Test Tools, Inc. recommends a “Five-Step Approach” to preparing for the CAHSEE:

1. Orientation - Understand the format and style of the CAHSEE
2. PreTest - Identify individual strengths and weaknesses for Mathematics and ELA
3. Review - Learn about the California Strands and Standards
4. Assessment - Practice questions from individual benchmarks
5. PostTest - Compare the results to the PreTest

Test Tools, Inc. advises that students first review the 10 topics in the "Orientation Guide to the CAHSEE" to learn about the CAHSEE, the types of questions that are on the CAHSEE, the different Standards that are on the CAHSEE, passing scores, and the state laws regarding the CAHSEE.

After gaining a full understanding of the design of the CAHSEE, students should take a complete "CAHSEE Tutor - PreTest" for both Mathematics and ELA to get an idea of their individual strengths and weaknesses and print the breakdown of the individual grades for each individual standard. The "Student Grade Summary" keeps track of all the grades from all the testing sections in the software.

The "Standards Reviews - Lesson Plans" section contains detailed, subject-specific information and test taking tips. These reviews, based upon the blueprints for the CAHSEE, are designed to teach students techniques to master all the standards. It takes an average student approximately 20 hours to review all of the material for both the Mathematics and ELA exams.

Students can then review and practice specific questions for the individual standards that need improvement in the "Individual Standards Assessments." These sections pull specific questions from all the CAHSEE exams, based upon individual standards. This allows a student to review and practice a single standard with detailed explanations for each question. There is a grading summary at the end of each standard assessment that can be printed.

After a student finishes reviewing and assessing the individual standards, they should then complete the "CAHSEE Tutor PostTest." Then they should compare their results from the results from the CAHSEE PreTest, review the differences, and repeat the "Standards Reviews - Lesson Plans" and/or "Individual Standards Assessments" for the specific standards that need improvement.