PREPARATION FOR THE COMMUNICATION AND LITERACY SKILLS TEST

• (This information was accurate in September 2008. Be aware that things may change!)
• The Communication and Literacy Skills test has two subtests: READING and WRITING.
• You may take the READING and WRITING subtests in the same four-hour session,
  or you may use a four-hour session for each separately.
  I strongly recommend splitting them up (even though it costs more money this way).
• There is NO GUESSING PENALTY for multiple-choice questions.
  Be sure to answer every question!
• Bring many sharpened number 2 lead pencils with good erasers.
• READING SUBTEST:
  • Multiple-choice items matched to reading selections:
    -- there are six reading selections, each followed by several multiple-choice questions (30 total)
    -- the order of the questions does not necessarily correspond to the order information is presented in the selection
  • Word meaning (vocabulary):
    -- there are six questions; each asks you to define (in your own words) the underlined word
    -- practice vocabulary (and feed the hungry at the same time):   freerice.com
    -- my own online vocabulary practice; you can copy and modify the file to practice with your own words
• WRITING SUBTEST:
  • Grammar and usage:
    -- You are given five passages; each passage contains six numbered sentences.
         Multiple-choice questions ask if each sentence contains an error in spelling, punctuation, or capitalization, or if the sentence is correct.
         There are 30 questions total.
    -- You are given several passages; each has numbered "parts" that contain grammatical mistakes.
         There are a total of 14 multiple-choice questions asking how the mistakes could be corrected.
    -- There are three questions where you are asked to define grammatical terms (in your own words).
         I wrote an online quiz to practice grammatical definitions and rules.
    -- You are given three sentences containing one or more grammatical errors;
         the sentences must be rewritten in proper grammatical form.
         Sentences may be revised or restructured, but must maintain the ideas in the original sentence.
    
  • Written summary:
    -- a passage is presented which you are to summarize in approximately 150 to 250 words
  • Written composition:
    -- you are asked to prepare a composition (300 to 600 words) on an assigned topic