CTBS Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CTBS exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 CTBS Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CTBS Topics to Study (22)
✍️ Sample CTBS Questions & Answers
1. Look at the pattern: △○△△○△△△○. How many triangles come before the next circle?
The pattern increases by one triangle between each circle: 1, 2, 3, so the next group will have 4 triangles before a circle.
2. Which type of reference source would you use to find information about the geography of South America?
An atlas is a book of maps and is the best source for geographic information such as countries, capitals, and physical features.
3. Which part of a book would you use to find the page number for a specific topic?
The index is an alphabetical list at the back of a book that tells you page numbers where specific topics are discussed.
4. Which of the following fractions is equivalent to 5/8?
To find an equivalent fraction, you must multiply both the numerator and the denominator by the same non-zero number. For the correct answer, 5/8 is multiplied by 5/5: (5 × 5) / (8 × 5) = 25/40. The other options do not maintain this equivalency.
5. A carpenter has a piece of wood that is 10 1/2 feet long. He needs to cut a piece from it that is 3 2/3 feet long. After he cuts the piece, what is the length of the remaining wood?
To subtract the mixed numbers, first find a common denominator for the fractions, which is 6. Convert 10 1/2 to 10 3/6 and 3 2/3 to 3 4/6. Since 3/6 is smaller than 4/6, you need to borrow from the whole number. 10 3/6 becomes 9 + 1 + 3/6 = 9 9/6. Now subtract: 9 9/6 - 3 4/6 = 6 5/6 feet.
6. A pie chart shows that 50% of students prefer math. If there are 40 students total, how many prefer math?
50% of 40 students equals 20 students who prefer math.