CSET MULTIPLE SUBJECTS SUBTEST II —
SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS — 200 Practice
Questions with Verified Answers & Rationales
Exam: CSET Multiple Subjects Subtest II (Test Code 214)
Administered By: California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) via Pearson/NES
Exam Format: 52 multiple-choice questions + 4 constructed-response questions
Time Allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
Content Areas:
- Science (50%) – Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Earth and Space Sciences
- Mathematics (50%) – Number Sense, Algebra and Functions, Measurement and Geometry,
Statistics and Data Analysis
Passing Score: 220 (scaled score)
SECTION 1: SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY & PHYSICAL SCIENCES (Questions 1–50)
1. A student designs an experiment to test the effect of light on plant growth. She places three
plants in different light conditions (full sun, partial shade, and darkness) and measures their
height over 4 weeks. What is the independent variable in this experiment?
- A) Plant height
- B) Light condition
- C) Type of plant
- D) Water amount
Answer: B
Rationale: The independent variable is the variable that is intentionally changed or manipulated
by the experimenter. In this experiment, the light condition (full sun, partial shade, darkness) is
what the student changes. Plant height is the dependent variable.
2. In the same plant experiment described above, what is the dependent variable?
- A) Light condition
,- B) Plant growth (height)
- C) Soil type
- D) Temperature
Answer: B
Rationale: The dependent variable is the variable that is measured or observed in response to
changes in the independent variable. Plant growth (height) is what is being measured.
3. A student wants to test whether adding fertilizer helps plants grow taller. She uses the same
type of soil, same amount of water, and same type of plant for all groups. She adds fertilizer to
one group but not the other. What is the control group in this experiment?
- A) The group with fertilizer
- B) The group without fertilizer
- C) The soil type
- D) The plant species
Answer: B
Rationale: The control group is the group that does not receive the treatment or independent
variable. It provides a baseline for comparison. The group without fertilizer is the control group.
4. Which of the following steps in making a cup of coffee involves a chemical change in matter?
- A) Whole-bean coffee is ground in a coffee grinder
- B) A burner on a propane stove is lighted to heat water
- C) Water in a kettle begins to boil
- D) Boiling water is poured through a filter containing ground coffee
Answer: B
Rationale: Lighting a propane burner involves combustion, which is a chemical change (propane
+ oxygen → carbon dioxide + water). Grinding coffee beans, boiling water, and filtering are all
physical changes—the substances themselves do not change chemically.
5. Which of the following is the best example of the refraction of light waves?
- A) Markings on flowers that are invisible in normal light can be seen in ultraviolet light
- B) Deep lakes appear to be blue or green in color
- C) Sunlight striking a black box will make the box warmer than the same light striking a white
box
- D) Light passing through raindrops produces a rainbow
,Answer: D
Rationale: Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another. Rainbows
are produced when sunlight is refracted (and dispersed) by water droplets in the atmosphere.
The other options describe fluorescence, absorption/reflection of light, and the greenhouse
effect.
6. A large round boulder is pushed from the top of a smooth steep hill and rolls to the bottom.
Which graph best represents the distance the boulder travels with respect to time?
- A) A straight line with a constant positive slope
- B) A curved line that gets steeper (increasing slope) over time
- C) A curved line that gets flatter (decreasing slope) over time
- D) A horizontal line
Answer: B
Rationale: As the boulder rolls down a smooth steep hill, it accelerates due to gravity. The
distance traveled increases at an increasing rate over time (quadratic relationship: d = ½at²),
which is represented by a curve with a positive, increasing slope.
7. Which of the following liquids is the most acidic and will have the lowest pH?
- A) Lemon juice (pH ≈ 2)
- B) Vinegar (pH ≈ 3)
- C) Coffee (pH ≈ 5)
- D) Pure water (pH ≈ 7)
Answer: A
Rationale: The pH scale measures acidity; lower pH values indicate greater acidity. Lemon juice
has the lowest pH among the options listed.
8. Which of the following is a physical property of matter?
- A) Flammability
- B) Reactivity with acid
- C) Density
- D) Ability to rust
Answer: C
Rationale: Density is a physical property that can be observed or measured without changing
the composition of the substance. Flammability, reactivity, and rusting are chemical properties.
, 9. What is the basic unit of matter?
- A) Cell
- B) Atom
- C) Molecule
- D) Electron
Answer: B
Rationale: The atom is the basic unit of matter, consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
10. Which subatomic particle determines the atomic number of an element?
- A) Electron
- B) Proton
- C) Neutron
- D) Nucleus
Answer: B
Rationale: The atomic number of an element is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus of
an atom. This number uniquely identifies the element.
11. A student is measuring the volume of a liquid using a graduated cylinder. She records the
volume as 25 mL. Which of the following should she do to ensure accuracy?
- A) Read the volume at eye level using the bottom of the meniscus
- B) Read the volume from above the cylinder
- C) Read the volume from below the cylinder
- D) Estimate the volume without looking
Answer: A
Rationale: To accurately read the volume in a graduated cylinder, the observer should read at
eye level at the bottom of the meniscus (the curve of the liquid surface).
12. Which layer of the Earth is responsible for generating Earth's magnetic field?
- A) Crust
- B) Outer core
- C) Mantle
- D) Inner core
SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS — 200 Practice
Questions with Verified Answers & Rationales
Exam: CSET Multiple Subjects Subtest II (Test Code 214)
Administered By: California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) via Pearson/NES
Exam Format: 52 multiple-choice questions + 4 constructed-response questions
Time Allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
Content Areas:
- Science (50%) – Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Earth and Space Sciences
- Mathematics (50%) – Number Sense, Algebra and Functions, Measurement and Geometry,
Statistics and Data Analysis
Passing Score: 220 (scaled score)
SECTION 1: SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY & PHYSICAL SCIENCES (Questions 1–50)
1. A student designs an experiment to test the effect of light on plant growth. She places three
plants in different light conditions (full sun, partial shade, and darkness) and measures their
height over 4 weeks. What is the independent variable in this experiment?
- A) Plant height
- B) Light condition
- C) Type of plant
- D) Water amount
Answer: B
Rationale: The independent variable is the variable that is intentionally changed or manipulated
by the experimenter. In this experiment, the light condition (full sun, partial shade, darkness) is
what the student changes. Plant height is the dependent variable.
2. In the same plant experiment described above, what is the dependent variable?
- A) Light condition
,- B) Plant growth (height)
- C) Soil type
- D) Temperature
Answer: B
Rationale: The dependent variable is the variable that is measured or observed in response to
changes in the independent variable. Plant growth (height) is what is being measured.
3. A student wants to test whether adding fertilizer helps plants grow taller. She uses the same
type of soil, same amount of water, and same type of plant for all groups. She adds fertilizer to
one group but not the other. What is the control group in this experiment?
- A) The group with fertilizer
- B) The group without fertilizer
- C) The soil type
- D) The plant species
Answer: B
Rationale: The control group is the group that does not receive the treatment or independent
variable. It provides a baseline for comparison. The group without fertilizer is the control group.
4. Which of the following steps in making a cup of coffee involves a chemical change in matter?
- A) Whole-bean coffee is ground in a coffee grinder
- B) A burner on a propane stove is lighted to heat water
- C) Water in a kettle begins to boil
- D) Boiling water is poured through a filter containing ground coffee
Answer: B
Rationale: Lighting a propane burner involves combustion, which is a chemical change (propane
+ oxygen → carbon dioxide + water). Grinding coffee beans, boiling water, and filtering are all
physical changes—the substances themselves do not change chemically.
5. Which of the following is the best example of the refraction of light waves?
- A) Markings on flowers that are invisible in normal light can be seen in ultraviolet light
- B) Deep lakes appear to be blue or green in color
- C) Sunlight striking a black box will make the box warmer than the same light striking a white
box
- D) Light passing through raindrops produces a rainbow
,Answer: D
Rationale: Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another. Rainbows
are produced when sunlight is refracted (and dispersed) by water droplets in the atmosphere.
The other options describe fluorescence, absorption/reflection of light, and the greenhouse
effect.
6. A large round boulder is pushed from the top of a smooth steep hill and rolls to the bottom.
Which graph best represents the distance the boulder travels with respect to time?
- A) A straight line with a constant positive slope
- B) A curved line that gets steeper (increasing slope) over time
- C) A curved line that gets flatter (decreasing slope) over time
- D) A horizontal line
Answer: B
Rationale: As the boulder rolls down a smooth steep hill, it accelerates due to gravity. The
distance traveled increases at an increasing rate over time (quadratic relationship: d = ½at²),
which is represented by a curve with a positive, increasing slope.
7. Which of the following liquids is the most acidic and will have the lowest pH?
- A) Lemon juice (pH ≈ 2)
- B) Vinegar (pH ≈ 3)
- C) Coffee (pH ≈ 5)
- D) Pure water (pH ≈ 7)
Answer: A
Rationale: The pH scale measures acidity; lower pH values indicate greater acidity. Lemon juice
has the lowest pH among the options listed.
8. Which of the following is a physical property of matter?
- A) Flammability
- B) Reactivity with acid
- C) Density
- D) Ability to rust
Answer: C
Rationale: Density is a physical property that can be observed or measured without changing
the composition of the substance. Flammability, reactivity, and rusting are chemical properties.
, 9. What is the basic unit of matter?
- A) Cell
- B) Atom
- C) Molecule
- D) Electron
Answer: B
Rationale: The atom is the basic unit of matter, consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
10. Which subatomic particle determines the atomic number of an element?
- A) Electron
- B) Proton
- C) Neutron
- D) Nucleus
Answer: B
Rationale: The atomic number of an element is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus of
an atom. This number uniquely identifies the element.
11. A student is measuring the volume of a liquid using a graduated cylinder. She records the
volume as 25 mL. Which of the following should she do to ensure accuracy?
- A) Read the volume at eye level using the bottom of the meniscus
- B) Read the volume from above the cylinder
- C) Read the volume from below the cylinder
- D) Estimate the volume without looking
Answer: A
Rationale: To accurately read the volume in a graduated cylinder, the observer should read at
eye level at the bottom of the meniscus (the curve of the liquid surface).
12. Which layer of the Earth is responsible for generating Earth's magnetic field?
- A) Crust
- B) Outer core
- C) Mantle
- D) Inner core
