California educators may in certain cases be able to use the CSET Writing Skills exam to satisfy the basic skills requirement.
The exam consists of two constructed-response essays. One asks candidates to analyze a given situation or statement. The other asks candidates to write about a specified personal experience.
2026 CSET Writing Skills Testing Costs*
Below is an overview of the 2026 CSET Writing Skills testing fees for computer-based testing.
|
Service |
Fees |
|
Registration |
$63 test registration fee |
|
Change of registration |
No fee |
|
Additional copy of test results |
$10 per copy |
|
Score verification for constructed-response (CR) section |
$50 per subtest |
|
Fee to clear an account |
$20 |
2026 CSET Writing Skills Test Dates*
Computer-based testing for the CSET Writing Skills exam is available year-round by appointment, Monday through Saturday (excluding some holidays), on a first-come, first-served basis during the testing windows listed below. Alternatively, online-proctored testing is offered remotely and is available by appointment during one-week testing windows each month.
|
CSET Writing Skills Test Dates - Computer-Based |
Results Release Date |
| 5/18/26 - 5/31/26 |
6/22/26 |
| 6/1/26 - 6/14/26 |
7/6/26 |
| 6/15/26 - 6/28/26 |
7/17/26 |
| 6/29/26 - 7/12/26 |
7/31/26 |
| 7/13/26 - 7/26/26 |
8/14/26 |
| 7/27/26 - 8/9/26 |
8/28/26 |
| 8/10/26 - 8/23/26 |
9/11/26 |
| 8/24/26 - 9/6/26 |
9/25/26 |
| 9/7/26 - 9/20/26 |
10/9/26 |
| 9/21/26 - 10/4/26 |
10/23/26 |
| 10/5/26 - 10/18/26 |
11/6/26 |
| 10/19/26 - 11/1/26 |
11/20/26 |
| 11/2/26 - 11/15/26 |
12/4/26 |
| 11/16/26 - 11/29/26 |
12/18/26 |
| 11/30/26 - 12/13/26 |
1/4/27 |
| 12/14/26 - 12/27/26 |
1/15/27 |
| 12/28/26 - 1/10/27 |
1/29/27 |
| 1/11/27 - 1/24/27 |
2/12/27 |
| 1/25/27 - 2/7/27 |
2/26/27 |
| 2/8/27 - 2/21/27 |
3/12/27 |
| 2/22/27 - 3/7/27 |
3/26/27 |
| 3/8/27 - 3/21/27 |
4/9/27 |
| 3/22/27 - 4/4/27 |
4/23/27 |
| 4/5/27 - 4/18/27 |
5/7/27 |
| 4/19/27 - 5/2/27 |
5/21/27 |
| 5/3/27 - 5/16/27 |
6/4/27 |
| 5/17/27 - 5/30/27 |
6/21/27 |
| 5/31/27 - 6/13/27 |
7/2/27 |
| 6/14/27 - 6/27/27 |
7/16/27 |
| 6/28/27 - 7/11/27 |
7/30/27 |
| 7/12/27 - 7/25/27 |
8/13/27 |
| 7/26/27 - 8/8/27 |
8/27/27 |
| 8/9/27 - 8/22/27 |
9/10/27 |
| 8/23/27 - 9/5/27 |
9/24/27 |
| 9/6/27 - 9/19/27 |
10/8/27 |
| 9/20/27 - 10/3/27 |
10/22/27 |
| 10/4/27 - 10/17/27 |
11/5/27 |
| 10/18/27 - 10/31/27 |
11/19/27 |
| 11/1/27 - 11/14/27 |
12/3/27 |
| 11/15/27 - 11/28/27 |
12/17/27 |
|
CSET Writing Skills Test Dates - Online Proctored |
Results Release Date |
|
Week of May 25, 2026 |
June 22, 2026 |
|
Week of June 22, 2026 |
July 17, 2026 |
|
Week of July 20, 2026 |
August 14, 2026 |
|
Week of August 17, 2026 |
September 11, 2026 |
|
Week of September 14, 2026 |
October 9, 2026 |
|
Week of October 12, 2026 |
November 6, 2026 |
|
Week of November 9, 2026 |
December 4, 2026 |
|
Week of December 7, 2026 |
January 4, 2027 |
|
Week of January 4, 2027 |
January 29, 2027 |
|
Week of February 1, 2027 |
February 26, 2027 |
|
Week of March 1, 2027 |
March 26, 2027 |
|
Week of March 29, 2027 |
April 23, 2027 |
|
Week of April 26, 2027 |
May 21, 2027 |
|
Week of May 24, 2027 |
June 21, 2027 |
|
Week of June 21, 2027 |
July 16, 2027 |
|
Week of July 19, 2027 |
August 13, 2027 |
*This information is subject to change. All test-takers should visit the official CSET website at https://www.ctcexams.nesinc.com to confirm fees, registration, and testing requirements before enrolling.
