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 |
12/5/22 - 12/18/22 |
1/6/23 |
12/19/22 - 1/1/23 |
1/20/23 |
1/2/23 - 1/15/23 |
2/3/23 |
1/16/23 - 1/29/23 |
2/17/23 |
1/30/23 - 2/12/23 |
3/3/23 |
2/13/23 - 2/26/23 |
3/17/23 |
2/27/23 - 3/12/23 |
3/31/23 |
3/13/23 - 3/26/23 |
4/14/23 |
3/27/23 - 4/9/23 |
4/28/23 |
4/10/23 - 4/23/23 |
5/12/23 |
4/24/23 - 5/7/23 |
5/26/23 |
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 |
CSET Writing Skills Test Dates - Online Proctored |
Results Release Date |
Week of December 12, 2022 |
January 6, 2023 |
Week of January 9, 2023 |
February 3, 2023 |
Week of February 6, 2023 |
March 3, 2023 |
Week of March 6, 2023 |
March 31, 2023 |
Week of April 3, 2023 |
April 28, 2023 |
Week of May 1, 2023 |
May 26, 2023 |
Week of May 29, 2023 |
June 23, 2023 |
Week of June 26, 2023 |
July 21, 2023 |
Week of July 24, 2023 |
August 18, 2023 |
*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.