BACKGROUND QUESTIONS

When you register for the CBEST, you will be asked to answer the following background questions. Providing accurate and complete background information about yourself is important; the information that you provide will be kept confidential.

Evaluation Systems takes reasonable precautions to protect the integrity of your personal information. The complete privacy policy is accessible as a link at the bottom of the CBEST home page.

The CTC uses the background information (including ethnicity, gender, and date of birth) to satisfy legal requirements, to conduct research that benefits improvement of educator preparation programs, and to help ensure the fairness and quality of the examination for which you are registering. This information will be analyzed as group data only. Examinee-level data will not be provided to score recipient institutions. It may be used for statistical and research purposes and will not be used, in whole or in part, to make a determination about any individual.

Ethnicity

Which option best describes your ethnic background?

• African American or Black
• Japanese American/Japanese
• Chinese American/Chinese
• Korean American/Korean
• Filipino American/Filipino
• Cambodian American/Cambodian
• Laotian American/Laotian
• Vietnamese American/Vietnamese
• Other Southeast Asian American/Southeast Asian (e.g., Hmong, Khmer)
• Asian Indian American/Asian Indian
• Hawaiian
• Guamanian
• Samoan
• Other Pacific Island American/Other Pacific Islander
• Mexican American or Chicano
• Latino/Latin American/Puerto Rican/Other Hispanic
• Native American/American Indian/Alaskan Native
• White (non-Hispanic)
• Other

Best Language

What is your best language of communication?

• English
• Spanish
• Vietnamese
• Cantonese
• Hmong
• Other

First Language(s)

What language(s) did you first learn as a child?

• English only
• English and one or more other languages
• One or more languages other than English

Father's Education

What is the highest level of education completed by your father or male guardian?

• Some high school or less
• High school diploma
• Some postsecondary education
• Associate degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Some graduate or professional school
• Graduate or professional degree
• Unknown

Mother's Education

What is the highest level of education completed by your mother or female guardian?

• Some high school or less
• High school diploma
• Some postsecondary education
• Associate degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Some graduate or professional school
• Graduate or professional degree
• Unknown

High School Attendance

How much of your high school education did you complete in California?

• All
• Some, but not all
• Did not attend high school in California

High School Grade Point Average

What was your high school cumulative grade point average (based on a system in which 4.0 = A)?

• 3.5 to 4.0
• 3.0 to 3.49
• 2.5 to 2.99
• 2.0 to 2.49
• 1.5 to 1.99
• below 1.5

Educational Level

What is the highest level of education you have completed? (For most individuals, possession of a high school diploma or the equivalent is required to take the CBEST.)

• High school
• College freshman (first year)
• College sophomore (second year)
• College junior (third year)
• College senior (fourth or final year)
• Earned bachelor's degree
• Earned bachelor's degree plus additional credits
• Earned master's degree
• Earned master's degree plus additional credits
• Earned doctoral degree

Undergraduate College or University Attended

If you have earned a bachelor's degree, indicate the four-year college or university where you earned that degree by entering the number shown for your college/university in "Institution Codes." If you have not earned a bachelor's degree, but are or have been enrolled as an undergraduate student in a college or university, indicate the college or university where you are currently or were last enrolled. If you have never been enrolled in a college or university, enter code 398.

High School Mathematics

Which of the following topics were covered in high school mathematics courses you successfully completed? (Fill in all that apply.)

• No high school mathematics courses
• General mathematics
• Algebra I
• Algebra II
• Geometry
• Trigonometry
• Analytic Geometry/Pre-Calculus
• Probability/Statistics
• Calculus
• Other

College Mathematics

Which of the following topics were covered in college mathematics courses you successfully completed as an undergraduate? (Fill in all that apply.)

• No college mathematics courses
• General mathematics
• Algebra
• Trigonometry
• Probability/Statistics
• Calculus
• Linear Algebra/Abstract Algebra
• Other

Mathematics Institution

If you have successfully completed any of the college mathematics courses listed above, did you complete most or all of those courses as an undergraduate at the institution you indicated in response to Undergraduate College or University Attended? (If you have not successfully completed any of the college mathematics courses listed above, leave this section blank.)

• Yes
• No

High School English

Which of the following topics were covered in high school English courses you successfully completed? (Fill in all that apply.)

• No high school English courses
• Reading Comprehension
• American Literature
• English Literature
• World Literature
• Journalism
• Speech/Debate/Forensics
• Written Composition
• Creative Writing
• English as a Second Language
• Other

College English

Which of the following topics were covered in college English courses you successfully completed as an undergraduate? (Fill in all that apply.)

• No college English courses
• American Literature
• English Literature
• World/Comparative Literature
• Journalism
• Speech/Debate/Forensics
• Basic Composition Skills
• Advanced Composition/Creative Writing
• Basic Reading Comprehension
• English as a Second Language
• Other

English Institution

If you have successfully completed any of the college English courses listed above, did you complete most or all of those courses as an undergraduate at the institution you indicated in response to Undergraduate College or University Attended? (If you have not successfully completed any of the college English courses listed above, leave this section blank.)

• Yes
• No

College Grade Point Average

What is your cumulative undergraduate grade point average to date or, if you have graduated from college, your final undergraduate grade point average (based on a system in which 4.0 = A)?

• 3.5 to 4.0
• 3.0 to 3.49
• 2.5 to 2.99
• 2.0 to 2.49
• 1.5 to 1.99
• below 1.5

Years Since Bachelor's Degree

How many years has it been since you earned your bachelor's degree?

• Not yet earned
• Less than 1 year
• 1 to 3 years
• 4 to 6 years
• 7 to 10 years
• More than 10 years

Professional Preparation

What stage have you reached in your professional preparation as an educator?

• Have not begun professional preparation
• Have not begun professional preparation, but submitted an application to a program
• Currently enrolled in a professional preparation program
• Previously enrolled in but have not completed a professional preparation program and am not currently enrolled in a program
• Completed a professional preparation program

Employment Status

Which of the following best describes your current employment status?

• Student
• Working as a teacher in a school
• Working as a school or district administrator
• Working in another school role
• Employed, but not in a school position
• Unemployed

Special Preparation

Have you taken any special test preparation courses or tutorials within the past year that were intended specifically to help you pass the CBEST?

• Yes
• No

State Requirement

For which state's legal requirements are you taking the CBEST? (If you respond that you are taking the CBEST to satisfy legal requirements in Oregon, your scores will be reported to the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) in addition to the CTC.)

• California
• Oregon

Credential Type

What type of credential or permit are you now seeking?

• Elementary teaching credential
• Secondary teaching credential
• Credential for teaching adults
• Credential for teaching special education students
• Administrative services credential
• School counseling credential
• Emergency teaching permit, provisional internship permit, or short-term staff permit
• Other credential or permit
• Not currently seeking a credential or permit

Purpose for Taking the CBEST

What is your main purpose for taking the CBEST? (See the "Purpose of Testing" rule in the Rules of Test Participation.)

• For a teaching credential
• For a services credential
• For full- or part-time employment (i.e., emergency permit, provisional internship permit, short-term staff permit, or to meet an employment requirement)
• For employment as a day-to-day substitute
• For admission to a professional preparation program

Note: You will only be asked the following questions if you register on the Internet.

Reason for Taking a Paper-Based Test (CANDIDATES TAKING A PAPER-BASED TEST ONLY)

Which reasons best describe why you selected the paper-based test rather than the computer-based test? (Select all that apply.)

• Familiarity with paper-and-pencil format
• Cost
• Availability of test dates
• Geographical location of test center
• Environment of test center
• Scores available approximately two weeks after testing
• Other

Reason for Taking a Computer-Based Test (CANDIDATES TAKING A COMPUTER-BASED TEST ONLY)

Which reasons best describe why you selected the computer-based test rather than the paper-based test? (Select all that apply.)

• Familiarity with computer format
• Availability of year-round testing
• Test administrations on weekdays
• Test administrations in afternoon/evening sessions
• Geographical location of test center
• Environment of test center
• Unofficial test results for Reading and Mathematics provided at test center
• Scores posted to Internet within 10 business days of test date
• Other

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