Frequently Asked Questions

Before Registering to Test

After Registering to Test

The Day of the Test

Scores and Score Reporting

Alternative Testing Arrangements

BEFORE REGISTERING TO TEST

Question Who is required to test?

Answer

See "The California Basic Skills Requirement" for information about who is required to test.

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Question Where can I find materials that will help me prepare to test?

Answer

See "Preparing for the Test" for information about where you can find test-preparation materials.

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Question When can I test?

Answer

See "Test Dates" for a list of available test dates and their corresponding registration deadlines. See "Test Sites" for details about test area availability on each test date. (A particular paper-based test area may not be available on a particular test date.)

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Question Where can I test?

Answer

See "Test Sites" for a list of paper-based and computer-based testing locations and for details about test date availability for each test area. (A particular paper-based test date may not be available for a particular test area.)

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Question Can I test on computer?

Answer

Yes. Computer-based testing is available year round by appointment. See "Test Dates for Computer-Based Testing" for more information about testing on computer.

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Question What are the test fees, and what methods of payment are acceptable?

Answer

See "Test Fees and Payment Policies" for a complete list of test fees and any related service fees and for information about acceptable methods of payment and the policies that apply to the processing of your payment.

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Question How do I register to test?

Answer

See "Registration Options" for an overview of the various registration methods available to you and for information about when you may use each method to register.

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Question At what times are tests administered, and how much time will I have to test?

Answer

For computer-based testing, you select your testing time when you schedule your test appointment. For paper-based testing, see "During and After the Test" for test session reporting and dismissal times and test session length.

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AFTER REGISTERING TO TEST

Question How do I confirm my registration?

Answer

To confirm your registration status, select "Confirm or Modify Registraiton" at the top of this page and follow the instructions provided.

See "Confirming Your Registration" for more information about how to confirm your registration status and what to do if you are unable to confirm your registration status.

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Question How do I change my registration?

Answer

See "Changing Your Registration" for details about how and when you may change your registration (e.g., your test date, your test area) or withdraw your registration and how to correct or update personal information that appears on your admission ticket or your CBT confirmation (e.g., your mailing address).

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Question I did not receive an admission ticket for a paper-based test. What should I do?

Answer

Select "My Admission Ticket" to confirm your registration status and request another copy of your admission ticket. You may request that the copy be sent by e-mail or by U.S. mail and e-mail. If you are unable to receive a copy of your admission ticket before your test date, you may use this service to print the admission information you need to bring to the test site to be admitted to the test administration.

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Question I lost my paper-based test admission ticket. May I still be admitted to the test site without it?

Answer

Yes, you may still be admitted to the test site and permitted to test. However, you may first be required to complete additional paperwork, which could reduce your available testing time. See "What to Bring to the Test Site" for details about what you may be required to do or provide at the test site if you do not have your admission ticket.

You may request another copy of your admission ticket online by selecting "My Admission Ticket." If you are unable to receive a copy of your admission ticket before your test date, you may use this service to print the admission information you need to bring to the test site to be admitted to the test administration.

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Question My name has recently changed and now does not match the name that appears on my identification. What should I do?

Answer

See the identification policy in "What to Bring to the Test Site" for details about what you may be required to do or provide at the test site if the name on your identification differs from the name in which you registered.

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Question Will I be permitted to use a calculator on the test?

Answer

You are not permitted to use a calculator for the test. See "Test Site Rules" for complete information about unauthorized aids and prohibited materials at the test site.

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THE DAY OF THE TEST

Question I was absent from the test administration. Will I receive a refund?

Answer

If you are absent, you will not receive a refund or credit of any kind. You will need to register and pay again to test at a future administration.

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Question If, after testing, I would like to submit a comment about my testing experience, how should I do that?

Answer

If you have comments about the test site or the conditions under which you took a test, please submit your comments in a letter sent to Evaluation Systems at the address indicated in "Contact Information." Your letter should be received by Evaluation Systems no later than seven days after your test date.

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SCORES AND SCORE REPORTING

Question When will my scores be available?

Answer

See "Test Dates" for a list of test dates and their corresponding score report dates. See "Release of Your Test Scores" for details about different ways in which your scores are made available to you. For instance, your unofficial scores are available on the Internet for a two-week posting period, but you must provide your date of birth and ID number (found on your admission ticket and/or e-mail registration confirmation) to access them, and for security reasons, you may view them only once. Your official score report is sent to you by U.S. mail. Unofficial scores are not an acceptable substitute for an official score report.

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Question
Will I be able to access my unofficial scores on the Internet without my ID number?

Answer

No. If you do not have your ID number (found on your admission ticket and/or e-mail registration confirmation), you will not be able to access your unofficial scores on the Internet. In addition, for security reasons, you will not be provided with your ID number upon request by telephone or e-mail after the test administration. Your official score report will be sent to you by U.S. mail.

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Question How are tests scored, and how do I read my official score report?

Answer

You will receive with your official score report an explanation of how to read and interpret your scores. Also, you may access details about how to read and interpret your scores by selecting "Score Reporting." In addition, see "CBEST Passing Requirements" for information about test design and how passing scores or standards for the test are established.

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Question May I request that my test score be verified?

Answer

Yes. See "Requesting a Score Verification" for complete information about available score verification services.

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Question May I request additional copies of my scores?

Answer

Yes. See "Requesting Additional Copies of Your Test Results" for complete information about how to request additional copies of your scores.

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ALTERNATIVE TESTING ARRANGEMENTS

Question How do I request alternative testing arrangements for a disability?

Answer

See "Registering for Alternative Testing Arrangements" for complete information about how to submit a request for alternative testing arrangements for a disability (physical or other than physical).

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Question May I submit my request for alternative testing arrangements on the Internet?

Answer

No. If you register on the Internet for paper-based testing, you will need to submit by fax or U.S. mail, after completing your registration on the Internet, your Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form for Paper-Based Testing and any required documentation. If you register by U.S. mail, your Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form for Paper-Based Testing and any required documentation should be submitted with your registration materials.

If you are planning to register for computer-based testing, you must register as early as possible in advance of your desired test date because of the additional time needed to process the registration and to schedule the test administration date. After registering, you must mail or fax a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form for Computer-Based Testing and any required documentation.

See "Registering for Alternative Testing Arrangements" for additional important information about how to request alternative testing arrangements.
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Question If I am registering for a paper-based test, may I still request alternative testing arrangements after the regular registration deadline?

Answer

Yes. However, because of the time that it takes to review requests adequately, and because of test-site and staffing constraints, there is no assurance that requests received after the regular registration deadline can be accommodated.

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Question The last time that I tested, my request for alternative testing arrangements was granted. Do I need to submit the paperwork again each time I register?

Answer


The Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form must be submitted each time you register. The first time that you request alternative testing arrangements, you will need to submit all of the required documentation to support your request for accommodations. Evaluation Systems will keep your documentation on file for one year. If you register for subsequent test dates within that year, you only need to submit your completed registration, correct payment, and a completed Alternative Testing Arrangements Request Form, as long as your condition and the recommended accommodations have not changed.

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Question May I submit a request to test on an alternative paper-based test date for religious reasons?

Answer


See the "Registering for an Alternative Test Date for Religious Reasons" section in "Registering for Alternative Testing Arrangements" for complete information about how to register for an alternative paper-based test date for religious reasons.

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