If you are planning to take the California High School Proficiency Examination, Varsity Tutors can help you prepare with a personalized CHSPE course. We can place you int a CHSPE prep class that focuses on your needs specifically. Your CHSPE class instructor is a test prep expert who knows how to help people like you put everything together to perform at their best on test day. Reach out to our Educational Directors today or continue reading to find out how CHSPE classes could help you reach for your goals.
The CHSPE acts as a gateway to a Certificate of Proficiency, which the State of California considers an equivalent to a high school diploma. By studying effectively in CHSPE courses, you could be eligible to pursue financial aid and move on to college. Your CHSPE prep course instructor can help you focus on the academic areas where you need the most help, or they can assess where your gaps are and put together a customized plan so that you're always working to fill the gaps you need to pursue success on test day. CHSPE prep classes are all about helping you put your best foot forward on the exam.
To earn your Certificate of Proficiency, you'll need to perform up to standards in both the Math and English Language Arts section of the exam. The following table breaks down the exam and what you can expect to study for during a CHSPE class:
CHSPE Breakdown
Number of Test Questions by Content Cluster | |||||
English Language Arts Section | Mathematics Section | ||||
Language Subtest | Reading Subtest | ||||
Content Cluster | Number of Questions | Content Cluster | Number of Questions | Content Cluster | Number of Questions |
Mechanics | 24 | Comprehension | 54 | Number Sense & Patterns | 24 |
Expression | 24 | Vocabulary | 30 | Statistics and Geometry | 26 |
Total | 48 | Total | 84 | Total | 50 |
There's plenty of academic material you'll need to demonstrate your command of during the CHSPE, but that's not all you'll work on with your instructor. Personalized CHSPE prep courses also give you the opportunity to hone your test-taking skills. Strong capabilities in areas like time management and exam strategies can make a difference in your performance. If you have test anxiety issues, understanding the format and utilizing relaxation techniques can help. This is also something a CHSPE course can help you learn about. The goal of building these skills is to help you perform at your maximum potential with confidence.
The drive to build your test-taking skills doesn't come at the expense of making sure you're studying the concepts you need to have command of when test day arrives. Your CHSPE course instructor can help you drill through topics like arithmetic operations, reading comprehension, grammar and punctuation, sentence structure, and more. Here's just a sampling of the topics you can study for in your CHSPE prep courses:
CHSPE Topics (Non-Comprehensive)
- Capitalization
- Usage
- Sentence Structure
- Prewriting
- Initial Understanding
- Interpretation
- Synonyms
- Context Clues
- Number Sense and Operations
- Patterns, Relationships, and Algebra
CHSPE tutors can help you practice concepts at your pace, explaining topics you struggle to understand in unique ways until you feel comfortable moving on to something else. Your instructor can identify and teach to your learning style for maximum efficiency. We'll also set you up with a test prep instructor who can work with you at a time that's convenient. In addition, you can study with your CHSPE class instructor in face to face online sessions using our Live Learning Platform for a convenient test prep experience. If you're ready to get started, contact Varsity Tutors today.

Rebecca
...and literature, I have that keeps me busy. I'm a runner and a swimmer, also like biking and hiking and some recreational sports. I like to dance (swing/blues/ballroom/ballet), sing, and play the piano. I have a five-year-old son, and lots of friends and siblings to keep up with. I enjoy cooking, coffee, tea, healthy living, reading, sewing, painting, and oh so many other things. Some of my more serious interests include preventing human trafficking and...
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- Greenville College - Bachelors, Philosophy, English, & History
- Stony Brook University - Masters, Philosophy
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- SAT
- Reading
- English
- Writing
- +17 subjects

Rebecca
...able to perform academically at their highest possible level. I also think it is important that learning is not just for one assignment or one test, but rather that it sticks with you to build a solid foundation of knowledge and confidence that you can carry forward. My favorite subjects to tutor include English, SAT test preparation, math, and psychology. My approach to tutoring is to meet the student where they're at and go from...
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- Northwestern University - Bachelors, Psychology
- University of Chicago SSA - Masters, Social Work
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- SSAT- Middle Level
- SAT Math
- French 1
- Algebra
- +53 subjects

Sarah
...as a math tutor. I am passionate about tutoring because of my own life long love of learning, and because I believe that all children are capable of accomplishing amazing things if they have a committed support system. I tutor reading, writing, math, economics, french and test prep. Over a broad range of subjects, I particularly enjoy tutoring reading and writing. In my spare time, I enjoy practicing yoga and exploring the greater DC area.
Education & Certification
- University of Virginia-Main Campus - Current Undergrad, Undeclared
Subject Expertise
- ACT English
- Literature
- ACT Science
- Conversational French
- +39 subjects

Gus
...the University of Wisconsin - Stout. My scenic route through college was the product of indecision and confusion regarding my future because I couldn't find a way to mesh all of the things in life that excite me into one career. Film and animation have managed to do that for the most part, but as I grow older (and wiser?) I feel more certain that teaching at the collegiate level is my calling. I carry...
Education & Certification
- University of Wisconsin-Stout - Bachelors, Entertainment Design - Digital Cinema
Subject Expertise
- Social Sciences
- Math
- AP Human Geography
- Art
- +48 subjects

David
...interest students in any topic (but especially math) by giving them a sense of a larger context. In particular, I love to bring college-level math concepts to students in a way anyone can understand, which often demonstrates WHY the math they're doing matters. It also shows that math can be just plain cool, which I don't think our curricula prioritize enough. Besides teaching, I enjoy practicing parkour and tricking (acrobatic martial arts), playing video games,...
Education & Certification
- Oberlin College - Bachelors, Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- Arithmetic
- Calculus
- Multivariable Calculus
- Trigonometry
- +43 subjects

Max
...I have also recently taken the new MCAT and believe that I can teach my tools for success to any pre-student willing to learn them. I have been a teaching assistant for both General Chemistry I and II for two semesters each and have taught CPR, AED, First Aid to Salt Lake City Citizens. I have always enjoyed teaching, specifically being able to teach one-on-one. Connecting with students, making them feel comfortable to express concerns,...
Education & Certification
- University of Utah - Bachelors, Exercise and Sports Science
Subject Expertise
- High School Chemistry
- College Chemistry
- PCAT Biology
- AP Chemistry
- +29 subjects

Jeana
...I was a student at Columbia University in New York. While there, I had the opportunity to teach students of all backgrounds and levels of ability. My unique approach to SAT and ACT test-prep focuses just as much on "learning the test" as it does learning the material, which gives students a sense of confidence and courage on test day. My expertise in "big test" prep translates to the regular school environment as well, whether...
Education & Certification
- Columbia University in the City of New York - Bachelors, Visual Arts
Subject Expertise
- ACT Reading
- High School Writing
- High School
- High School English
- +54 subjects

Mark
...it or not, even if the student is not interested in learning, I want to convey that in life we often are forced into tasks that are not always enjoyable. Whats important is to persevere and understand that there is no other option but to complete the task or learn the material and we can only gain from giving it our best effort. During free time I enjoy reading The Economist magazine, playing table tennis...
Education & Certification
- University of Illinois at Chicago - Current Undergrad, Bioengineering
- University of Illinois at Chicago - Current Grad Student, Bioengineering
Subject Expertise
- Geometry
- ACT Reading
- College Business
- Quantitative Reasoning
- +37 subjects

Christopher
...prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing hippocampal region of the brain. After graduating, I served a year, full time, as an Americorps member with City Year, tutoring and mentoring 7th and 8th grade students in the Englewood Community of Chicago in 1-on-1 and small group settings. I am currently working toward a TEFL certification that would allow me to teach English as a foreign language abroad. With Varsity Tutors, I tutor a wide range of...
Education & Certification
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Bachelors, Psychology
Subject Expertise
- Summer
- Social Sciences
- AP Chemistry
- Test Prep
- +32 subjects

Timothy
...organizations throughout high school. I then attended UCLA for my undergrad degree in Political Science (Class of 2014) while also completing the pre med requirements there. At UCLA, I took the full General and Organic Chem series with labs, Life Science Physics including labs, Calculus, Biology including labs, and completed an honors thesis for the political science department. I took one gap year between UCLA and medical school where I worked in a Neuroscience and...
Education & Certification
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Subject Expertise
- High School Chemistry
- Trigonometry
- ACT Reading
- Genetics
- +48 subjects

Courtney
...range of subjects, such as ACT prep, math, writing, Spanish, and Latin. Whether the math section of the ACT is making you nervous or you need some extra help keeping up in Spanish, I am confident that together, well figure out how to meet your current academic goals and develop the skills you need to face future challenges. Outside academia, I love to read I work in a library, after all! Im also an avid...
Education & Certification
- Augsburg College - Bachelors, Sociology w/minor in Spanish
Subject Expertise
- 7th Grade Reading
- Social Sciences
- Spanish 2
- Essay Editing
- +122 subjects

Jonathan
...in college. I began with college algebra and moved on to science courses such as chemistry, genetics, and biology. I also tutored some remedial math and english courses. No jobs other than teaching and medicine bring me everything I want in a career. I love to help others because I have benefited so much from others help in the past. My goal is to inspire a few other students to take up this job and...
Education & Certification
- University of Houston Downtown - Bachelors, Biology, General
Subject Expertise
- ACT Science
- Other
- MCAT Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
- GED Reasoning Through Language Arts
- +113 subjects

Miguel
...to attend both Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin, the latter at which I earned a 3.7 GPA, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, and a Bachelor of Arts in English. As for pertinent work experience prior to Varsity Tutoring, I have tutored middle school aged children in English for a year as a part of the PAIR program and helped graduate students from foreign countries practice their conversational English. Please...
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Austin - Bachelors, Computer Science / English
Subject Expertise
- DAT Quantitative Reasoning
- AP English Literature and Composition
- LSAT Reading Comprehension
- Elementary School Math
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Mackenzie
Hi, I'm Kenzie! I'm a Mechanical Engineering student at UT Dallas and I've been tutoring online for 4 years now. My favorite subjects to teach are math and science, but reading and writing come in a close second. ... I introduce myself and try to get a feel for what the student is struggling with in particular. I then address those questions or problems by starting at the foundations and trying to help my student get a good grasp of what they are trying to do.
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Dallas - Current Undergrad, Mechanical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- Middle School Writing
- AP Calculus BC
- High School Physics
- AP Physics 2
- +34 subjects

Taariq
...stuck. I hope to convey to every student the ability to think logically and persevere when things seem difficult. Outside of math and tutoring, I am a huge sports fan and novel reader. Since I graduated from Duke, I have a fierce love for all things Blue Devils and I really enjoyed watching Duke Basketball in Cameron Indoor Stadium. One of my favorite things to do is to read a novel while listening to my...
Education & Certification
- Duke University - Bachelors, Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- Pre-Calculus
- Algebra 3/4
- Discrete Math
- ACT Math
- +27 subjects

Daria
...in the eastern town of Belfort helping French students ages 15 - 20 with their English grammar and pronunciation. While there, I took advantage of the school holidays and traveled to several different European countries. After my contract finished, I spent two months traveling through Spain. My favorite subjects to tutor are literature based, as that is where my interests lie. I enjoy discussing books with my students and helping them realize the subtle nuances...
Education & Certification
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Bachelor in Arts, French Language, Literature
Subject Expertise
- College Essays
- Reading
- ACT English
- Languages
- +21 subjects

Mei
...of athletic commitment. In my senior year, our team made Nationals for the first time in 20 years (eventually placing 15th), and I was awarded the Margaret Akerstrom award for highest female student-athlete graduating GPA (3.9). Currently, I am employed as a financial technology consultant and work with clients to build personalized solutions to address their unique needs. I developed a passion for teaching others how to be successful at a young age. I am...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Bachelors, Economics
Subject Expertise
- Special Education
- Elementary Math
- SAT Reading
- SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 2
- +31 subjects

Parisa
...about my teaching style. I was never someone who simply "got" things in class. I often struggled to understand relatively simple concepts, especially when compared to my classmates, whether that was in test-taking or in any academic subject. So, I know what it's like to really wrestle with a subject, and I know what kind of assistance is helpful (and what kind of assistance/teaching is not). I think this--empathizing with a student and knowing the...
Education & Certification
- University of Virginia-Main Campus - Current Undergrad, Politics Honors and Economics
Subject Expertise
- SAT Mathematics
- Public Speaking
- LSAT Analytical Reasoning
- College Business
- +26 subjects

Mark
I am a recent Yale graduate with a B.S in chemical engineering. I have over 5 years of experience tutoring a wide range of subjects, and I am very passionate about math and science. My favorite part of tutoring is instilling confidence into students and making them feel that they can understand and enjoy a subject.... Everyone learns differently, but everyone can learn anything.
Education & Certification
- Yale University - Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineer
Subject Expertise
- Middle School Science
- Chemistry
- ACT English
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- +39 subjects

Jacob
...review material with them. I always enjoyed teaching simply because I enjoyed and was passionate about the material itself. But I enjoyed it even more when I heard about all the success other students were having as a result of my teaching. I was recruited to Brown University for rowing, and am officially undeclared but plan on graduating with a dual degree in biology and German studies. My favorite subjects to tutor are the ones...
Education & Certification
- Brown University - Current Undergrad, Biology and German
Subject Expertise
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- +21 subjects