California educators may in certain cases be able to use the CSET Writing Skills exam to satisfy the basic skills requirement.
The exam consists of two constructed-response essays. One asks candidates to analyze a given situation or statement. The other asks candidates to write about a specified personal experience.

2023 CSET Writing Skills Testing Costs*
Below is an overview of the 2023 CSET Writing Skills testing fees for computer-based testing.
Service |
Fees |
Registration |
$63 test registration fee |
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 |

2023 CSET Writing Skills Test Dates*
Computer-based testing for the CSET Writing Skills 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 Writing Skills Test Dates - Computer-Based |
Results Release Date |
5/8/23 - 5/21/23 |
6/9/23 |
5/22/23 - 6/4/23 |
6/23/23 |
6/5/23 - 6/18/23 |
7/7/23 |
6/19/23 - 7/2/23 |
7/21/23 |
7/3/23 - 7/16/23 |
8/4/23 |
7/17/23 - 7/30/23 |
8/18/23 |
7/31/23 - 8/13/23 |
9/1/23 |
8/14/23 - 8/27/23 |
9/15/23 |
8/28/23 - 9/10/23 |
9/29/23 |
9/11/23 - 9/24/23 |
10/13/23 |
9/25/23 - 10/8/23 |
10/27/23 |
10/9/23 - 10/22/23 |
11/10/23 |
10/23/23 - 11/5/23 |
11/27/23 |
11/6/23 - 11/19/23 |
12/8/23 |
11/20/23 - 12/3/23 |
12/22/23 |
12/4/23 - 12/17/23 |
1/5/24 |
12/18/23 - 12/31/23 |
1/19/24 |
1/1/24 - 1/14/24 |
2/2/24 |
1/15/24 - 1/28/24 |
2/16/24 |
1/29/24 - 2/11/24 |
3/1/24 |
2/12/24 - 2/25/24 |
3/15/24 |
2/26/24 - 3/10/24 |
3/29/24 |
3/11/24 - 3/24/24 |
4/12/24 |
3/25/24 - 4/7/24 |
4/26/24 |
4/8/24 - 4/21/24 |
5/10/24 |
4/22/24 - 5/5/24 |
5/24/24 |
5/6/24 - 5/19/24 |
6/7/24 |
5/20/24 - 6/2/24 |
6/21/24 |
6/3/24 - 6/16/24 |
7/5/24 |
6/17/24 - 6/30/24 |
7/19/24 |
7/1/24 - 7/14/24 |
8/2/24 |
7/15/24 - 7/28/24 |
8/16/24 |
7/29/24 - 8/11/24 |
8/30/24 |
8/12/24 - 8/25/24 |
9/13/24 |
8/26/24 - 9/8/24 |
9/27/24 |
9/9/24 - 9/22/24 |
10/11/24 |
9/23/24 - 10/6/24 |
10/25/24 |
10/7/24 - 10/20/24 |
11/8/24 |
10/21/24 - 11/3/24 |
11/22/24 |
CSET Writing Skills Test Dates - Online Proctored |
Results Release Date |
Week of May 29, 2023 |
June 23, 2023 |
Week of June 26, 2023 |
July 21, 2023 |
Week of July 24, 2023 |
August 18, 2023 |
Week of August 21, 2023 |
September 15, 2023 |
Week of September 18, 2023 |
October 13, 2023 |
Week of October 16, 2023 |
November 10, 2023 |
Week of November 13, 2023 |
December 8, 2023 |
Week of December 11, 2023 |
January 5, 2024 |
Week of January 8, 2024 |
February 2, 2024 |
Week of February 5, 2024 |
March 1, 2024 |
Week of March 4, 2024 |
March 29, 2024 |
Week of April 1, 2024 |
April 26, 2024 |
Week of April 29, 2024 |
May 24, 2024 |
Week of May 27, 2024 |
June 21, 2024 |
Week of June 24, 2024 |
July 19, 2024 |
Week of July 22, 2024 |
August 16, 2024 |
*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.