Clarity
Not publishedof exam
Vocabulary
Not publishedof exam
Spelling
Not publishedof exam
Reading Comprehension
Not publishedof exam
Quick Facts
- Exam
- PELLETB
- Components
- Writing + Reading
- Subtests
- Clarity / Vocabulary / Spelling / Reading
- Items
- 65-78 total
- Time
- 2¼ hours including instructions
- Delivery
- Paper-and-pencil multiple choice
- T-score
- Mean 50; SD 10
- Cut score
- Agency-set; POST recommends 42+
- Retest
- Day 31 earliest
- CLOZE
- Removed January 1, 2025
Clarity Red Flags
MRF-R: Modifiers, References, Fragments, Run-ons
M: modifier placementR: pronoun referenceF: complete clauseR: proper boundary
Fragment vs Sentence
Fragment
- Incomplete thought
- Dependent piece
- Missing clause element
Sentence
- Complete thought
- Independent clause
- Subject + finite verb
Piece vs complete clause
Clarity Fault Picker
- Pronoun has competing nouns→Reference fault(Name antecedent)
- Opening phrase lacks actor→Dangling modifier(Supply actor)
- Phrase describes wrong noun→Misplaced modifier(Move phrase)
- Thought lacks complete clause→Fragment(Complete thought)
- Clauses lack proper boundary→Run-on(Separate clauses)
- Comma alone joins clauses→Comma splice(Add conjunction)
- Comparison allows two readings→Ambiguity(Name both subjects)
- Both seem grammatical→Trace every reference(Check modifiers)
Clarity Faults
- Misplaced modifier
- Describes wrong word
- Dangling modifier
- Actor missing
- Vague pronoun
- Antecedent unclear
- Indefinite reference
- Referent unnamed
- Fragment
- Incomplete sentence
- Run-on
- Sentences improperly joined
- Comma splice
- Comma joins sentences
- Ambiguity
- Multiple possible meanings
Run-on vs Compound Sentence
Run-on
- Two complete thoughts
- Boundary missing
- Comma alone insufficient
Compound
- Two complete thoughts
- Proper boundary
- Meaning stays clear
Missing boundary vs valid join
Clarity Repairs
- Modifier placement
- Beside intended word
- Named noun
- Replace vague pronoun
- Complete clause
- Subject + finite verb
- Period
- Separate complete sentences
- Semicolon
- Join related sentences
- Comma + FANBOYS
- Join complete clauses
- Parallel comparison
- Compare matching things
- Direct order
- Actor before action
Modifier vs Reference
Modifier fault
- Description attaches wrongly
- Check nearby noun
Reference fault
- Pronoun points unclearly
- Check antecedent
Description vs identity
Word Meaning Picker
- Target word unknown→Read full sentence
- Definition appears nearby→Use restatement
- Examples follow target→Infer category
- Contrast marker appears→Infer opposite
- Known roots appear→Split word
- Two synonyms remain→Compare nuance
- Meaning fits; grammar fails→Reject choice
- Still uncertain→Test each option
Context Clues
- Context clue
- Nearby meaning evidence
- Synonym
- Same contextual meaning
- Definition clue
- Meaning stated nearby
- Contrast clue
- Opposition signals meaning
- Example clue
- Instances reveal category
- Connotation
- Associated feeling
- Collocation
- Natural word partner
- Word class
- Grammatical role
Word Parts
- anti-
- Against
- inter-
- Between
- pre-
- Before
- sub-
- Under
- trans-
- Across
- bio
- Life
- -ness
- Quality or state
- -ence
- State or condition
CVC Doubling
Short CVC + vowel suffix: double final consonant
Single final consonantSingle preceding vowelAdd vowel suffix
Suffix Patterns
- -ness / -ly
- Usually keep base
- Consonant + y + -ness/-ly
- Usually y → i
- Final silent e
- Drop before -ing
- One-syllable CVC
- Double final consonant
- Stressed CVC ending
- Double final consonant
- y + -ing
- Keep the y
- y + -ed
- Change y to i
- Added prefix
- Keep base spelling
Plural Patterns
- Most nouns
- Add -s
- s / x / z / ch / sh
- Add -es
- Consonant + y
- Change to -ies
- Vowel + y
- Add -s
- Consonant + o
- Often add -es
- Vowel + o
- Usually add -s
- i-before-e
- General rule; exceptions exist
- Target vocabulary
- No official word list
Passage Proof
PASS: Passage Answers Stay Source-based
Preview questionAnchor evidenceScan qualifiersSelect supported
Explicit vs Inference
Explicit
- Directly stated
- Locate exact evidence
Inference
- Not directly stated
- Combine textual clues
Locate vs conclude
Reading Answer Picker
- Question asks stated fact→Locate matching lines
- Question asks main point→Combine repeated ideas
- Stem says most accurate→Preserve every qualifier
- Question asks conclusion→Require textual clues
- Passage uses code table→Decode components
- Choice adds new fact→Eliminate choice
- Choice partly true→Reject whole choice
- Item consumes too long→Skip and return
Reading Evidence
- Direct detail
- Explicit passage fact
- Main idea
- Central supported point
- Inference
- Clues support conclusion
- Scope
- Match passage limits
- Qualifier
- Preserve exact strength
- Sequence
- Track stated order
- Cause / effect
- Do not reverse
- Table / code
- Decode each component
T-score Anchor
50 center | 10 spread | 42+ guide
50: average40: below average60: above average42+: POST recommendation
Reading vs CLOZE
Reading
- Current subtest
- Passage questions
- 20-24 items
CLOZE
- Removed subtest
- Missing-word passages
- Removed January 1, 2025
Current vs retired
Reading Strategy
- Preview question
- Focus relevant details
- Preview options
- Spot tested distinctions
- Passage only
- Ignore outside knowledge
- Evidence location
- Return to exact lines
- All choices
- Read before selecting
- Extreme wording
- Check complete support
- Skip and return
- Protect remaining time
- Every item
- POST advises answering all
Common Traps
CLOZE status
CLOZE removed in 2025 ≠ Reading comprehension remains
Passing score
42+ is POST recommendation ≠ Agency sets passing score
Retest timing
Wait 30 full days ≠ Retest starting day 31
Score shelf life
POST score has no shelf life ≠ Agency window may differ
Score type
Raw score counts correct ≠ T-score standardizes performance
Reading evidence
Passage controls answer ≠ Outside knowledge excluded
Form length
Section counts are ranges ≠ Total length varies
Item count vs weight
Item ranges are published ≠ Subtest weights are unpublished
Legacy vs current duration
Legacy FAQ says 2½ hours ≠ Current administration is 2¼
Spelling preparation
No official word list ≠ Rules contain exceptions
Last Minute
- 1.Four subtests; no CLOZE
- 2.Writing: clarity, vocabulary, spelling
- 3.Reading: passage evidence only
- 4.Items: 65-78 total
- 5.Time: 2¼ hours total
- 6.Ignore legacy 2½-hour FAQ text
- 7.Subtest weights remain unpublished
- 8.Mean T-score = 50
- 9.POST recommends 42+
- 10.Agency chooses passing score
- 11.Retest begins day 31
- 12.POST score has no shelf life
- 13.Agency acceptance may differ
- 14.Answer every item
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