Cbest Writing Practice includes a lot of great essays that are useful for students preparing to take all kinds of tests. The essays have ample space to take notes, which makes them easy to understand. The writing practice exercises provide practice in key strategies, including expository essay writing, argumentative essay writing, and critical essay writing.
Here are some practice tips for your CBEST writing.
CBEST Essays – Expository Essays
You must write two CBEST essays for the California Basic Educational Skills Test. The first of these essays will be the personal essay question.
The second type of essay that you will have to write for the test is the expository type of essay.
Click here for more information on our CBEST Sample Essays and Essay Writing Guide instant download.
For expository essays, exam candidates will be given a statement. The candidates are then asked to evaluate or analyze that statement in their written essays.
For example, prompts for expository essays might ask: “It is often said that every cloud has a silver lining. State whether you agree or disagree with this statement, giving logical reasons and detailed examples.”
For these types of essays on the test, you will write about some kind of issue, and you will often be asked to take a side or state an opinion.
Remember that expository essays, as well as personal essays, are graded on the following criteria:
- Focus on task
- Organization
- Supporting detail
- Word choice and usage
- Grammar and mechanics
- Style and tone
If you pass only one of the essays, you will need to re-take the entire writing section of the test, in which case you will have to write both essays again.
Our Guide to Writing CBEST Essays can help!
Click here to download our CBEST Essay Writing Guide.
General Information
A good way to prepare for the CBEST Writing test is to practice writing on these and other prompts and ask a friend or teacher to evaluate them according to the standards given. Then rewrite the essay, improving it in the ways suggested by that person. It may also be helpful to find lists of commonly misspelled words and grammar rules to practice before you take the CBEST Writing test.
It’s helpful to know what the evaluators will look for in your writing. As you write, review, and edit your essays, be sure that:about:blank
- your writing is crystal clear and there is no possibility of misunderstanding your message
- the content stays focused throughout your essay. (All parts of it should relate to the main topic and not stray into other areas.)
- you support points with illustrations and examples as you write
- your writing contains only standard written English conventions
- you are especially careful to: separate fact from opinion, avoid internal contradiction, make only warranted conclusions, and avoid the use of non-sequiturs (If any of these terms are unfamiliar, look them up and learn how to manage them.)
The topics you are given will be these:
Topic #1: This essay will require you to recount a memory of a personal experience.
Topic #2: For this essay, you’ll need to write about a given topic, giving information about it and analyzing that information.
Example Topic #1
Most people can remember a time in their lives when the world seemed to stand still, even if just for a moment. All of a sudden, it was very hard to think. This could have happened during an extremely happy, sad, or surprising event. Think of a time in your life when you might have experienced this type of moment. If you cannot think of one that actually happened, tell about what it would take to make “time stand still” for you.about:blank
Example Topic #2
John F. Kennedy was quoted as saying, “Think not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” Think of one way you could take action on Kennedy’s suggestion. Tell how this would change you and the path you take in life. Also tell how likely you are to take this action and give reasons why, or why not.
- Question 1 of 15In the following question, there are underlined parts to each sentence. One of the underlined parts is incorrectly written. Choose the incorrect underlined part of the sentence, but if the entire sentence is correct as written, choose “No error.”
Nobody could have anticipated the extent of the storm’s damage.- storm’s damage
- the extent
- could
- Nobody
- No error
- Question 2 of 15In the following question, there are underlined parts to each sentence. One of the underlined parts is incorrectly written. Choose the incorrect underlined part of the sentence, but if the entire sentence is correct as written, choose “No error.”
Most people believed that the game would end up being cancelled.- cancelled
- believed
- Most people
- end up
- No error
- Question 3 of 15In the following question, there are underlined parts to each sentence. One of the underlined parts is incorrectly written. Choose the incorrect underlined part of the sentence, but if the entire sentence is correct as written, choose “No error.”
We gawked at him as he drug the picnic table closer to the grill area.- drug
- No error
- closer to
- gawked at
- grill area
- Question 4 of 15In the following question, there are underlined parts to each sentence. One of the underlined parts is incorrectly written. Choose the incorrect underlined part of the sentence, but if the entire sentence is correct as written, choose “No error.”
Her bicycle basket was loaded down with books and materials to return to the library.- Her bicycle basket
- No error
- loaded down
- to return
- to
- Question 5 of 15In the following question, there are underlined parts to each sentence. One of the underlined parts is incorrectly written. Choose the incorrect underlined part of the sentence, but if the entire sentence is correct as written, choose “No error.”
Her Grandmother ordered monogrammed towels as a gift for the upcoming bridal shower.- Her Grandmother
- No error
- bridal
- upcoming
- monogrammed towels
- Question 6 of 15In the following question, there are underlined parts to each sentence. One of the underlined parts is incorrectly written. Choose the incorrect underlined part of the sentence, but if the entire sentence is correct as written, choose “No error.”
We must ensure that Mike proceeds Ann when the students line up for the graduation ceremony.- ensure that
- No error
- line up
- graduation ceremony
- proceeds
- Question 7 of 15In the following question, there are underlined parts to each sentence. One of the underlined parts is incorrectly written. Choose the incorrect underlined part of the sentence, but if the entire sentence is correct as written, choose “No error.”
He was discrete in what he said and wrote since he was not yet sure of his role.- not yet sure
- said and wrote
- role
- No error
- discrete
- Question 8 of 15In the following question, there are underlined parts to each sentence. One of the underlined parts is incorrectly written. Choose the incorrect underlined part of the sentence, but if the entire sentence is correct as written, choose “No error.”
When funding becomes available, we anticipate receiving a new dual-control car for our driver training program.- driver training program
- dual-control
- available
- funding
- No error
- Question 9 of 15In the following question, there are underlined parts to each sentence. One of the underlined parts is incorrectly written. Choose the incorrect underlined part of the sentence, but if the entire sentence is correct as written, choose “No error.”
Many students yawned, dozed, or talked during the assembly because they were disinterested in the speaker’s message.- yawned, dozed
- No error
- during
- because they were
- disinterested in the speaker’s message
by Mometrix
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- Question 10 of 15In the following question, there are underlined parts to each sentence. One of the underlined parts is incorrectly written. Choose the incorrect underlined part of the sentence, but if the entire sentence is correct as written, choose “No error.”
Since school vacation is eminent, teachers have difficulty getting students to pay attention to their lessons during the last few weeks of school.- No error
- during the last few weeks of school
- attention to their lessons
- eminent, teachers have
- getting students to
- Question 11 of 15In the following question, there are underlined parts to each sentence. One of the underlined parts is incorrectly written. Choose the incorrect underlined part of the sentence, but if the entire sentence is correct as written, choose “No error.”
Marcy believed her parents had ought to have told her she was still grounded for the weekend.- have told her
- No error
- had ought
- believed
- grounde
- Question 12 of 15In the following question, there are underlined parts to each sentence. One of the underlined parts is incorrectly written. Choose the incorrect underlined part of the sentence, but if the entire sentence is correct as written, choose “No error.”
Fourteen people hanged seven heavy pictures on the interior walls of the lecture room.- interior walls
- No error
- seven heavy pictures
- Fourteen people
- hanged
- Question 13 of 15In the following question, there are underlined parts to each sentence. One of the underlined parts is incorrectly written. Choose the incorrect underlined part of the sentence, but if the entire sentence is correct as written, choose “No error.”
The entire class disagrees with Dr. Olson’s views about the future of the mining industry in our area.- disagrees with
- entire class
- Dr. Olson’s views about
- future of the mining industry
- No error
- Question 14 of 15In the following question, there are underlined parts to each sentence. One of the underlined parts is incorrectly written. Choose the incorrect underlined part of the sentence, but if the entire sentence is correct as written, choose “No error.”
I was shocked to realize I had run much further than my two running buddies.- was shocked
- to realize
- No error
- further than
- had run
by Mometrix
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- Question 15 of 15In the following question, there are underlined parts to each sentence. One of the underlined parts is incorrectly written. Choose the incorrect underlined part of the sentence, but if the entire sentence is correct as written, choose “No error.”
Briana says less children enrolled in our camp program this summer than last summer.- enrolled
- No error
- Briana says
- than
- less children
Conclusion
Have you always wondered how to write great essays? Well, you probably haven’t. That’s because the best essay writers are skilled at crafting an effective essay that proves to be superior in every way. If you want to master the skill of writing essays, there are a few things you should do.