RISE Reading Assessment – 150 Questions and Correct
Answers | 2026 Updated
EXAM OVERVIEW
SECTION 1: PHONETIC SKILLS (Questions 1-30)
1. Which three letters usually double when heard at the end of a single-syllable
word?
a) s, f, and z
b) p, b, and t
c) m, n, and r
d) l, d, and g
Rationale: In single-syllable words, when the final /s/, /f/, or /z/ sound is heard, the final
consonant is typically doubled (e.g., kiss, muff, jazz). This is a foundational phonics rule .
2. Which four things are initially taught for each letter of the alphabet?
a) Letter name, most common sound, uppercase and lowercase letter formation
b) Letter name, letter shape, letter size, and letter color
c) Uppercase letter, lowercase letter, cursive letter, and printed letter
d) Letter sound, letter name, letter order, and letter frequency
,Rationale: Effective phonics instruction begins with teaching the letter name, the most
common sound it represents, and how to form both uppercase and lowercase versions .
3. A guardian star _____.
a) Indicates the preceding vowel sound will be long
b) Indicates the preceding vowel sound will be short
c) Indicates the following consonant will be silent
d) Indicates the word is a proper noun
Rationale: A guardian star indicates that the preceding vowel sound will be short. It is only
used in words or syllables with short vowel sounds .
*4. Select either the letter C or the letter K to complete the following nonsense word: _azz
a) C
b) K
c) Neither
d) Both
Rationale: When the /k/ sound is followed by an O, U, or A sound, it is spelled with a C.
Since "azz" begins with an A sound, the correct letter is C .
*5. Select either the letter C or the letter K to complete the following nonsense word: _ig
a) C
b) K
c) Neither
d) Both
Rationale: When the /k/ sound is followed by an I or an E sound, it is spelled with a K.
Since "ig" begins with an I sound, the correct letter is K .
6. Which Phonetic Skill has the pattern of one consonant sound following the
vowel?
a) Phonetic Skill 1
b) Phonetic Skill 2
c) Phonetic Skill 3
d) Phonetic Skill 4
Rationale: Phonetic Skill 1 states: When a vowel is followed by a single guardian
consonant, the vowel will be short .
7. Which of the following words follows Phonetic Skill 2?
a) jump
,b) me
c) feet
d) cake
Rationale: Phonetic Skill 2 states: When a vowel is followed by guardian consonants and
nothing else, it will be short. In "jump," the vowel U is followed by the two guardian
consonants M and P, making it short .
8. Which Phonetic Skill tells us that when the vowel stands alone, it will be long?
a) Phonetic Skill 1
b) Phonetic Skill 2
c) Phonetic Skill 3
d) Phonetic Skill 4
Rationale: Phonetic Skill 3 states: When the vowel stands alone, it will be long. This applies
to open syllables where a vowel appears at the end of a syllable .
9. Which Phonetic Skill tells us that when a word ends in silent E, the first vowel
will be long?
a) Phonetic Skill 1
b) Phonetic Skill 2
c) Phonetic Skill 3
d) Phonetic Skill 4
Rationale: Phonetic Skill 4 explains the "magic e" rule: When a word ends in a silent E, the
first vowel before the consonant becomes long .
10. Which word follows Phonetic Skill 5?
a) feet
b) jump
c) me
d) cake
Rationale: Phonetic Skill 5 states: When there are adjacent vowels, the second vowel will
be silent, making the first vowel long. In "feet," the adjacent vowels E and E produce the
long E sound .
11. Which of the following words would be separated into syllables using
Decoding Skill 1?
a) repeat
b) fifteen
, c) simple
d) rabbit
Rationale: Decoding Skill 1 involves splitting a word between two consonants that stand
together. In "repeat," the syllable break occurs after the prefix "re-" and before the root
"peat ."
12. Which of the following words would be separated into syllables using
Decoding Skill 2?
a) fifteen
b) repeat
c) simple
d) music
Rationale: Decoding Skill 2 states: If there are two consonants, the syllable splits between
them. In "fifteen," the syllable break occurs between the two T's .
13. What is the definition of a digraph?
a) Two consonants standing together having a single sound
b) Two or three consonants standing together, each letter keeping its own sound
c) A vowel blended with the letter R
d) A group of letters that creates a unique vowel sound
Rationale: A digraph is a pair of consonants that together represent a single sound, such
as "sh," "ch," "th," and "wh ."
14. What is the definition of a blend?
a) Two consonants standing together having a single sound
b) Two or three consonants standing together, each letter keeping its own sound
c) A vowel blended with the letter R
d) A group of letters that creates a unique vowel sound
Rationale: A blend is a group of two or three consonants that appear together in a word,
with each letter retaining its own sound (e.g., "bl," "str," "pl") .
15. What is the vowel sound in the second syllable of the word "simple"?
a) Short U, as in the word "pull"
b) Long E, as in the word "see"
c) Short I, as in the word "sit"
d) Long A, as in the word "say"
Answers | 2026 Updated
EXAM OVERVIEW
SECTION 1: PHONETIC SKILLS (Questions 1-30)
1. Which three letters usually double when heard at the end of a single-syllable
word?
a) s, f, and z
b) p, b, and t
c) m, n, and r
d) l, d, and g
Rationale: In single-syllable words, when the final /s/, /f/, or /z/ sound is heard, the final
consonant is typically doubled (e.g., kiss, muff, jazz). This is a foundational phonics rule .
2. Which four things are initially taught for each letter of the alphabet?
a) Letter name, most common sound, uppercase and lowercase letter formation
b) Letter name, letter shape, letter size, and letter color
c) Uppercase letter, lowercase letter, cursive letter, and printed letter
d) Letter sound, letter name, letter order, and letter frequency
,Rationale: Effective phonics instruction begins with teaching the letter name, the most
common sound it represents, and how to form both uppercase and lowercase versions .
3. A guardian star _____.
a) Indicates the preceding vowel sound will be long
b) Indicates the preceding vowel sound will be short
c) Indicates the following consonant will be silent
d) Indicates the word is a proper noun
Rationale: A guardian star indicates that the preceding vowel sound will be short. It is only
used in words or syllables with short vowel sounds .
*4. Select either the letter C or the letter K to complete the following nonsense word: _azz
a) C
b) K
c) Neither
d) Both
Rationale: When the /k/ sound is followed by an O, U, or A sound, it is spelled with a C.
Since "azz" begins with an A sound, the correct letter is C .
*5. Select either the letter C or the letter K to complete the following nonsense word: _ig
a) C
b) K
c) Neither
d) Both
Rationale: When the /k/ sound is followed by an I or an E sound, it is spelled with a K.
Since "ig" begins with an I sound, the correct letter is K .
6. Which Phonetic Skill has the pattern of one consonant sound following the
vowel?
a) Phonetic Skill 1
b) Phonetic Skill 2
c) Phonetic Skill 3
d) Phonetic Skill 4
Rationale: Phonetic Skill 1 states: When a vowel is followed by a single guardian
consonant, the vowel will be short .
7. Which of the following words follows Phonetic Skill 2?
a) jump
,b) me
c) feet
d) cake
Rationale: Phonetic Skill 2 states: When a vowel is followed by guardian consonants and
nothing else, it will be short. In "jump," the vowel U is followed by the two guardian
consonants M and P, making it short .
8. Which Phonetic Skill tells us that when the vowel stands alone, it will be long?
a) Phonetic Skill 1
b) Phonetic Skill 2
c) Phonetic Skill 3
d) Phonetic Skill 4
Rationale: Phonetic Skill 3 states: When the vowel stands alone, it will be long. This applies
to open syllables where a vowel appears at the end of a syllable .
9. Which Phonetic Skill tells us that when a word ends in silent E, the first vowel
will be long?
a) Phonetic Skill 1
b) Phonetic Skill 2
c) Phonetic Skill 3
d) Phonetic Skill 4
Rationale: Phonetic Skill 4 explains the "magic e" rule: When a word ends in a silent E, the
first vowel before the consonant becomes long .
10. Which word follows Phonetic Skill 5?
a) feet
b) jump
c) me
d) cake
Rationale: Phonetic Skill 5 states: When there are adjacent vowels, the second vowel will
be silent, making the first vowel long. In "feet," the adjacent vowels E and E produce the
long E sound .
11. Which of the following words would be separated into syllables using
Decoding Skill 1?
a) repeat
b) fifteen
, c) simple
d) rabbit
Rationale: Decoding Skill 1 involves splitting a word between two consonants that stand
together. In "repeat," the syllable break occurs after the prefix "re-" and before the root
"peat ."
12. Which of the following words would be separated into syllables using
Decoding Skill 2?
a) fifteen
b) repeat
c) simple
d) music
Rationale: Decoding Skill 2 states: If there are two consonants, the syllable splits between
them. In "fifteen," the syllable break occurs between the two T's .
13. What is the definition of a digraph?
a) Two consonants standing together having a single sound
b) Two or three consonants standing together, each letter keeping its own sound
c) A vowel blended with the letter R
d) A group of letters that creates a unique vowel sound
Rationale: A digraph is a pair of consonants that together represent a single sound, such
as "sh," "ch," "th," and "wh ."
14. What is the definition of a blend?
a) Two consonants standing together having a single sound
b) Two or three consonants standing together, each letter keeping its own sound
c) A vowel blended with the letter R
d) A group of letters that creates a unique vowel sound
Rationale: A blend is a group of two or three consonants that appear together in a word,
with each letter retaining its own sound (e.g., "bl," "str," "pl") .
15. What is the vowel sound in the second syllable of the word "simple"?
a) Short U, as in the word "pull"
b) Long E, as in the word "see"
c) Short I, as in the word "sit"
d) Long A, as in the word "say"
