CSET Multiple Subjects Subtest 2 Science;
Mathematics Updated Actual Exam Question
and Answer (2026/2027) | A+ Verified
• atom -✓✓ the smallest unit of an element that still holds the properties of the
element. Made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons
• proton -✓✓ positively charged, located in the nucleus of the atom, has a mass of
1AMU
• neutron -✓✓ neutral charge, located in the nucleus of the atom, has a mass of 1
AMU
• electron -✓✓ has a negative charge, orbits outside of the nucleus, has a mass of
1/1836 AMU
• balanced atom -✓✓ same number of protons and electrons
• ion -✓✓ atom with an unbalanced charge--either positive or negative.
• isotope -✓✓ an atom with a different number of neutrons than the standard
amount for that element.
• atomic mass -✓✓ the amount of matter that makes up an atom. Estimate in
AMUs by adding up the protons and neutrons.
,• atomic number -✓✓ The number of protons an atom has. This defines the type of
element.
• half-life -✓✓ the time it takes for half of the atoms of a particular substance to
disintegrate.
• carbon dating -✓✓ Method of measuring the ratio of Carbon 14 to Carbon 12.
The longer something has been dead, the "more" carbon 12 it has. Only accurate on
items <50,000 years old.
• periodic table of elements -✓✓ Elements are arranged in rows according to their
atomic number, and columns loosely according to their chemical properties.
• compound -✓✓ a substance of 2 or more elements (ex. H20--water, CO2--carbon
dioxide, NaCL--table salt)
• ionic bond -✓✓ bonds a metal with a non-metal. One atom loses an electron to
form a positive ion, and the other gains an electron to form a negative ion; creating
an electrostatic force that holds them together.
• covalent bond -✓✓ a bond formed when atoms share 1 or more of their valence
electrons.
• chemical change -✓✓ the chemical composition of a substance is altered.
hint: fire is an example of a chemical change taking place.
• catalyst -✓✓ something that starts a chemical change (ex. a spark)
, • mixture -✓✓ material that can be separated by physical means into two or more
substances
• solution -✓✓ homogenus mixture in which one substance is completely dissolved
into another substance (ex. salt water)
• suspension -✓✓ a mixture in which small particles are kept dispersed by agitation
or molecular motion in a surrounding medium (ex. muddy river water)
• physical change -✓✓ a change from one state to another without a change in the
chemical composition of a substance
• compression -✓✓ changes the volume of a substance
• states of matter -✓✓ solid, liquid, gas, plasma
• solid -✓✓ cannot be compressed; does not take the shape of its container
• liquid -✓✓ cannot be compressed; does take on the shape of its container
• gas -✓✓ can be compressed; does take on the shape of its container
• temperature and pressure -✓✓ the factors that change matter from one state to
another
Mathematics Updated Actual Exam Question
and Answer (2026/2027) | A+ Verified
• atom -✓✓ the smallest unit of an element that still holds the properties of the
element. Made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons
• proton -✓✓ positively charged, located in the nucleus of the atom, has a mass of
1AMU
• neutron -✓✓ neutral charge, located in the nucleus of the atom, has a mass of 1
AMU
• electron -✓✓ has a negative charge, orbits outside of the nucleus, has a mass of
1/1836 AMU
• balanced atom -✓✓ same number of protons and electrons
• ion -✓✓ atom with an unbalanced charge--either positive or negative.
• isotope -✓✓ an atom with a different number of neutrons than the standard
amount for that element.
• atomic mass -✓✓ the amount of matter that makes up an atom. Estimate in
AMUs by adding up the protons and neutrons.
,• atomic number -✓✓ The number of protons an atom has. This defines the type of
element.
• half-life -✓✓ the time it takes for half of the atoms of a particular substance to
disintegrate.
• carbon dating -✓✓ Method of measuring the ratio of Carbon 14 to Carbon 12.
The longer something has been dead, the "more" carbon 12 it has. Only accurate on
items <50,000 years old.
• periodic table of elements -✓✓ Elements are arranged in rows according to their
atomic number, and columns loosely according to their chemical properties.
• compound -✓✓ a substance of 2 or more elements (ex. H20--water, CO2--carbon
dioxide, NaCL--table salt)
• ionic bond -✓✓ bonds a metal with a non-metal. One atom loses an electron to
form a positive ion, and the other gains an electron to form a negative ion; creating
an electrostatic force that holds them together.
• covalent bond -✓✓ a bond formed when atoms share 1 or more of their valence
electrons.
• chemical change -✓✓ the chemical composition of a substance is altered.
hint: fire is an example of a chemical change taking place.
• catalyst -✓✓ something that starts a chemical change (ex. a spark)
, • mixture -✓✓ material that can be separated by physical means into two or more
substances
• solution -✓✓ homogenus mixture in which one substance is completely dissolved
into another substance (ex. salt water)
• suspension -✓✓ a mixture in which small particles are kept dispersed by agitation
or molecular motion in a surrounding medium (ex. muddy river water)
• physical change -✓✓ a change from one state to another without a change in the
chemical composition of a substance
• compression -✓✓ changes the volume of a substance
• states of matter -✓✓ solid, liquid, gas, plasma
• solid -✓✓ cannot be compressed; does not take the shape of its container
• liquid -✓✓ cannot be compressed; does take on the shape of its container
• gas -✓✓ can be compressed; does take on the shape of its container
• temperature and pressure -✓✓ the factors that change matter from one state to
another
