Hello all. I am planning on taking the CSET ART in the New Year (not sure what month yet) and I'm wondering if anyone out there has taken this exam? If so, I'd love to hear from you on what you thought were the most challenging parts. Also, any particular texts you found helpful in studying would also be appreciated. Feel free to also send me a PM. Good luck to everyone on your exams.
CSET Art Study manual I am trying to locate materials to use for study guides for January 20th CSET Art Exam. I have a BA in Studio Art from UCDavis, however, I do not feel prepared to take the exam without an idea of what is expected. I need HELP.
Have you downloaded the Test Guides and portfolio submission information from the CSET Web site, http://www.cset.nesinc.com?
hello! I took it and have some ideas about it, I was told to not bring up any topics about it as much as I am tempted to because basically there were some pictures and concepts that I would love to mention that are not just YES OR NO responses that are worth talking about. Anyhow...the portfolio pictures you are supposed to answer an essay about. I got 193 on both subtests, and missed ALL The portfolio questions. You will really need to look at OLD sculptures, stuff from ancient times for example and know what they mean! This is what stumps me. If you want to email me so we can talk about ART and what "may" be on the test, I dont mind forming a study group with you, we can do that and it is not illegal to study the content of the CSET and what it may cover. My email address is aqwaryus at yahoo. com All the best! Helen
Wait, wait, wait. Nobody said not to bring up topics that the test might mention. What we're not to do is to bring up particular test questions. Having said which... If you've got a Borders bookstore within striking distance, see if there are any copies of David Piper's The Illustrated History of Art (2004, ISBN 0-7537-0908-2) on the bargain shelves. The reproductions in this book are rather small, but it's the only bargain-book art history I've seen that has anything to say about non-Western art, and it would make a fine classroom resource.
Helen and TG, thanks so much! Yay for arts education! Helen: I just sent you an e-mail. TG: That book sounds great, I may go and check it out today! Peace.
Schaum's guide for Art History. The Art Teacher's Book of lists. The CSET General EXAMination Information for art also lists resources you can check out at your local college or public library. Terry G.
ART I'm also planning on taking the cset for art in 07. I have heard that it is a very hard test and i am confused as to what topics i should consider focusing on. There is so much in art history that i dont think i can cram all of it in there. Has annyone passed this test? If you have passed it, would you consider sharing some of the topics the test might deal with or some of the ways in which we should approach the test to increase our pass rate. Has anyone used one of those online packets to aid you in the test or did you guys just check out books from the library. Thank you Vic
CSET exams are aligned to the Content Standards document for the subject area that's available to download from the Web site of the California Department of Education. In your case that would be the Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards for California Public Schools, Pre-Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve. This is the official overview of what California public school students are supposed to know in visual and performing arts and when they are supposed to know it. You can buy a printed copy, or download the pdf for free from http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/pn/fd/. The content specifications for each of the subtests, and the Subject Matter Requirements/Content Specifications document, are summaries of this material. Use the online official materials as a guide to what the test will look and feel like. As far as the art history, your best resource is likely to be the Internet - nearly all the major art galleries in the world, and a great many of the rest, have Web sites, and most of those have timelines and/or teacher resources. In addition, there are art and art history Web sites all over. The chances are pretty good that at least one of these will take an approach that works for you and that perhaps even helps you achieve a higher comfort level with material that now has you squirming. And that, for a future teacher, is a very, very good thing indeed.
I recall that one of the essays involved a photo of a piece of architecture and you had to write about how the building used form, line, space, texture, all that stuff. Some of the topics were about art history, but more importantly you have to be able to understand or write about art elements and principles. Also, there were a few questions about theories on art education. I had to guess on those because I'd never read about the theorists before. There are a couple of sketches you have to do to show you understand how to show form and value. And yes, you have to write at least one essay on your own work. Choose portfolio pieces that you can say a lot about, and pick two that show your improvement over time as an artist so you can compare the two. I did pass. It was challenging, but if you have a BA in studio art like I do, chances are you know more than you think you do.
Thanks for posting, dawnsbrain. May I be permitted a moment's amusement at the idea that two of the very few CSET exams that actually require the taker to perform in the field as opposed to just talking about it are Art and Math?
Permission accepted TG. I have found this to be quite interesting myself. Art specifically, as it is so fondly called the "frill" topic, which annoys me greatly. I think one of the reasons we see kids struggling so much in school today is the over_emphasis of science and math, and the quick cut-backs in the arts. Sure, these are important subjects, but music, dance, theater, the arts hold their place as well.
Kids certainly need a good grounding in science and math - but it's perfectly possible to integrate science and math into art and music and vice versa, not to mention bringing in social science and literature. Doing so properly would get a whole lot more buy-in and, because it would promote nimbler thinking and awareness of interdisciplinary connections on everyone's part, improve critical thinking - all the skills and knowledge feed on all the other skills and knowledge, ultimately. And as a side effect, test scores would go up.
Unfortunately, this also requires a great many people to buy into the proposition that teachers' knowledge needs to be both broad and deep - and there's more than a little resistance to that: - "I'm only ever going to teach kindergarten. How come I have to know about algebra and Newton's laws and past participles and art history?" - "I'm never gonna teach any grade lower than fourth. How come I have to know about phonics and early perceptuo-motor skills and and manipulatives for early math skills?" - "My kids are in (fill in the elementary grade). How complicated can it be to teach that? This teacher's just a glorified babysitter." - "Given the right program, anyone can teach elementary school." - "Wait a minute: you graduated magna cum laude from one of the state's top private liberal arts schools, and you're going to go teach elementary school?? How come you're wasting your degree?" - "As an administrator, I expect my teachers to train in the research-based programs we're getting to boost test scores. Never mind about content." And so on. It makes me angry as all get out - and accounts for a good number of my posts on A to Z.
Thank you all for the feedback. I have a BA in Art with emphasis in graphic design, I was kind of confused as to what pieces to photograph for the portfolio. I'm going to take your advice and put pieces in there that i can talk in depth about and pieces that show my improvement. I'm going to start reviewing my art through the ages book and start to do some research on key terms in all of the other mediums of art. I'm probably going to sign up for the upcoming test. Once again thank you guys for your knowledge and your help, you guys have given me a big confidence boost. Vic
That's good to hear, VTeach. Stick around, please: as the next CSET test date nears, we can expect some questions about art on the multiple subject test subforum, if nowhere else, and paying this forward will bear dividends for you, too. Bear in mind that all CSET subtests operate on the same scale: 220 is passing on a scale from 100 to 300. Exactly what that 220 means does vary from subtest to subtest - but the take-home point is that you need not "ace" these subtests to pass. That fact alone generally accounts for several points' worth of raised confidence. Oh, and sorry for the semi-hijack of your thread. I'll try to behave...
Yeah.. I will stick around for a long time. To try and help others with similar questions and to answer questions that I have the answers to. 220 sounds like it is a lot but it really is not. 220 is like a 73%, so hopefully I can get a 220 or above. Once again :thanks: for the support. Also anyone who wants to study for the upcomming test, let me know so we can study or if you have any questions let me know and I will try to answer them. Vic
Im taking the art cset on march 17, and have been studying for about a month.(if their is anyone who wants to study let me know) Also if their is anyone that has recently took the test that can give us some feedback as to how they thought the test was in terms of difficulty. And how much they prepared for it.
I am going to be taking the exam on Saturday. I am very worried about the Science section. I have studied so much that I feel overwhelmed. How much chemistry do I need to know? I have been studying plants, cells, gravity, lifecyles of butterfly, frog, do I need to know the lifecycle of the mouse? There is just soooo much!
jcuturrufo, you've posted this in Single Subject Tests, but from your post it would seem that you're talking about CSET-Multiple Subjects. Let me invite you to look in the Multiple Subject Tests subforum, http://forums.atozteacherstuff.com/forumdisplay.php?f=70, for help. As to the life cycle of the mouse... if you've seen one mammal, you've seen 'em all, pretty much.
CSET ART Hell friends My CSET Art scores are going up after the third attempt, now 200 but the pictures are still the same and they dont tell us which ones we get wrong. I think I get the same ones wrong each time.... This is very unfair! How are we supposed reflect on what we are missing or get the correct answers??? Anyhow just wanted to vent since my whole life depends on passing just this test....I haven't found the books useful either. Thanks for listening Helen
Have you looked at the chart of performance indicators on side 2 of the printed score report? Those can give some indication as to what needs work.
I too just received my test scores. The results say i passed one of the subtest(1), but did not pass the whole test (204/220). Does this mean that i have to take both of them again or just the one that i did not satisfy? I also didn't find the books/study guides for the art cset helpful. The only books that i can recommend is gardners art through the ages vol.1&2. Also try to find a book that can give you a really good description of the principles and elements of art...
yes I can see what the results are, but they dont help you because you dont know what you missed, the actual art photos are tricky! Some of them I cant even find anywhere which is why we should get a study group going
Once you've passed a subtest, you don't need to retake it, no. When you retake, you sign up for and pay for just the subtests you need to take, and you'll still have the five hours. The way to get the most mileage out of the online study materials is to use them in conjunction with other resources - such as, yes, a good history of art. The Internet can be very valuable here. Posting questions here, as long as they're not actual test questions, can also be a useful exercise. Think of this as sort of a virtual study group...
I thought i had to take both of them again.. thank you.. that is some really good news. and its good that i have five hours for the other one.. i think that is the main reason that i missed the second part has to do with time (i was running out of time, took me a while to gather my thoughts and figure out how i could write it in an organized manner) I had another question.. the next test is on may 19th, but i graduate on may 19th and it is the last time i can take the test before i begin my credentials program.. is their anyway that i can talk to the cset people about taking the exam earlier or later?
Hm. You might be able to talk them into letting you do the Sunday administration... though I wouldn't count on that. I would also recommend having a private chat with a honcho or honcha in the credential program, to see if there might be some kind of workaround. Is it the case that you're starting your program immediately?
Im not starting the program until september. But their is a strong posibility that i might go to Colombia right after graduation and wont be back until august. But in order for me to do the student teaching i have to pass both parts of the cset. But if i dont leave ill take the test in june or july whichever is next.
Ah. Unfortunately, the deadline for regular registration is now past, and request for special accommodation are due by the regular registration deadline - I think Sunday testing comes under that heading. And I'm not sure that it being your graduation day counts as a reason that Sunday testing would be granted. But you might try asking anyway. I'd go with asking a live person if possible: http://www.cset.nesinc.com/CS_contact_opener.asp. The next test date is July 21.
Study Group for May Testing in Art Hi All, I've already written to Helen about a study group. Anyone else interested in studying for the May Art exam, write back at cheshirecat.maryann@gmail.com. It has been too many years for me since my degree so I know I'm going to need help!
Well. I just tried to include my email for direct contact for a study group but this site removed it. I guess, just write back here if you are interested in a study group in Art for the May exam.
Portfolio help! Can some of you that have done the portfolio part give me some advice as to what things you included and in retrospect, what you would have done differently? Thanks so much for your reply in advance. I'm really nervous about this part.
HI Im new...and nervous Hi everyone! Im new to this site and nervous...im signed up for the May 19th test. I see some of you are trying to start a study group...I am very interested in joining. Ive been studying on my own, but still do not feel prepared. I have a question also for those of you that have taken the test...did you take both subtests the same day? If so did you feel you had ample time? feel free to email me... jennyllynn11 at aol ...Thanks & looking forward to reading more posts from you all! Jen
Artlover74, I seem to recall another thread on CSET Art in which a poster indicated that splitting them up would have been a good idea. That's generally the case for CSET exams: they're designed to be finishable in one go, and there are certainly people who succeed that way, but it makes perfect sense to divvy things up so as to reduce the strain. GlassIsMyGame (what a cool username!), A to Z removes emails for users' protection - the site owner has give us to understand that she hates it when people get spam from a 'bot that was trawling her lagoon, so to speak. When you've made a certain number of posts, you'll be able to PM other users. In the meantime, there's a hint for you at the end of Artlover74's post. And there's always asking more questions here... The sorts of questions that will be asked about your art portfolio are suggested in the Test Guides material. I get the impression that you need to have, as it were, "two heads" about your own art: the artist head, in which you consider the choices you as artist made in media and approach and so on, and the art-critic head, in which you consider how those pieces of art work as pieces of art irrespective of the fact that they happen to be yours.
Thanks for your reply concerning my portfolio. I am a little concerned about my recent media-lampwork, because the head Art Ed advisor at Sac State told me yesterday that glasswork was not considered a legitimate media for a portfolio. but, when I complete the CSET I will be teaching exactly that. She said that it was too bad I did not choose ceramics as my media -go figure? Does anyone know of a person who has submitted glasswork or lampwork?
Artlover74 - Please write to me about studying together for the May 19th. test - cheshirecat.maryann at gmail
