The Criteria Basic Skills Test (CBST) is a pre-employment basic-skills assessment published by Criteria. According to Criteria’s current public product page, the CBST is a 40-item, 20-minute test that measures basic grammar, spelling, math, and language skills. Criteria describes it as a quick way to assess job readiness and trainability for a range of entry-level roles such as clerical, administrative, and customer service positions. This page sits under the Skills Assessment Tests hub.
CBST results are typically reported as a raw score (number correct out of 40) and a percentile ranking relative to a norm group. Employers decide how those results are used. There is no single public universal pass mark for every role.
Do not confuse CBST with the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST). CBEST is a California educational examination with a different provider and purpose. Also do not confuse CBST with the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT), which is a broader cognitive aptitude assessment.
No dedicated current JobTestPrep CBST destination was verified for this article. The former /criteria-cbst JobTestPrep path redirects to CCAT preparation, which is a different assessment. This page therefore remains affiliate-free. Preparation guidance below focuses on official Criteria resources and the original practice set on this page.
The 45 questions on this page are original basic-skills exercises. They are not official Criteria, CBST, employer, AptitudeTests.org, or JobTestPrep questions and do not reproduce a proprietary item, item bank, platform, score report, norm table, answer key, or live assessment form.
Read Criteria’s official Criteria Basic Skills Test (CBST) product page
Key Takeaways
- CBST, CBEST, and CCAT are different assessments.
- Current Criteria materials describe CBST as 40 items in 20 minutes.
- Scores are typically raw score and percentile; employers set benchmarks.
- There is no verified exact-match commercial CBST PrepPack destination for this page.
- Generic “basic skills” bundles that mix Wonderlic or CCAT are not exact CBST preparation.
What Is the Criteria Basic Skills Test?
The CBST measures foundational verbal and math skills that Criteria links to success in many entry-level jobs. It is a skills assessment, not a full intelligence test, not a clinical evaluation, and not a school qualification or professional certification.
CBST Quick Facts
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official name | Criteria Basic Skills Test |
| Abbreviation | CBST |
| Provider | Criteria |
| Assessment category | Skills |
| Item count | 40 |
| Time limit | 20 minutes |
| Approximate average pace | About 30 seconds per item if time is split evenly |
| Content areas | Basic grammar, spelling, math, language skills |
| Delivery | Online through Criteria assessment delivery; employer invitation controls |
| Languages currently listed | English (US), English (UK), Spanish (Latin American) |
| Raw score | Number correct out of 40 |
| Percentile | Standing versus the reported norm group |
| Universal passing score | Not publicly set for every employer |
| Result recipient | Typically the employer; candidate release is not guaranteed |
| Calculator policy | Not publicly confirmed as one universal rule; follow live instructions |
| Revisit / skip policy | Not publicly confirmed as one universal UI rule; follow live instructions |
| Proctoring | Employer and delivery settings control monitoring |
What Does CBST Stand For?
CBST stands for Criteria Basic Skills Test.
Is CBST the Same as CBEST?
No. CBST is Criteria’s employment basic-skills assessment. CBEST usually refers to the California Basic Educational Skills Test, an educational examination used in California contexts. Different providers, purposes, and formats mean the acronyms are not interchangeable.
How Many Questions Are on CBST?
The standard CBST has 40 questions according to Criteria’s public materials.
How Long Is CBST?
The standard CBST lasts 20 minutes.
How Much Time Is Available per Question?
Dividing 20 minutes by 40 items yields about 30 seconds per question on average. Criteria does not publicly describe that figure as an individual per-item timer.
What Does CBST Measure?
Criteria currently describes CBST as measuring basic math and verbal skills required for a wide variety of entry-level jobs, including basic grammar, spelling, math, and language skills. Criteria also frames CBST as a way to assess job readiness and trainability.
Criteria’s CBST Score Report Guide describes verbal content covering spelling, punctuation, grammar, attention to detail, vocabulary, and reading comprehension, and math content covering basic quantitative skills including arithmetic and numerical problem solving.
What Types of Questions Are on CBST?
Expect foundational workplace-skills items rather than advanced academic exams: practical arithmetic, grammar and usage, spelling, vocabulary and sentence meaning, and accuracy-oriented language work.
Criteria’s public product page includes a sample sentence-completion grammar item. Live forms may differ. The practice set below uses an educational four-option format and does not reproduce official sample wording.
CBST Basic Mathematics
Keep mathematics at a foundational workplace level: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, fractions, percentages, ratios, rates, and short word problems.
CBST Grammar and Usage
Expect subject-verb agreement, verb tense, pronouns, articles, prepositions, sentence completion, punctuation, and sentence correctness tasks.
CBST Spelling
Expect identifying correctly spelled words and avoiding common workplace misspellings.
CBST Language and Vocabulary
Expect word meaning in context, choosing the correct word form, and related short language-usage tasks. This is not an advanced literary vocabulary exam.
Does CBST Measure Attention to Detail?
Criteria’s Score Report Guide lists attention to detail among verbal abilities reflected in CBST verbal scoring. Attention to detail also appears practically through spelling, punctuation, grammar, and comparison accuracy. Criteria’s product page does not describe a separate stand-alone attention module with its own timer.
Is CBST Online?
Criteria delivers CBST through its online assessment systems. Candidate FAQs indicate many assessments can be completed with a stable internet connection and a modern browser. Follow the invitation and on-screen instructions for device restrictions.
Is CBST Proctored?
Proctoring and monitoring settings are controlled by the employer and delivery configuration. Criteria does not publish one public universal CBST proctoring rule for every invitation.
Can You Skip Questions?
Criteria candidate materials emphasize reading instructions carefully and note that if there is no penalty for wrong answers, guessing and moving on can be a strategy. Exact skip controls for CBST are not published as one universal public rule.
Can You Return to Previous Questions?
Criteria does not publicly state one universal revisit rule for every CBST delivery. Follow the on-screen interface.
Are Wrong Answers Penalized?
Treat wrong-answer treatment as instruction-dependent. Follow the live assessment instructions.
Can You Use a Calculator?
Criteria does not publish one public CBST-specific calculator rule on the product page reviewed for this guide. Do not assume a calculator is allowed.
Can You Use Scratch Paper?
Scratch-paper rules can depend on administration settings. Confirm in your invitation and live instructions.
What Languages Is CBST Available In?
Criteria’s public product page currently lists English (US) as default, English (UK), and Spanish (Latin American). The employer or administrator controls which version you receive.
How Is CBST Scored?
Criteria reports a raw score (correct answers out of 40) and a percentile ranking versus a norm group. Criteria’s Score Report Guide also describes separate verbal and math detail and notes that employer job associations can display suggested score ranges. Those suggested ranges are employer-configuration tools, not a single public universal pass mark.
Is Percentile the Same as Percentage Correct?
No. Percentage correct is raw score divided by 40. Percentile is comparative standing in a norm group.
What Is a Good CBST Score?
It depends on the employer and role. Criteria does not establish one public universal good score for every job.
What Is the Average CBST Score?
Criteria’s public product page reports a standardization sample of 1,064 working adults with a mean raw score of 30.9, a median of 33, and a standard deviation of 7.53.
What Score Do You Need to Pass CBST?
There is no universal public CBST passing score for all employers. Criteria’s product page describes a research example in which research associates with raw scores less than 28 were labeled as failing CBST scores within that study. That figure is study-specific, not a Criteria-wide rule for every job.
Will You Receive Your CBST Result?
Criteria candidate FAQs state that results are emailed to the company and that Criteria Support does not provide candidacy status in that FAQ framing. Employers control whether and when candidates see scores.
Can You Retake CBST?
Employers control retest policy. Criteria FAQs also note that assessments completed for one company are not automatically reused for another company.
CBST versus CCAT
| Feature | CBST | CCAT |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Criteria | Criteria |
| Focus | Foundational verbal and math skills | Broader cognitive aptitude |
| Current public length | 40 items / 20 minutes | 50 items / 15 minutes |
| Typical use framing | Entry-level job readiness / trainability | Broader problem solving and learning speed |
Scores are not directly convertible. See the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test guide for CCAT details. For Criteria’s language-independent employment aptitude screen (40 items / 20 minutes, no verbal-ability testing), see the Universal Cognitive Aptitude Test guide.
CBST versus California CBEST
CBST is Criteria’s employment assessment. CBEST is commonly the California Basic Educational Skills Test for educational contexts. Do not treat them as the same exam.
CBST versus Clerical Skills Tests
Generic clerical tests may cover filing, coding, typing, office procedures, and data checking across many providers. CBST is one named Criteria product focused on basic math and verbal skills. See the Clerical Skills Test guide for broader clerical practice.
CBST versus Basic Math Tests
CBST includes mathematics, but it is not a math-only assessment. Broader numerical practice can still help: Numerical Reasoning.
CBST versus ACT WorkKeys
ACT WorkKeys is a different provider’s workplace-skills system. There is no direct conversion between WorkKeys scores and CBST scores. See ACT WorkKeys Test.
45 Original CBST-Style Practice Questions
The Criteria Basic Skills Test is a proprietary assessment. The questions below use an original static four-option format to practise related foundational skills. They do not reproduce an official CBST question, item bank, platform, score report, norm group, employer benchmark, or live assessment form. Live CBST items may use a different number of answer options. This article is not an official simulation, and its practice timings are unofficial.
Section 1: Basic Mathematics Practice
1. A stockroom clerk counts 126 boxes in aisle A and 89 boxes in aisle B. How many boxes are there in total?
- A) 205
- B) 215
- C) 225
- D) 235
Correct answer: B
Explanation: 126 + 89 = 215.
2. A shipment contains 8 cartons. Each carton holds 24 notebooks. How many notebooks are in the shipment?
- A) 168
- B) 176
- C) 184
- D) 192
Correct answer: D
Explanation: 8 x 24 = 192.
3. What is 3.75 + 2.4?
- A) 6.15
- B) 6.05
- C) 5.15
- D) 6.25
Correct answer: A
Explanation: 3.75 + 2.40 = 6.15.
4. What is 9.6 - 4.85?
- A) 4.65
- B) 5.25
- C) 4.75
- D) 5.15
Correct answer: C
Explanation: 9.60 - 4.85 = 4.75.
5. What is 3/4 + 1/8?
- A) 4/8
- B) 7/8
- C) 5/8
- D) 1
Correct answer: B
Explanation: 3/4 = 6/8. 6/8 + 1/8 = 7/8.
6. What is 2/5 of 45?
- A) 18
- B) 20
- C) 15
- D) 22
Correct answer: A
Explanation: 2/5 x 45 = 18.
7. A printer prints 40 pages. 15% are blank. How many pages are not blank?
- A) 26
- B) 32
- C) 34
- D) 36
Correct answer: C
Explanation: 15% of 40 = 6. 40 - 6 = 34.
8. A jacket costs $80. During a sale, the price is reduced by 25%. What is the sale price?
- A) $55
- B) $60
- C) $65
- D) $70
Correct answer: B
Explanation: 25% of $80 = $20. $80 - $20 = $60.
9. The ratio of red pens to blue pens is 2:5. If there are 35 blue pens, how many red pens are there?
- A) 14
- B) 15
- C) 16
- D) 21
Correct answer: A
Explanation: One part = 35 / 5 = 7. Red pens = 2 x 7 = 14.
10. A clerk packs 90 packages in 3 hours at a steady pace. How many packages does the clerk pack per hour?
- A) 25
- B) 28
- C) 35
- D) 30
Correct answer: D
Explanation: 90 / 3 = 30 packages per hour.
11. A cafe sells muffins for $2.50 each. A customer buys 3 muffins and pays with a $10 bill. How much change should the customer receive?
- A) $1.50
- B) $2.00
- C) $2.50
- D) $3.50
Correct answer: C
Explanation: 3 x $2.50 = $7.50. $10.00 - $7.50 = $2.50.
12. An office order costs $45.00 before tax. Tax is 8%. What is the total cost including tax?
- A) $48.00
- B) $48.60
- C) $49.00
- D) $48.30
Correct answer: B
Explanation: 8% of 45 = 3.60. 45 + 3.60 = 48.60.
Section 2: Grammar and Sentence Usage Practice
13. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
- A) The list of appointments are on the desk.
- B) The list of appointments were misplaced.
- C) The list of appointments have changed.
- D) The list of appointments is on the desk.
Correct answer: D
Explanation: The subject is “list” (singular), so the verb is “is”.
14. Select the correct verb form: The team _____ the schedule yesterday.
- A) updated
- B) update
- C) updating
- D) updates
Correct answer: A
Explanation: “Yesterday” requires past tense: updated.
15. Which sentence uses the correct pronoun?
- A) Please give the files to myself.
- B) The manager and me reviewed the notes.
- C) Between you and me, the report needs one correction.
- D) Her and I completed the inventory.
Correct answer: C
Explanation: After a preposition, use object pronouns: “between you and me”.
16. Choose the sentence that uses the article correctly.
- A) She reserved a hour for training.
- B) She reserved an hour for training.
- C) She reserved a honest review.
- D) She reserved an university badge.
Correct answer: B
Explanation: “Hour” begins with a vowel sound, so use “an”.
17. Choose the sentence with the correct preposition.
- A) The meeting is scheduled on 3:00 p.m.
- B) The file is stored at the folder.
- C) Please reply for Friday.
- D) The report is due by Friday.
Correct answer: D
Explanation: “By Friday” correctly marks a deadline.
18. Complete the sentence: The customer asked whether the store _____ open on Sunday.
- A) was
- B) were
- C) be
- D) are
Correct answer: A
Explanation: With past reporting verb “asked” and singular “store”, use “was”.
19. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- A) Please bring pens, paper and a notebook?
- B) Please bring pens paper, and a notebook.
- C) Please bring pens, paper, and a notebook.
- D) Please bring: pens paper and a notebook.
Correct answer: C
Explanation: Comma series punctuation; the sentence is a request, not a question.
20. Select the complete sentence.
- A) Walking to the warehouse after lunch.
- B) The clerk labeled every package.
- C) Because the shipment arrived late.
- D) When the printer stopped working mid-report.
Correct answer: B
Explanation: Only this option has a subject and a complete predicate.
21. Choose the correct verb tense: Right now, she _____ the customer emails.
- A) sort
- B) sorted
- C) have sorted
- D) is sorting
Correct answer: D
Explanation: “Right now” calls for present continuous: is sorting.
22. Which sentence has correct subject-verb agreement?
- A) Each of the invoices needs a stamp.
- B) Each of the invoices need a stamp.
- C) Each of the invoices are ready.
- D) Each of the invoices were filed.
Correct answer: A
Explanation: “Each” is singular, so the verb is “needs”.
Section 3: Spelling and Vocabulary Practice
23. Which word is spelled correctly?
- A) recomend
- B) reccomend
- C) recommend
- D) recommmend
Correct answer: C
Explanation: “Recommend” is the standard spelling.
24. Which word is spelled correctly?
- A) seperate
- B) separate
- C) seperete
- D) separete
Correct answer: B
Explanation: “Separate” is the standard spelling.
25. Which word is spelled correctly?
- A) occassion
- B) ocasion
- C) ocassion
- D) occasion
Correct answer: D
Explanation: “Occasion” is the standard spelling.
26. In the sentence “Please _____ the damaged item and send a replacement,” which word fits best?
- A) accept
- B) except
- C) excerpt
- D) expect
Correct answer: A
Explanation: “Accept” means to take or receive.
27. Which word means nearly the same as “assist”?
- A) delay
- B) ignore
- C) help
- D) replace
Correct answer: C
Explanation: “Assist” means to help.
28. Which word is most nearly the opposite of “scarce”?
- A) rare
- B) plentiful
- C) limited
- D) brief
Correct answer: B
Explanation: “Plentiful” is the opposite of scarce.
29. Choose the correct word: The clerk will _____ the packages before shipping.
- A) ensure
- B) insure
- C) assure
- D) ensuree
Correct answer: A
Explanation: “Ensure” means to make certain.
30. In context, “The manager asked for a concise summary” means the summary should be:
- A) long and detailed
- B) humorous
- C) handwritten only
- D) short and clear
Correct answer: D
Explanation: “Concise” means brief and clear.
Section 4: Language and Checking Accuracy Practice
31. Choose the correct word form: The team submitted a clear _____.
- A) explanation
- B) explain
- C) explaining
- D) explanatorys
Correct answer: A
Explanation: A noun is required: explanation.
32. Choose the correct word form: Please work as _____ as you can.
- A) careful
- B) carefulness
- C) carefully
- D) caring
Correct answer: C
Explanation: An adverb modifies “work”: carefully.
33. Which record does not match the others?
- 17 Maple Court
- 17 Maple Court
- 17 Maple Court
- 17 Maple Ct.
- A) Record 1
- B) Record 2
- C) Record 3
- D) Record 4
Correct answer: D
Explanation: Records 1-3 use “Court”. Record 4 uses “Ct.”.
34. Which line differs from the source name “Jordan P. Nguyen”?
- A) Jordan P. Nguyen
- B) Jordan P. Ngyuen
- C) Jordon P. Nguyen
- D) Jordan P. Ngugen
Correct answer: B
Explanation: “Ngyuen” reverses letters versus “Nguyen”.
35. Which capitalization is correct for a standard formal mail line?
- A) Send to: 12 Oak Street
- B) send to: 12 oak street
- C) Send To: 12 oak Street
- D) SEND to: 12 Oak street
Correct answer: A
Explanation: Proper nouns capitalized with normal sentence capitalization.
36. Which pair of lines is identical?
- A) Order #1582 / Order #1583
- B) SKU 77B / SKU 77D
- C) PO-4419 / PO-4419
- D) Box 12 / Box 21
Correct answer: C
Explanation: Only PO-4419 matches exactly on both sides.
37. Instruction: “If a parcel weighs more than 5 kg, attach a heavy-item tag before scanning.” A parcel weighs 5 kg. What should you do based only on this instruction?
- A) Attach a heavy-item tag before scanning.
- B) Refuse the parcel.
- C) Double the postage automatically.
- D) Do not attach a heavy-item tag based on this rule alone.
Correct answer: D
Explanation: The rule applies only when weight is more than 5 kg.
38. In these rows for Blue Binder, which value is inconsistent?
1 Color Blue 2 Color Blue 3 Color Blu 4 Color Blue
- A) Row 1 Color
- B) Row 3 Color
- C) Row 2 Color
- D) Row 4 Color
Correct answer: B
Explanation: Row 3 shows “Blu” instead of “Blue”.
Section 5: CBST Format and Scoring Literacy
39. Who publishes the Criteria Basic Skills Test (CBST)?
- A) Criteria
- B) ACT
- C) Pearson
- D) Wonderlic
Correct answer: A
Explanation: Criteria publishes the CBST.
40. How many items are on the standard CBST according to Criteria’s public product page?
- A) 20
- B) 30
- C) 40
- D) 50
Correct answer: C
Explanation: Criteria describes the CBST as a 40-item test.
41. What is the standard total time limit for the CBST?
- A) 10 minutes
- B) 15 minutes
- C) 40 minutes
- D) 20 minutes
Correct answer: D
Explanation: Criteria describes a 20-minute time limit.
42. On CBST score reports described by Criteria, a raw score means:
- A) the number of questions answered correctly out of 40
- B) percentage correct automatically converted to a letter grade
- C) an IQ score
- D) the employer’s hiring decision
Correct answer: A
Explanation: Criteria defines raw score as the number of questions answered correctly out of 40.
43. A percentile ranking of 45 on CBST means the candidate:
- A) answered 45% of items correctly
- B) scored better than 45% of the norm group
- C) must be hired
- D) failed automatically
Correct answer: B
Explanation: Percentile is relative standing versus the norm group.
44. Which statement correctly distinguishes CBST from CCAT?
- A) CBST and CCAT are the same timed test with different names.
- B) CBST is California’s teacher exam; CCAT is Criteria’s skills test.
- C) CBST measures foundational math and verbal skills; CCAT is a broader cognitive aptitude test.
- D) CCAT always has 40 items in 20 minutes.
Correct answer: C
Explanation: Criteria positions CBST as basic skills and CCAT as cognitive aptitude.
45. Which statement correctly distinguishes Criteria CBST from California CBEST?
- A) They are identical exams with shared scores.
- B) CBEST is Criteria’s English UK form of CBST.
- C) Both are administered only by Criteria.
- D) CBST is a Criteria employment skills assessment; CBEST is a California educational examination.
Correct answer: D
Explanation: Similar acronyms, different provider and purpose.
Practice Answer Key
- B
- D
- A
- C
- B
- A
- C
- B
- A
- D
- C
- B
- D
- A
- C
- B
- D
- A
- C
- B
- D
- A
- C
- B
- D
- A
- C
- B
- A
- D
- A
- C
- D
- B
- A
- C
- D
- B
- A
- C
- D
- A
- B
- C
- D
Educational Practice Scoring
- 41-45 correct: Strong foundational-skills baseline
- 35-40 correct: Good preparation level
- 27-34 correct: Moderate readiness
- 18-26 correct: Needs focused review
- 17 or fewer correct: Review the fundamentals
These ranges apply only to the unofficial questions on this page. They are not a Criteria raw score, CBST percentile, employer cutoff, pass result, interview decision, training decision, promotion decision, or employment prediction.
Unofficial Timing Practice
Complete the questions untimed first. Then optionally use these unofficial drills. They do not reproduce the live 40-question, 20-minute CBST.
- 12 Basic Mathematics questions in 8 minutes;
- 10 Grammar questions in 7 minutes;
- 8 Spelling and Vocabulary questions in 5 minutes;
- 8 Language and Checking questions in 5 minutes;
- 7 CBST literacy questions in 4 minutes;
- all 45 questions in 29 minutes.
How to Prepare for CBST
- Confirm that the invitation names Criteria Basic Skills Test or CBST.
- Confirm that Criteria is the provider.
- Do not confuse CBST with California CBEST.
- Confirm the deadline.
- Confirm the platform.
- Confirm browser and device requirements.
- Confirm proctoring requirements.
- Confirm identification requirements.
- Confirm calculator rules.
- Confirm scratch-paper rules.
- Confirm accommodation procedures early.
- Review basic arithmetic.
- Review decimals, fractions, percentages, and ratios.
- Review subject-verb agreement.
- Review verb tense and pronoun usage.
- Review common spelling patterns.
- Practise vocabulary in context.
- Practise record comparison and checking accuracy.
- Build accuracy before speed.
- Review every incorrect answer.
- Complete short timed drills.
- Use official Criteria resources for live-test rules.
- Do not memorize recalled questions.
- Do not use AI or another person during the live assessment.
- Follow all employer and Criteria instructions.
Common Mistakes
- confusing CBST with California CBEST;
- confusing CBST with CCAT;
- treating CBST as a mathematics-only test;
- treating CBST as a literacy-only test;
- assuming every candidate receives identical questions;
- assuming every item has an individual timer;
- assuming a calculator is allowed;
- assuming scratch paper is provided;
- assuming candidates can return to previous items;
- assuming wrong answers are negatively marked;
- confusing raw score with percentile;
- interpreting the 70th percentile as 70% correct;
- treating one research-study cutoff (such as a raw score below 28 in a Criteria study example) as universal;
- using an old third-party passing-score table;
- overlooking decimal placement;
- mixing fractions and percentages;
- ignoring subject-verb agreement;
- selecting a correctly spelled word that does not fit the sentence;
- missing capitalization or punctuation differences;
- spending too long on one question;
- sacrificing all accuracy for speed;
- treating third-party preparation as official;
- using leaked or recalled questions;
- using AI during the live assessment;
- treating a practice score as a hiring prediction.
Free versus Paid Preparation
Free preparation can include Criteria’s public product information, candidate FAQs, and the original practice set on this page.
Paid third-party packages should be used only when they clearly name CBST coverage. Do not buy a CCAT pack as if it were CBST preparation. This page does not include an affiliate CTA because no defensible exact CBST commercial destination was verified.
Official Criteria CBST Resources
Criteria controls the official CBST specification. The employer controls assignment, benchmarks, and result release. Official Criteria URLs do not contain affiliate fragments.
- Criteria CBST product page
- Criteria CBST Score Report Guide (PDF)
- Candidate Resource Hub
- How to Prepare
- Candidate FAQs
- About the Assessments
- Criteria practice tests
FAQ
What does CBST stand for?
Criteria Basic Skills Test.
Who publishes CBST?
Criteria.
Is CBST the same as CBEST?
No. CBST is a Criteria employment assessment. CBEST commonly refers to the California Basic Educational Skills Test.
Is CBST the same as CCAT?
No. CBST focuses on foundational skills. CCAT is a broader cognitive aptitude test.
How many questions are on CBST?
Forty questions on the standard CBST.
How long is CBST?
Twenty minutes.
How much time is available per question?
About 30 seconds on average if time is divided evenly. That is not confirmation of individual item timers.
What does CBST measure?
Basic math, grammar, spelling, language, and related foundational workplace skills tied to job readiness and trainability in Criteria’s public framing.
Is CBST a math test?
It includes mathematics but is not math-only.
Is CBST a literacy test?
It includes language skills but is not language-only.
Is CBST online?
Yes, Criteria delivers it through online assessment systems. Follow your invitation.
Is CBST proctored?
Monitoring settings vary. Follow the live instructions.
Can you skip questions?
Follow the live interface. Criteria general guidance notes guessing may be appropriate when wrong answers are not penalized.
Can you go back to previous questions?
Not confirmed as one universal public rule. Follow the live interface.
Are wrong answers penalized?
Follow live instructions.
Can you use a calculator?
Confirm in the live instructions. Do not assume a calculator is allowed.
Can you use scratch paper?
Confirm in the live instructions.
What languages is CBST available in?
English (US), English (UK), and Spanish (Latin American) on the current public product page.
How is CBST scored?
Raw score out of 40 and percentile ranking. Reports may also show verbal and math detail.
Is percentile the same as percentage correct?
No.
What is a good CBST score?
It depends on the employer and role.
What is the passing score for CBST?
There is no universal public passing score for all employers.
Is 28 the universal CBST passing score?
No. A Criteria study example discussed raw scores less than 28 in one research context. That is not a global hiring rule.
Will candidates receive their score?
Often results go to the employer. Candidate release is not guaranteed.
Can candidates retake CBST?
The employer controls retest policy.
Are the questions on this page official?
No.
Does preparation guarantee a job?
No.