• 51 questions

CSET Practice Test Subtest 3

Unofficial practice for CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III: physical education, human development, and the visual and performing arts.

Which of these is an anaerobic activity?

Pick an answer, then press Check answer. Then you see Correct or Not quite, with the reason. Keys: A to D pick, Enter checks.

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Exam mode: 39 questions, no time limit.

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing or Pearson. Bank checked October 9, 2026.

Constructed-response prompts to print 6 lines, made to print

Subtest III short constructed-response practice

Name ____ Date ____

Write a short answer to each prompt on the lines, as you would for a short constructed-response question. Unofficial practice prompts; none is from the real test.

Physical education

  • A third-grade class is learning the overhand throw. Describe two things a teacher should look for in a mature throw, and one activity that gives every student practice at them.
  • Explain the difference between health-related fitness and skill in a sport, and describe one way a teacher can help a student set a personal fitness goal.

Human development

  • A kindergarten teacher sees children playing side by side without playing together. Using what you know about social development, explain what this shows and one way to support the next step in play.
  • Choose one influence on a child's development, such as family, peers or culture. Explain how it can shape learning in the elementary years, with one example.

Visual and performing arts

  • Choose one element of music, such as rhythm, tempo or dynamics. Explain what it is, and describe a classroom activity in which students show that they understand it.
  • A class will act out a short story. Describe how students could use improvisation and simple materials to create the setting and one character.

Source: Own prompts. The real subtest has 3 short constructed-response questions, 1 in each domain (https://www.ctcexams.nesinc.com/Content/StudyGuide/CA_SG_obj_101.htm); the topics follow the content specifications of Subtest III (https://www.ctcexams.nesinc.com/content/docs/CSET_Prep/CS_225subtestdescription.pdf), both read 2026-10-09. Checked October 9, 2026.

Next step Next: CSET Multiple Subjects Subtest II

All 51 questions

Physical education 17

  • A ball rebounds off a wall in the opposite direction with the force it struck with. Which law do California's physical education standards name for this? California Physical Education Model Content Standards (cde.ca.gov), glossary: rebound principles (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0001 Movement Skills and Movement Knowledge (1.1 Basic Movement Skills).
  • A student holds one push-up position for as long as she can. Which fitness component does that measure? California Physical Education Model Content Standards (cde.ca.gov), glossary: muscle endurance, muscle strength (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0001 Movement Skills and Movement Knowledge (1.2 Exercise Physiology).
  • A student keeps tipping over while balancing. Which change gives the most stability? California Physical Education Model Content Standards (cde.ca.gov), glossary: base of support (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0001 Movement Skills and Movement Knowledge (1.1 Basic Movement Skills).
Show all 51 questions (48 more)

Physical education, continued

  • Before a unit on a team sport, a class plays a small game that uses two of the sport's skills and a few of its rules. What is this called? California Physical Education Model Content Standards (cde.ca.gov), glossary: modified/lead-up game (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0001 Movement Skills and Movement Knowledge (1.3 Movement Forms: Content Areas).
  • Bending, stretching, twisting and swinging while staying in one spot are which kind of movement? California Physical Education Model Content Standards (cde.ca.gov), glossary: nonlocomotor movements (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0001 Movement Skills and Movement Knowledge (1.1 Basic Movement Skills).
  • By the proximodistal principle of motor development, which does a baby control first? Wikipedia, Motor skill (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0002 Self-Image and Personal Development (2.1 Physical Growth and Development).
  • Each week a class adds two minutes to its jogging time. Which principle of training is that? California Physical Education Model Content Standards (cde.ca.gov), glossary: progression, specificity (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0001 Movement Skills and Movement Knowledge (1.2 Exercise Physiology).
  • In the F.I.T.T. principles, what does intensity establish? California Physical Education Model Content Standards (cde.ca.gov), glossary: intensity, frequency, time, type (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0001 Movement Skills and Movement Knowledge (1.2 Exercise Physiology).
  • Moving the arms while walking or running, so the body keeps its balance, is an example of which kind of movement? California Physical Education Model Content Standards (cde.ca.gov), glossary: stability movements (read 2026-10-09). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0001 Movement Skills and Movement Knowledge (1.1 Basic Movement Skills).
  • Setting a personal fitness goal and accepting responsibility for one's own performance fall under which California standard for grades K to 8? California Physical Education Model Content Standards (cde.ca.gov), Standard 5, Self-Responsibility (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0002 Self-Image and Personal Development (2.2 Self-Image).
  • To gain fitness, a runner has to do more than the body is used to. Which principle of training sets a minimum threshold that must be exceeded? California Physical Education Model Content Standards (cde.ca.gov), glossary: overload, specificity (read 2026-10-09). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0001 Movement Skills and Movement Knowledge (1.2 Exercise Physiology).
  • What are warm-up exercises for? California Physical Education Model Content Standards (cde.ca.gov), glossary: warm-up exercises, cool-down exercises (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0001 Movement Skills and Movement Knowledge (1.2 Exercise Physiology).
  • What does body composition compare? California Physical Education Model Content Standards (cde.ca.gov), glossary: body composition (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0002 Self-Image and Personal Development (2.1 Physical Growth and Development).
  • Which of these is a component of health-related physical fitness in the California standards? California Physical Education Model Content Standards (cde.ca.gov), glossary: health-related physical fitness (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0001 Movement Skills and Movement Knowledge (1.2 Exercise Physiology).
  • Which of these is a locomotor movement? California Physical Education Model Content Standards (cde.ca.gov), glossary: locomotor movements (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0001 Movement Skills and Movement Knowledge (1.1 Basic Movement Skills).
  • Which of these is an anaerobic activity? California Physical Education Model Content Standards (cde.ca.gov), glossary: aerobic activity, anaerobic activity (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0001 Movement Skills and Movement Knowledge (1.2 Exercise Physiology).
  • Which sport began with the indigenous people of North America and is described as the continent's oldest organized sport? Wikipedia, Lacrosse (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Physical Education 0003 Social Development (3.2 Cultural and Historical Aspects of Movement Forms).

Human development 17

  • A child says taking a cookie is wrong only because she would be punished. Which of Kohlberg's levels is this? Wikipedia, Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0004 Cognitive Development from Birth Through Adolescence (1.1 Cognitive Development).
  • A fourteen-year-old reasons through a "what if" problem that has no tie to real events. Which of Piaget's stages does this show? Wikipedia, Piaget's theory of cognitive development (read 2026-10-09). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0004 Cognitive Development from Birth Through Adolescence (1.1 Cognitive Development).
  • A nine-month-old pulls a blanket away to find a toy she watched being hidden. What has she developed? Wikipedia, Piaget's theory of cognitive development (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0004 Cognitive Development from Birth Through Adolescence (1.1 Cognitive Development).
  • A parent's new work schedule changes home life, though the child never goes to the workplace. In ecological systems theory, the workplace is part of which system? Wikipedia, Ecological systems theory (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0006 Influences on Development from Birth Through Adolescence (3.1 Influences on Development).
  • A student can solve a problem only with hints from the teacher. In Vygotsky's terms, where does that task sit? Wikipedia, Zone of proximal development (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0004 Cognitive Development from Birth Through Adolescence (1.1 Cognitive Development).
  • A two-year-old says "want cookie" and "mommy shoe". What is speech at this two-word stage called? Wikipedia, Telegraphic speech (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0004 Cognitive Development from Birth Through Adolescence (1.1 Cognitive Development).
  • An infant lifts her head before she sits, and sits before she walks. Which principle of motor development is this? Wikipedia, Motor skill (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0005 Social and Physical Development from Birth Through Adolescence (2.2 Physical Development).
  • In attachment theory, what do securely attached children use their caregivers as? Wikipedia, Attachment theory (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0005 Social and Physical Development from Birth Through Adolescence (2.1 Social Development).
  • In Baumrind's typology of parenting styles, which style did she describe as ideally balancing control and autonomy? Wikipedia, Parenting styles (read 2026-10-09). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0006 Influences on Development from Birth Through Adolescence (3.1 Influences on Development).
  • In Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, the family, school and peers belong to which system? Wikipedia, Ecological systems theory (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0006 Influences on Development from Birth Through Adolescence (3.1 Influences on Development).
  • In Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, which conflict belongs to adolescence? Wikipedia, Erikson's stages of psychosocial development (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0005 Social and Physical Development from Birth Through Adolescence (2.1 Social Development).
  • In Piaget's preoperational stage, what does it mean that thinking is egocentric? Wikipedia, Piaget's theory of cognitive development (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0004 Cognitive Development from Birth Through Adolescence (1.1 Cognitive Development).
  • In the nature versus nurture debate, what does "nurture" stand for? Wikipedia, Nature versus nurture (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0006 Influences on Development from Birth Through Adolescence (3.1 Influences on Development).
  • Juice is poured from a short, wide glass into a tall, thin one. A child who knows the amount is the same shows which concept? Wikipedia, Piaget's theory of cognitive development (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0004 Cognitive Development from Birth Through Adolescence (1.1 Cognitive Development).
  • Thomas and Chess sorted infant temperament into three groups. Which is one of them? Wikipedia, Temperament (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0005 Social and Physical Development from Birth Through Adolescence (2.1 Social Development).
  • Two three-year-olds build with blocks side by side, each on a separate tower, copying but not joining each other. Which stage of play is this? Wikipedia, Parten's stages of play (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0005 Social and Physical Development from Birth Through Adolescence (2.1 Social Development).
  • Which theory holds that intelligence is not one general ability but several distinct ones, such as musical and spatial? Wikipedia, Theory of multiple intelligences (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Human Development 0004 Cognitive Development from Birth Through Adolescence (1.1 Cognitive Development).

Visual and performing arts 17

  • A brief sequence of related movements with a sense of continuity and completion is called what? California Arts Standards for Public Schools (cde.ca.gov), Dance glossary: dance phrase, dance structures (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0007 Dance (1.1 Movement).
  • A class turns a cardboard tube into a telescope for a pirate scene. In the theatre standards, what is the tube? California Arts Standards for Public Schools (cde.ca.gov), Theatre glossary: non-representational materials (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0009 Theatre (3.2 Improvisation and Design).
  • A dancer senses where her limbs are and how they are moving without looking. Which technical dance skill is this? California Arts Standards for Public Schools (cde.ca.gov), Dance glossary: kinesthetic awareness (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0007 Dance (1.2 Technical Skills).
  • A scene is set at night, in a storm, with the characters lost in a forest. What does the theatre glossary call these conditions? California Arts Standards for Public Schools (cde.ca.gov), Theatre glossary: given circumstances, motivation, objective (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0009 Theatre (3.1 Creating a Story).
  • A song has a verse, then a contrasting chorus, then the verse again. Which element of music describes this ABA plan? California Arts Standards for Public Schools (cde.ca.gov), Music glossary: form, tonality (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0008 Music (2.1 Elements of Music).
  • By the California Arts Standards glossary, the elements of dance are movement of the body using what? California Arts Standards for Public Schools (cde.ca.gov), Dance glossary: elements of dance (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0007 Dance (1.1 Movement).
  • By the theatre glossary, what separates spontaneous improvisation from prepared improvisation? California Arts Standards for Public Schools (cde.ca.gov), Theatre glossary: improvise (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0009 Theatre (3.2 Improvisation and Design).
  • Collecting, sorting and organizing artworks and artifacts for an exhibit is called what in the visual arts standards? California Arts Standards for Public Schools (cde.ca.gov), Visual Arts glossary: curate, curator (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0010 Visual Art (4.2 Connections and Value).
  • In dance, which word names the qualities of movement such as sustained, quick, light or strong? California Arts Standards for Public Schools (cde.ca.gov), Dance glossary: dynamics (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0007 Dance (1.1 Movement).
  • In traditional color theory, as taught with paints, which three are the primary colors? Wikipedia, Primary color (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0010 Visual Art (4.1 Tools, Materials, and Techniques).
  • Music whose beats are grouped in sets of three is in what meter? California Arts Standards for Public Schools (cde.ca.gov), Music glossary: meter (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0008 Music (2.1 Elements of Music).
  • On the traditional red, yellow and blue color wheel, which color is the complement of blue? Wikipedia, Complementary colors (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0010 Visual Art (4.1 Tools, Materials, and Techniques).
  • What lets a listener tell a flute from a violin when both play the same note at the same loudness? California Arts Standards for Public Schools (cde.ca.gov), Music glossary: timbre, dynamics, tempo (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0008 Music (2.1 Elements of Music).
  • Which element of art describes the surface quality of a work, whether felt by touch or only seen? Wikipedia, Elements of art (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0010 Visual Art (4.1 Tools, Materials, and Techniques).
  • Which element of music is the chordal structure made when pitches sound at the same time? California Arts Standards for Public Schools (cde.ca.gov), Music glossary: harmony, melody (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0008 Music (2.1 Elements of Music).
  • Which list holds only technical theatre elements, as the California Arts Standards use the term? California Arts Standards for Public Schools (cde.ca.gov), Theatre glossary: technical theatre elements (read 2026-10-08). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0009 Theatre (3.1 Creating a Story).
  • Which property of a color is the lightness or darkness of its hue? Wikipedia, Elements of art (read 2026-10-09). Outline: CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III content specifications, Visual and Performing Arts 0010 Visual Art (4.1 Tools, Materials, and Techniques).

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the published content specifications of CSET: Multiple Subjects Subtest III, test code 225, read 2026-10-08 and again 2026-10-09 on the program site of the California Educator Credentialing Assessments (test page https://www.ctcexams.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/CA_CSET101_TestPage.html; test structure https://www.ctcexams.nesinc.com/Content/StudyGuide/CA_SG_obj_101.htm; subtest description https://www.ctcexams.nesinc.com/content/docs/CSET_Prep/CS_225subtestdescription.pdf): 39 multiple-choice questions, 13 each in physical education, human development, and visual and performing arts, and 3 short constructed-response questions. The bank holds 17 questions in each of the three domains. Physical education and arts facts were read in the Physical Education Model Content Standards for California Public Schools and the California Arts Standards for Public Schools (California Department of Education, cde.ca.gov) and their glossaries; human development facts, and six others on color, motor development and the history of a sport, in the Wikipedia article each question names. Each question carries the day its source was read. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.

How it works

This free CSET practice test for Subtest 3 covers Multiple Subjects Subtest III in 51 questions of our own. It is unofficial and not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing or Pearson.

Read the full guide

What Subtest III covers

Subtest III of CSET: Multiple Subjects is test code 225. By the test structure read October 9, 2026, its three domains have the same number of questions, so the bank has 17 on each, and exam mode asks 39, the real multiple-choice count.

What is not marked here

The short written answers of the real subtest are not marked here. Six prompts of our own, two for each domain, are under the questions, made to print.

Where the answers come from

Physical education and arts questions use the terms of California's own content standards and their glossaries. Human development questions name the article each theory was checked in.

  • Subtest III is the shortest of the three: 2 hours and 15 minutes, against 3 hours each for Subtests I and II.

Questions and answers

Is this CSET Subtest 3 practice test the real exam?

No. All 51 questions were written for this site from the published content specifications and public sources. None repeats or rewords a real question, a sample question or the official practice test, and a result here is not a forecast of your score.

How many questions are on CSET Subtest 3?

39 multiple-choice questions and 3 short constructed-response questions: 13 multiple-choice and 1 constructed-response each in physical education, human development, and visual and performing arts.

What is on CSET Multiple Subjects Subtest 3?

Three domains. Physical education: movement skills, fitness, self-image and social development. Human development from birth through adolescence: cognitive, social and physical. Visual and performing arts: dance, music, theatre and visual art.

What is the passing score for CSET Subtest 3?

The test page gives a passing score of 220 per subtest. Multiple-choice questions make up 70% of a subtest's score and constructed-response questions 30%, so this page reports the number right and gives no verdict.

Can you take CSET Subtest 3 online?

Yes. The test page lists online proctoring for Subtests I and III of Multiple Subjects, each in its own session with no breaks, as well as testing at a test center. Subtest II is given at test centers only.

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