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CliffsTestPrep CSET: Social Science By Shana PateTony Napoli ( Cliffs Notes )
Release Date: 2007-10-01
Average Customer Rating:
List Price: $29.99
Price: $19.79
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Product Description
Your complete guide to a higher score on the CSET: Social Science
Why CliffsTestPrep Guides?
Go with the name you know and trustGet the information you need--fast! Written by test-prep specialists
About the contents:
Introduction
* Format and content of the exam
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Proven test-taking strategies and tips
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Approaches for answering both multiple-choice and constructed-response questions
Subject Area Review
* Focused reviews of all subjects tested: world history, U.S. history, geography, civics, economics, and California history
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Practice questions to aid in subject review and test preparation
Two Full-Length Practice Examinations
* Structured like the actual exam
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Complete with answers and explanations
References for Additional Study
Test-Prep Essentials from the Experts at CliffsNotes
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 A waste of time and money
Well, I have now completed the Social Science tests this weekend and with this text and the all important test fresh in my memory, I must say that Cliffs Test Prep was a good way to distract me from what I needed to know. Much of the information in this book was a simple list of terms and names with little reference as to why they are important or why they are relevant to the test. Likewise, I found that many of the test questions came in a different format than found within this book's sample exams.
What was far more valuable for my time and my study were the California State standards: those are free, and give some connection as to why a specific person or vocabulary term is relevant. Don't waste your money on this book!
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worst test prep book I've ever read ( audracrane )
This book is a complete embarrassment. I teach test prep and am therefore very familiar with many, many (high school) test prep books. Some are better, some are worse, but this book is not even in the same running with even the worst of them.
It's broken into three sections; the introduction to the test section has illuminating info. such as: "What score do I need to pass the test...? Each subject has it's own passing score..." Basically, the answer to every FAQs question is "Contact...[...]..." These questions can be answered in about two minutes on the CSET site, but I bought the book for a bit more insight into such things as the scaled scoring (they don't even mention it) and how long the test is. Any prep book worth anything would give these answers and more. If you need the test-taking tips they provide you shouldn't be let near a classroom.
The second section is a joke summary of the subject matter. If you're going to have such a section, take it seriously. This book is more expensive and thinner than any SAT etc. book and yet has this poorly written, pathetic and often inaccurate summary of all world history.
The worst offense is that the two practice tests are terrible. The questions don't reflect the test questions, are often almost incomprehensibly or woefully vaguely written, are often wrong, and regularly have hopeless explanations as mentioned in the above post. My favorite not only said that A, B, and C were obviously wrong as an explanation, but then marked the answer as...C!
Needless to say, my advice is, DON'T BUY THIS BOOK!
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 A good study companion ( aaron_kerns )
Some people seem to think that a study guide will give you the exact material that will be on the test. Well, they are wrong. I looked all over for a good social science cset study guide and could not find one. I bought this book because it provides a guide on how to take the test, rather than spending hundreds of pages recapping information available in the survey books that we all own already (hopefully). There is, however, some review, but the book is valuable for familiarizing you with each subtest. I read this book cover-to-cover and completed all of the practice sections (took two days) before taking the tests. I passed all three subtests on my first attempt. You should have learned all you need from school (considering you paid attention and made reasonable effort), but this book will show you the areas that you need to study as you assess your performance on the practice sections. There is no single book that will adequately prepare you for the cset. Using the practice guidelines from the cset website, reviewing your education, reading this book, and researching areas that you show weakness, in my opinion, will prepare you for the test. I recommend this book to supplement your studies. Good Luck!!!
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Don't Buy This Book
Because I have appreciated Cliffs products in the past, I was suprised by this one. It will not help you pass the CSET. First of all, the section that tells you what you need to know for each subtest is so incredibly brief as to be annoying. And it doesn't even include enough information for the question in their sample tests. The sample test answers are sometimes inaccurate and often unhelpful (a,b, and c are clearly wrong, so it must be d--gee thanks). I regret purchasing this book and wish I could find something better. In the meantime, I'm just using the CA state standards for history grades 4-12.
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