Reading Comprehension
Not publishedof exam
Passage EvidenceMain IdeaStated DetailContext MeaningValid Inference
Writing: Detail
Not publishedof exam
Useful FactsSpecific InformationComplete IdentityEvent SequenceReport Value
Writing: Spelling
Not publishedof exam
Missing WordCorrect FormLetter PatternCommon ErrorsVisual Check
Writing: Word Usage
Not publishedof exam
Sentence ContextConfused WordsCorrect MeaningProper FormBlank Completion
Writing: Clarity
Not publishedof exam
Direct WordingConcise PhraseMeaning PreservedModifier PlacementPlain Language
Writing: Grammar
Not publishedof exam
AgreementPronoun CaseVerb FormSentence StructurePunctuation
Quick Facts
- Items
- 120 multiple-choice
- Reading count
- Not published
- Writing count
- Not published
- Standard Time
- 2 hours
- Passing score
- Not published
- Pass Bands
- A, B, or C
- Results
- Do not expire
- Retakes
- Any time
- Current Fee
- $72
Reading Proof
Claim, Locate, Match, Limit
ClaimLocateMatchLimit
Stated vs Inferred
Stated
- Text says it directly
- Locate matching passage words
Inferred
- Evidence makes it reasonable
- Never add outside facts
Both answers need passage support.
Reading Item Solver
- Question asks detail→Find exact sentence(Match facts)
- Question asks meaning→Read surrounding context(Substitute choice)
- Question asks inference→Require supporting evidence(Avoid inventions)
- Question asks summary→Cover whole passage(Reject narrow facts)
- Two choices remain→Compare qualifiers(Prefer exact scope)
- Evidence stays unclear→Bookmark and continue(Return later)
Exam Map
- Total
- 120 multiple-choice items
- Reading
- Official count not published
- Writing
- Official count not published
- Standard
- 120 minutes total
- Pass
- Cut score not published
- Bands
- A, B, C passing
- Blueprint
- Subcounts not published
Review vs Submit
Review
- Answers remain changeable
- Check bookmarks and blanks
Submit
- Ends the test session
- Use only when finished
Review every response before submitting.
Final Review Order
- First pass ends→Open bookmarked items
- Evidence is located→Resolve reading items
- Rule is identified→Resolve grammar items
- Choices look similar→Compare exact differences
- All items answered→Check response list
- Review is complete→Submit your test
Reading Targets
- Main idea
- Whole-passage central point
- Detail
- Explicit passage fact
- Inference
- Evidence-supported conclusion
- Sequence
- Events in passage order
- Context
- Meaning from nearby words
- Summary
- Broad accurate compression
- Purpose
- Why passage was written
Evidence Controls
- Scope
- Match answer breadth
- Anchor
- Locate supporting sentence
- Paraphrase
- Same idea, new words
- Qualifier
- Respect limits and exceptions
- Only
- Raises proof burden
- Always
- Needs universal support
- Outside fact
- Ignore external knowledge
Pacing Controls
- Baseline
- About one minute each
- First pass
- Take available points
- Stuck
- Bookmark and continue
- Eliminate
- Remove provably wrong choices
- Guess
- Answer every item
- Review
- Recheck marked items
- Submit
- Use after final review
Detail Five
Who, What, When, Where, Sequence
WhoWhatWhenWhereSequence
Useful Detail vs Length
Useful Detail
- Adds verifiable facts
- Clarifies identity or sequence
Mere Length
- Repeats known information
- Adds irrelevant wording
Choose informational value, not word count.
Useful Detail Checks
- Who
- Named person or role
- What
- Specific observed action
- When
- Exact useful time
- Where
- Precise relevant location
- Sequence
- Clear event order
- Identity
- Complete distinguishing facts
- Value
- Useful, not merely longer
Spelling Patterns
- Double letters
- Check repeated consonants
- Silent letters
- Recall full word shape
- Suffix
- Preserve correct base
- Prefix
- Check attached spelling
- Vowels
- Compare every vowel
- Syllables
- Break longer words
- Sentence
- Read completed choice
Spelling vs Usage
Spelling
- Which form is spelled correctly
- Inspect letters and syllables
Usage
- Which word fits meaning
- Test sentence context
Identify the tested skill first.
Usage Pair Checks
- Affect
- Usually means influence
- Effect
- Usually means result
- Principal
- Leader or main
- Principle
- Rule or belief
- Fewer
- Countable plural things
- Less
- Uncountable amount
- Then
- Time or sequence
- Than
- Introduces comparison
Clear Three
Direct, Precise, Concise
DirectPreciseConcise
Clarity vs Grammar
Clarity
- Pick direct precise wording
- Remove ambiguity and clutter
Grammar
- Judge sentence correctness
- Apply standard rules
A grammatical phrase may stay unclear.
Clarity Controls
- Direct
- State meaning plainly
- Concise
- Remove needless words
- Precise
- Prefer exact wording
- Active
- Name the actor
- Modifier
- Place beside target
- Pronoun
- Keep reference unmistakable
- Meaning
- Preserve original facts
Grammar Scan
Subject, Verb, Pronoun, Tense, Structure
SubjectVerbPronounTenseStructure
Subject vs Nearby Noun
True Subject
- Controls verb agreement
- Remove inserted phrases
Nearby Noun
- May sit beside verb
- Often creates distractor
Match the verb to its subject.
Writing Item Solver
- Two statements appear→Choose useful detail(Not mere length)
- Spellings appear→Compare letter patterns(Read in sentence)
- Confused words appear→Test contextual meaning(Define both)
- Phrases compete→Choose clearest wording(Preserve meaning)
- Correctness is asked→Run grammar checks(Agreement first)
- Still uncertain→Eliminate then answer(No blank)
Agreement Checks
- Subject
- Find sentence actor
- Verb
- Match subject number
- Interruptions
- Ignore inserted phrases
- Each
- Usually takes singular
- Compound
- And usually makes plural
- Either-or
- Match nearest subject
- Collective
- Use intended unit
Grammar Controls
- Tense
- Keep timeline consistent
- Pronoun case
- Subject or object role
- Antecedent
- Match number clearly
- Fragment
- Needs complete thought
- Run-on
- Separate complete thoughts
- Apostrophe
- Possession or omission
- Comma
- Separate intended units
- Parallelism
- Match grammatical forms
Common Traps
Outside Knowledge
Use passage evidence only ≠ Job knowledge cannot replace text
Extreme Wording
Always needs total support ≠ Never needs total support
Longest Detail Choice
Length does not equal value ≠ Prefer specific useful facts
Familiar Word Shape
Familiar can still be wrong ≠ Compare each letter pattern
Nearby Noun Agreement
Ignore interrupting phrases ≠ Find the true subject
Premature Submission
Unreviewed errors may remain ≠ Review bookmarks before submitting
Last Minute
- 1.Confirm approved testing location
- 2.Bring required photo identification
- 3.Know your allotted time
- 4.Budget about one minute each
- 5.Use passage evidence only
- 6.Identify each writing item type
- 7.Bookmark time-consuming items
- 8.Answer every test item
- 9.Review qualifiers and negatives
- 10.Submit after complete review
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