How many questions are there on the CEnT-S exam?
The CEnT-S exam consists of 55 questions in total and is administered in 5 sections.
How long is the CEnT-S exam?
The total duration is 110 minutes.
What are the number of questions and time limits for each CEnT-S section?
• Mathematics: 15 questions, 30 minutes
• Reasoning with Text and Data: 15 questions, 30 minutes
• Biology: 10 questions, 20 minutes
• Chemistry: 10 questions, 20 minutes
• Physics: 5 questions, 10 minutes
Each section has its own separate time limit. When the time ends, you must move on to the next section. Even if you finish a section early, you cannot use the remaining time in another section, and you cannot return to a previous section. That is why preparing for CEnT-S is not just about studying content. Section based time management is also essential.
How is the CEnT-S score calculated?
The CEnT-S result is first calculated based on the raw score:
• Correct answer: 1 point
• Blank answer: 0 points
• Wrong answer: 0.25 point penalty
Then a normalization coefficient is added to the raw score to produce the final official result. This coefficient may be higher when the exam is more difficult. Normalization is calculated at the end of the relevant testing period by analyzing question performance.
The CEnT-S Mathematics section measures not only computational accuracy but also the ability to interpret and apply core concepts. Main topic areas include:
• Numbers: integers, rational and real numbers, percentages, calculation of expressions
• Algebra: identities, equations, inequalities, simple systems
• Geometry: plane and solid shapes, perimeter, area, volume, coordinate plane
• Functions: reading graphs, transformations, basic function types
• Exponential and logarithmic expressions: basic definitions, properties, simple equations
• Combinatorics and probability: permutations, combinations, basic probability
• Basic statistics: interpreting tables and graphs, mean, median, mode
This section focuses on logical inference and data literacy. Topics include:
• Logic and deduction: conjunctions, quantifiers, relationships between propositions
• Data interpretation: extracting numerical information from tables and charts, drawing conclusions
• Mathematical problem solving language: ratios, percentages, averages, simple modelling, and translating problems into equations
The Biology section tests core biology knowledge at a conceptual level. Topic areas include:
• Biological molecules: properties of water, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids
• Cell biology: prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, organelles and their basic functions
• Cell cycle and heredity: DNA, replication, transcription, translation, mitosis, meiosis, Mendelian inheritance
• Plant biology and ecology: plant organs, photosynthesis, ecosystems and food chains, biotic interactions
• Animal anatomy and physiology: tissues and basic systems
The Chemistry section covers both core concepts and real world applications. Topic areas include:
• Macroscopic properties of matter: states, mixtures, separation methods, basic laws of chemistry
• Atomic structure and bonding: Lewis structures, bond types, molecular geometry, interactions
• Periodic table and trends: electron configurations, periodic properties
• Reactions and stoichiometry: balancing equations, the mole concept, concentration, yield, limiting reactant
• Thermodynamics and kinetics: endothermic and exothermic processes, equilibrium, rate, catalysis
• Compounds and solutions: naming, solubility, solution properties
• Acids and bases: pH, neutralization, buffers
• Redox: oxidation states, simple redox balancing
• Organic chemistry: hydrocarbons and basic functional groups
• Applied chemistry: reading labels, environmental topics, chemical safety
The Physics section measures the ability to understand core models and apply them to simple scenarios. Topic areas include:
• Physical quantities and measurement: SI units, scientific notation, basic vector operations, graph reading
• Kinematics: uniform motion, accelerated motion, free fall, circular motion, frames of reference
• Dynamics, work, and energy: Newton’s laws, work, power, kinetic energy, potential energy, conservation of energy
• Fluids and thermodynamics: pressure, density, Pascal, Stefan, Archimedes, ideal gas, heat, and basic laws
• Electromagnetism and waves: Coulomb, electric field, current and Ohm’s law, magnets, wave properties, electromagnetic spectrum
At AcademicIST, we do not treat CEnT-S preparation as simple topic instruction. We design it as a system aligned with the logic of the exam. The backbone of the program is built on the following:
• Placement assessment and a section based study plan
• Targeted topic review through mathematics, logic, and science modules
• Mock exam strategy and time management practice based on section time limits
• Feedback based on the type of error: knowledge gap, reading error, or speed problem
Tell us your CEnT-S goal, and we will create a section based study plan for you.