. When you register, you will need to pay the $99 examination fee per subtest (or $297 for all three subtests taken together).

Test Day

On testing day, you should arrive at the testing center about 30 minutes early to allow time for the check-in process. Upon arrival, you will be asked to sign in and provide at least one form of valid photo ID.

After the check-in process is complete, you will be asked to leave all personal items (cell phone, wallet, keys, accessories, bags, etc.) in a locker outside the testing area.

Once you enter the testing room, you will be given a brief tutorial on the testing system before the exam begins.

How the CSET Home Economics Exam is Scored

Your CSET Home Economics test results are reported as scaled scores based on your total raw score points from both the multiple-choice section and the constructed-response section. Your raw scores are converted to a scale of 100 to 300, with the scaled score of 220 being the minimum passing score on each subtest. All three subtests must be passed in order to pass the full exam.

Generally, it takes around two to three weeks after the last day of the examination period before you receive your test results.

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