CSET Social Science
This page provides access to all the key info you need as a CSET Social Science test-taker, including 2025 exam dates, testing center locations, fees, registration info and prep resources.
You can view our free CSET Social Science Study Guides for a concise, bullet-pointed listing of exactly which topics appear on your exam. You can also take our free CSET Social Science Practice Tests to see your current likelihood of passing and a breakdown of your individual strengths and weaknesses.
Need help preparing? We offer live CSET Social Science Prep Courses and self-paced Online Prep.
| CSET Social Science Quick Facts | |
| Subtest 1: | World History; World Geography (Test Code 114) |
| Subtest 2: | US History; US Geography (Test Code 115) |
| Subtest 3: | Civics; Economics; California History (Test Code 116) |
| Number of questions: | 39 multiple-choice and 3 constructed-responses each for Subtests 1 and 2; 40 multiple-choice and 3 constructed-responses for Subtest 3 |
| Time to complete: | 2 hours and 15 minutes each for Subtests 1 and 2; 1 hour and 45 minutes for Subtest 3; 6 hours and 15 minutes for all 3 Subtests in a single session |
| Passing score: | 220 per subtest (scaled score) |
CSET Social Science Overview
California educators planning to teach history or social studies at the secondary school level typically must pass the CSET Social Science exam. CSET Social Science consists of three subtests. Each CSET Social Science subtest may be taken and passed separately.
Subtest 1 covers World History and Principles of Geography.
Subtest 2 covers US History and Principles of Geography.
Subtest 3 covers Principles of American Democracy, Principles of Economics and California History.
All subtests consist of both multiple-choice and constructed-response questions.
2025 CSET Social Science Testing Costs*
Below is an overview of the 2025 CSET Social Science testing fees for computer-based testing.
| Service | Fees |
|---|---|
| Registration for Subtest 1 (114) | $99 test registration fee |
| Registration for Subtest 2 (115) | $99 test registration fee |
| Registration for Subtest 3 (116) | $99 test registration fee |
| Registration for all Subtests taken together | $297 |
| Change of registration | No fee |
| Additional copy of test results | $10 per copy |
| Score verification for constructed-response (CR) section | $50 per subtest |
| Fee to clear an account | $20 |
2025 CSET Social Science Test Dates*
Computer-based testing for the CSET Social Science exam is available year-round by appointment, Monday through Saturday (excluding some holidays), on a first-come, first-served basis during the testing windows listed below. Alternatively, online-proctored testing is offered remotely and is available by appointment during one-week testing windows each month.
| CSET Social Science Test Dates - Computer-Based | Results Release Date |
|---|---|
| 6/2/25 - 6/29/25 | 7/18/25 |
| 6/30/25 - 7/27/25 | 8/15/25 |
| 7/28/25 - 8/24/25 | 9/12/25 |
| 8/25/25 - 9/21/25 | 10/10/25 |
| 9/22/25 - 10/19/25 | 11/7/25 |
| 10/20/25 - 11/16/25 | 12/5/25 |
| 11/17/25 - 12/14/25 | 1/2/26 |
| 12/15/25 - 1/11/26 | 1/30/26 |
| 1/12/26 - 2/8/26 | 2/27/26 |
| 2/9/26 - 3/8/26 | 3/27/26 |
| 3/9/26 - 4/5/26 | 4/24/26 |
| 4/6/26 - 5/3/26 | 5/22/26 |
| 5/4/26 - 5/31/26 | 6/22/26 |
| 6/1/26 - 6/28/26 | 7/17/26 |
| 6/29/26 - 7/26/26 | 8/14/26 |
| 7/27/26 - 8/23/26 | 9/11/26 |
| 8/24/26 - 9/20/26 | 10/9/26 |
| 9/21/26 - 10/18/26 | 11/6/26 |
| 10/19/26 - 11/15/26 | 12/4/26 |
| CSET Social Science Test Dates - Online Proctored | Results Release Date |
|---|---|
| Week of June 23, 2025 | July 18, 2025 |
| Week of July 21, 2025 | August 15, 2025 |
*This information is subject to change. All test-takers should visit the official CSET website at https://www.ctcexams.nesinc.com to confirm fees, registration, and testing requirements before enrolling.
Free Tools to Help You Get Started
Not sure how you’ll perform on the exam? Start by viewing our free CSET Social Science Study Guide to get a concise overview of exactly what subject matter will appear on your exam. Then take our free, full-length CSET Social Science Practice Test with diagnostics to see your overall likelihood of passing and identify any areas in which you may need to improve.
Online Prep Programs That Guarantee You'll Pass
Our Core Plus Online Prep Programs feature:
- instructional videos that teach you the exact content you need to pass
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- advanced diagnostics that offer in-depth insights into your strengths and weaknesses
And they’re backed by the strongest guarantee available: If you don’t pass, you don’t pay.*
(*See our Guarantees page for details.)
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