Free Law & Business practice test
25 original questions weighted like the real exam. After each answer you'll see a short explanation and the source. At the end you get a score for every section.
- About 15 minutes
- No sign-up
- Calculator allowed, like at the test center
What is in this practice test
25 multiple-choice questions with four choices and one best answer, the same format as the CSLB Law and Business exam that almost every California contractor license applicant has to pass. The questions are spread over the exam's seven sections in the proportions CSLB publishes, so the test leans on the same sections the exam does.
| Section | Share of the exam | Questions in this test |
|---|---|---|
| Contract Requirements and Execution | 21% | 5 |
| Employment Requirements | 20% | 5 |
| Business Finances | 15% | 4 |
| Safety | 14% | 4 |
| Business Organization and Licensing | 13% | 3 |
| Insurance and Liens | 12% | 3 |
| Public Works | 5% | 1 |
| Total | 100% | 25 |
Weights from the CSLB Law and Business Examination Study Guide (for exams scheduled on or after 1 December 2021). CSLB notes the percentages are approximate.
The questions are our own. CSLB does not release its exam questions, so nobody can sell or show you the real ones. Each of ours is written from a public source and names it: the Contractors State License Law, the Labor Code, Cal/OSHA regulations and other official publications.
How it is scored
- After each answer you see whether it was right, a short explanation and the source it comes from.
- At the end you get an overall percentage and a score for each of the seven sections, for example 3/5 in Employment Requirements, sorted from your strongest section to your weakest.
- Sections where you scored under 60% are named as the ones to study first, three at most.
- There is no pass or fail. CSLB does not publish a fixed passing percentage, so we do not invent one. As a working target we treat 80% or more as a strong result.
- There is no clock. The real exam gives you 3½ hours; most people finish these 25 questions in about 15 minutes.
- Your answers are kept in this browser. Close the page and you can continue later on the same device. There is no sign-up and we do not ask for an email.
What to do with your result
Start with your weakest sections, not with page one of the law book. What is on the Law and Business exam explains the format and each section, and the two-week and four-week study plan turns the weights into hours. For more practice without paying, there are sample questions with answers.
How hard is the exam? In fiscal year 2022/23, 57% of Law and Business exams were passes, according to CSLB. The figures are on CSLB pass rates, and what CSLB says about scoring is on what score you need to pass.
Your license needs a trade exam too, unless it is the C-61 Limited Specialty. For B – General Building, take the free General Building test; for the other trade exams we cover, find your exam and its free test.
The full Law and Business course has 1,590 practice questions across the seven sections, 500 flashcards and timed mock exams of about 115 questions in 3½ hours (CSLB does not publish the exact number), in English and Spanish. It costs $79 for 90 days or $109 for 180 days, one payment, no subscription; with a trade exam we cover on the same pass it is $129 or $169. See plans and pricing.
Common questions about the free test
Is the Law and Business practice test really free?
Yes. All 25 questions, the explanations and the score by section are free, with no sign-up, no email and no card. The paid course is separate and starts at $79.
Are these questions from the actual CSLB exam?
No. CSLB does not release its test questions or answer keys. We write original questions from the same public sources the exam is built on, and every answer names its source so you can check it.
How long does the free test take, and can I stop halfway?
About 15 minutes for 25 questions. There is no timer, and your answers are saved in your browser, so you can close the page and continue later on the same device.
What score should I aim for on the practice test?
CSLB does not publish a fixed passing percentage, so the test gives no pass or fail. We treat 80% or more as a strong result, and any section under 60% as one to study first.
Can I take the practice test in Spanish?
Yes. Every question and explanation is also in Spanish: prueba gratis de Ley y Negocios. CSLB offers the Law and Business exam itself in Spanish too.