PREPARATION FOR THE COMMUNICATION AND LITERACY SKILLS TEST
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
-- there's some good practice (with answers and rationale) here
(go down to part C, "Reading Test Practice Exercises")
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
