NORTH CAROLINA PRAXIS CORE WRITING – QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
Text Types, Purposes, and ProductionLanguage Conventions and Standard English GrammarResearch Skills
and Evidence IntegrationRevision Strategies for Clarity and CohesionPunctuation and
MechanicsArgumentative Writing and Logical StructureInformative and Explanatory Writing
TechniquesSentence Structure and Syntax
Introduction
The North Carolina Praxis Core Writing assessment is designed to evaluate the essential writing skills required
for candidates entering teacher preparation programs. This comprehensive exam measures a candidate's
ability to use standard English conventions effectively and to produce clear, coherent writing suitable for
professional educational environments. The assessment consists of multiple-choice questions and scenario-
based tasks that require the application of grammatical rules, logical transitions, and rhetorical strategies. By
emphasizing real-world application and pedagogical decision-making, the exam ensures that future educators
possess the critical thinking and communication skills necessary to support student literacy and academic
success across all grade levels and subject areas.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
A. The group of students were planning to attend the seminar.
B. Neither the teacher nor the administrators is responsible for the error.
🟢 C. The collection of rare manuscripts is kept in a climate-controlled room.
D. There is several reasons why the budget was rejected by the board.
🔴 RATIONALE: The subject "collection" is a singular collective noun, which requires the singular verb "is."
Options A, B, and D contain agreement errors between the subject and the verb.
, 2. Identify the error in the following sentence: "Walking to the store, the rain started to fall heavily, soaking
my clothes."
A. Lack of parallel structure
🟢 B. Dangling modifier
C. Subject-verb agreement
D. Incorrect pronoun case
🔴 RATIONALE: The phrase "Walking to the store" is a dangling modifier because it suggests the rain was
walking. The modifier should clearly refer to the person performing the action.
3. Which sentence correctly utilizes a semicolon?
A. She studied for the exam all night; but she still felt unprepared.
🟢 B. The research phase is complete; however, the final report is not yet drafted.
C. I bought three items; milk, bread, and eggs.
D. Because the weather was beautiful; we decided to have a picnic.
🔴 RATIONALE: A semicolon is correctly used to join two independent clauses linked by a conjunctive adverb
like "however."
4. Choose the word that best completes the sentence: "The committee's decision will have a significant
________ on the school's funding."
🟢 A. effect
B. affect
C. affects
D. effective
🔴 RATIONALE: "Effect" is a noun meaning the result or consequence of an action, which fits the grammatical
context of the sentence.
, 5. Which of the following sentences uses the objective pronoun case correctly?
A. Between you and I, the results were quite surprising.
B. Him and his brother are both certified teachers.
C. The principal gave the award to Sarah and she.
🟢 D. The supervisor invited the new interns and us to the meeting.
🔴 RATIONALE: "Us" is the correct objective case pronoun functioning as the object of the verb "invited."
6. In an argumentative essay, what is the primary purpose of a "counterargument"?
A. To prove the author is undecided about the topic.
🟢 B. To acknowledge and address opposing viewpoints to strengthen the main claim.
C. To provide a summary of the entire essay in the middle of the text.
D. To introduce new evidence that supports the thesis statement directly.
🔴 RATIONALE: Addressing a counterargument demonstrates a thorough understanding of the topic and
enhances the credibility of the author’s primary argument.
7. Which of the following sentences is a comma splice?
A. The bell rang, and the students hurried to their next class.
B. Although the bell rang, the students remained in their seats.
🟢 C. The bell rang, the students hurried to their next class.
D. The bell rang; therefore, the students hurried to their next class.
🔴 RATIONALE: A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a comma without a
coordinating conjunction.
8. Choose the most concise way to rewrite the following: "At this point in time, it is necessary that we should
begin the process of evaluating the data."
, A. Currently, it is necessary that we should begin to evaluate the data.
B. At this point, we need to begin the evaluation process of the data.
🟢 C. We must now begin evaluating the data.
D. Now is the time when we should start the process of evaluating data.
🔴 RATIONALE: Option C eliminates wordy phrases like "at this point in time" and "process of," conveying the
same meaning with fewer words.
9. Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?
🟢 A. The teachers' lounge was recently renovated.
B. The dog wagged it's tail happily.
C. All of the student's in the class passed the test.
D. Those book's belong to the library.
🔴 RATIONALE: "Teachers' lounge" correctly uses the apostrophe to show possession for a plural noun ending
in 's'.
10. Which transition word best indicates a contrast between two ideas?
A. Furthermore
B. Consequently
🟢 C. Conversely
D. Moreover
🔴 RATIONALE: "Conversely" is used to introduce an idea that is the opposite or reverse of the previous one.
11. Identify the correct sentence structure.
A. Running through the park, a squirrel was seen.
B. To win the race, practice is required every day.
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
Text Types, Purposes, and ProductionLanguage Conventions and Standard English GrammarResearch Skills
and Evidence IntegrationRevision Strategies for Clarity and CohesionPunctuation and
MechanicsArgumentative Writing and Logical StructureInformative and Explanatory Writing
TechniquesSentence Structure and Syntax
Introduction
The North Carolina Praxis Core Writing assessment is designed to evaluate the essential writing skills required
for candidates entering teacher preparation programs. This comprehensive exam measures a candidate's
ability to use standard English conventions effectively and to produce clear, coherent writing suitable for
professional educational environments. The assessment consists of multiple-choice questions and scenario-
based tasks that require the application of grammatical rules, logical transitions, and rhetorical strategies. By
emphasizing real-world application and pedagogical decision-making, the exam ensures that future educators
possess the critical thinking and communication skills necessary to support student literacy and academic
success across all grade levels and subject areas.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
A. The group of students were planning to attend the seminar.
B. Neither the teacher nor the administrators is responsible for the error.
🟢 C. The collection of rare manuscripts is kept in a climate-controlled room.
D. There is several reasons why the budget was rejected by the board.
🔴 RATIONALE: The subject "collection" is a singular collective noun, which requires the singular verb "is."
Options A, B, and D contain agreement errors between the subject and the verb.
, 2. Identify the error in the following sentence: "Walking to the store, the rain started to fall heavily, soaking
my clothes."
A. Lack of parallel structure
🟢 B. Dangling modifier
C. Subject-verb agreement
D. Incorrect pronoun case
🔴 RATIONALE: The phrase "Walking to the store" is a dangling modifier because it suggests the rain was
walking. The modifier should clearly refer to the person performing the action.
3. Which sentence correctly utilizes a semicolon?
A. She studied for the exam all night; but she still felt unprepared.
🟢 B. The research phase is complete; however, the final report is not yet drafted.
C. I bought three items; milk, bread, and eggs.
D. Because the weather was beautiful; we decided to have a picnic.
🔴 RATIONALE: A semicolon is correctly used to join two independent clauses linked by a conjunctive adverb
like "however."
4. Choose the word that best completes the sentence: "The committee's decision will have a significant
________ on the school's funding."
🟢 A. effect
B. affect
C. affects
D. effective
🔴 RATIONALE: "Effect" is a noun meaning the result or consequence of an action, which fits the grammatical
context of the sentence.
, 5. Which of the following sentences uses the objective pronoun case correctly?
A. Between you and I, the results were quite surprising.
B. Him and his brother are both certified teachers.
C. The principal gave the award to Sarah and she.
🟢 D. The supervisor invited the new interns and us to the meeting.
🔴 RATIONALE: "Us" is the correct objective case pronoun functioning as the object of the verb "invited."
6. In an argumentative essay, what is the primary purpose of a "counterargument"?
A. To prove the author is undecided about the topic.
🟢 B. To acknowledge and address opposing viewpoints to strengthen the main claim.
C. To provide a summary of the entire essay in the middle of the text.
D. To introduce new evidence that supports the thesis statement directly.
🔴 RATIONALE: Addressing a counterargument demonstrates a thorough understanding of the topic and
enhances the credibility of the author’s primary argument.
7. Which of the following sentences is a comma splice?
A. The bell rang, and the students hurried to their next class.
B. Although the bell rang, the students remained in their seats.
🟢 C. The bell rang, the students hurried to their next class.
D. The bell rang; therefore, the students hurried to their next class.
🔴 RATIONALE: A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a comma without a
coordinating conjunction.
8. Choose the most concise way to rewrite the following: "At this point in time, it is necessary that we should
begin the process of evaluating the data."
, A. Currently, it is necessary that we should begin to evaluate the data.
B. At this point, we need to begin the evaluation process of the data.
🟢 C. We must now begin evaluating the data.
D. Now is the time when we should start the process of evaluating data.
🔴 RATIONALE: Option C eliminates wordy phrases like "at this point in time" and "process of," conveying the
same meaning with fewer words.
9. Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?
🟢 A. The teachers' lounge was recently renovated.
B. The dog wagged it's tail happily.
C. All of the student's in the class passed the test.
D. Those book's belong to the library.
🔴 RATIONALE: "Teachers' lounge" correctly uses the apostrophe to show possession for a plural noun ending
in 's'.
10. Which transition word best indicates a contrast between two ideas?
A. Furthermore
B. Consequently
🟢 C. Conversely
D. Moreover
🔴 RATIONALE: "Conversely" is used to introduce an idea that is the opposite or reverse of the previous one.
11. Identify the correct sentence structure.
A. Running through the park, a squirrel was seen.
B. To win the race, practice is required every day.
