RICA TEST PREP QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
What=are=the=3=primary=purposes=of=reading=assessment?=-=ans-
✔✔1.=Entry=Level=Assessments=-
=they=are=implemented=prior=to=instruction=to=determine=which=students=have=already=
mastered=the=skills=that=are=going=to=be=taught=and=which=posess=the=prerequisite=skil
ls=and=knowledge.
2.=Monitoring=of=Progress=Assessments=-
=during=the=instructional=unit,=tell=which=students=are=making=adequate=progress=towar
d=the=standard.
3.=Summative=Assessments=-
=determines=which=students=have=achieved=the=target=standard,=some=measure=stude
nt=achievement=of=a=single=standard,=where=as=others,=often=given=quarterly,=midyear=
and=at=the=end=of=the=year,=measure=many=standards.
What=are=some=alternative=assessments=for=students=with=an=IEP=or=Section=504=pla
n?=-=ans-✔✔1.=Give=Students=More=Time
2.=Divide=the=Assessment=into=smaller=units=(spread=over=2=days).=
3.=Change=the=mode=of=delivery=(ask=the=student=to=tell,=rather=than=write).
4.=Provide=Practice=Assessments.
5.=Provide=A=Simpler=Version=of=the=Assessment=(if=the=student=does=not=read=at=the=
5th=gtade=level,=give=them=something=that=is=at=a=simpler=level=and=note=that=the=stan
dard=was=not=met).
Quality=Indicators=That=Apply=to=Standardized=Assessments=-=ans-✔✔1.=Reliability
B.=Validity
C.=How=to=Interpret=the=Results=of=Standardized=Tests
What=Assessments=Are=Used=to=Determine=Students'=Reading=Levels?=-=ans-
✔✔1.=Informal=Reading=Inventories=(IRI)
2.=Word=Recognition=Lists
3.=Graded=Reading=Passages
What=is=an=Informal=Reading=Inventory?=-=ans-
✔✔An=IRI=us=a=collection=of=assessments=administered=individually=to=students.=For=a
n=IRI,=one=adult=gives=the=assessments=to=one=student.=The=selection=of=the=IRI=depe
nds=on=the=students=reading=level.
,What=are=some=types=of=assessments=that=are=included=in=an=Informal=Reading=Inven
tory=(IRI)?=-=ans-✔✔1.=Word=Recognition=Lists
2.=Graded=Reading=Passages
3.=Reading=Interest=Survey
4.=Assessments=Measuring=Concepts=about=Print
5.=Phonemic=Awareness=Assessments
6.=Phonics=Assessments
7.=Assessments=of=Reading=Fluency
8.=Structural=Analysis=Assessments
9.=Vocabulary=Assessments
10.=Spelling=Tests
What=is=the=purpose=of=a=word=recognition=list?=-=ans-✔✔They=serve=3=purposes:
1.=to=provide=a=rough=guess=of=the=child's=reading=level=so=that=whoever=is=administer
ing=the=tests=knows=where=to=start=on=the=graded=reading=passages.
2.=to=provide=information=on=the=child's="sight"=vocabulary,=the=words=the=child=can=co
rrectly=identify
3.=provide=information=about=the=student's=ability=to=use=sound-
symbol=relationships=(phonics)=to=decode=words.=The=child's=errors=will=provide=a=parti
al=picture=of=what=letters=and=letter=combinations=the=child=knows=and=which=ones=he=
or=she=needs=to=learn.
Which=Assessment=is=the=most=important=part=of=the=IRI?=-=ans-
✔✔The=graded=reading=passages.
What=is=a=miscue=analysis?=-=ans-
✔✔Examining=a=record=of=a=student's=oral=reading=to=identify=and=classify=errors.=(=a=
student=reads=aloud=a=passage=and=the=teacher=keeps=a=detailed=record=of=the=stude
nt's=performance).
What=are=Graphophonemic=Errors?=-=ans-✔✔These=errors=are=related=to=the=sound-
symbol=relationships=for=English,=such=as=reading=feather=or=father.=The=words=sound
s=alike,=but=feather=wouldn't=make=sense=in=a=sentence=where=the=correct=word=is=fat
her.=A=child=who=repeatedly=makes=graphophonemic=errors=is=either=a)=reading=word=
by=word=and=depending=too=much=on=phonics=to=decode=each=word=b)=reading=a=pas
sage=that=is=too=difficult,=or=they=are=not=using=the=meaning=of=the=sentences=and=par
agraphs=to=decode=words=(contextual=clues).
What=are=Semantic=Errors?=-=ans-✔✔Semantic=Errors=are=meaning-
related=errors,=such=as=reading=dad=for=father.=The=student=has=relied=too=much=on=th
e=semantic=cueing=system=-
=and=hasn't=used=graphophonemic=clues.=A=child=who=repeatedly=makes=semantic=err
ors=understands=what=the=are=reading=but=needs=to=be=taught=to=use=phonics=skills=to
=be=sure=that=every=word=read=makes=sense=from=a=graphophonemic=sense.
, What=are=common=strategies=for=struggling=readers=and=students=with=learning=disabil
ities?=-=ans-✔✔1.=re-
teach=what=is=not=mastered.=Use=visual,=kinesthetic,=and=tactile=activities.
2.=Teach=things=in=manageable=units.
3.=Provide=concrete=examples
What=are=common=strategies=meeting=the=needs=for=EL=and=Speakers=of=Non-
standard=English?=-=ans-
✔✔1.=Take=advantage=of=transfer=of=relevant=skills=and=knowledge=from=the=first=lang
uage
=a)=English/Spanish=cognates:=active/activo,=
=artist/artista,=color/color
2.=Teach=vocabulary=with=concrete=items,=pictures,=charts=and=diagrams
3.=Modeling
What=are=common=strategies=for=meeting=the=needs=of=Advanced=Learners?=-=ans-
✔✔1.=Increase=the=pace=and=complexity=of=instruction
2.=Extend=the=depth=(same=topic)=and=breadth=(additional=topics)=of=instruction
3.=Build=on=and=extending=current=skills
What=are=the=English-
Language=Arts=Content=Standards=for=California=Public=Schools=K-12?=-=ans-
✔✔These=standards=state=what=every=child=should=know=and=be=able=to=do=at=each=g
rade=level.=All=textbooks=purchased=with=money=from=the=state=of=CA=are=aligned=with
=these=standards.=The=STAR=test=measures=students=achievement=of=the=standards.=
*=All=of=your=instructional=decisions,=including=materials=you=choose,=how=to=group=stu
dents,=the=activities=you=plan,=and=the=pace=of=your=teaching,=should=enable=every=st
udent=to=achieve=each=of=the=standards=for=your=grade=level.
What=is=the=California=Reading/Language=Arts=Framework=for=CA=Public=Schools,=K-
12?=-=ans-
✔✔The=framework=provides=guidelines=on=what=should=be=taught=at=grade=level=and=
how=to=assess=and=teach=that=content.
What=is=the=difference=between=a=skill=and=a=strategy?=-=ans-
✔✔A=skill=is=something=that=a=reader=does=automatically=(or=with=automaticity)=The=a
bility=to=decode=is=a=skill.=For=example,=knowing=that=the=c=in=cake=is="hard"=and=mak
es=the="k"=sound,=whereas=the=c=in=city=is="soft"=and=makes=the=s=sound.
A=strategy=is=something=a=reader=consciously=chooses=to=implement.=For=example,=a=
reader=may=want=to=get=an=overview=of=a=chapter,=so=she=previews=the=chapter=by=re
ading=the=first=paragraph,=all=the=subtitles=and=chapter=summary.
What=is=systematic=instruction?=-=ans-
✔✔systematic=instruction=is=when=the=teacher=knows=what=skills=to=teach=(defined=by=
content=standards)=and=assessment=drives=the=instruction.=Those=students=who=are=n
ot=acquiring=a=skill=or=strategy=are=grouped=together=for=additional=lessons.
ANSWERS
What=are=the=3=primary=purposes=of=reading=assessment?=-=ans-
✔✔1.=Entry=Level=Assessments=-
=they=are=implemented=prior=to=instruction=to=determine=which=students=have=already=
mastered=the=skills=that=are=going=to=be=taught=and=which=posess=the=prerequisite=skil
ls=and=knowledge.
2.=Monitoring=of=Progress=Assessments=-
=during=the=instructional=unit,=tell=which=students=are=making=adequate=progress=towar
d=the=standard.
3.=Summative=Assessments=-
=determines=which=students=have=achieved=the=target=standard,=some=measure=stude
nt=achievement=of=a=single=standard,=where=as=others,=often=given=quarterly,=midyear=
and=at=the=end=of=the=year,=measure=many=standards.
What=are=some=alternative=assessments=for=students=with=an=IEP=or=Section=504=pla
n?=-=ans-✔✔1.=Give=Students=More=Time
2.=Divide=the=Assessment=into=smaller=units=(spread=over=2=days).=
3.=Change=the=mode=of=delivery=(ask=the=student=to=tell,=rather=than=write).
4.=Provide=Practice=Assessments.
5.=Provide=A=Simpler=Version=of=the=Assessment=(if=the=student=does=not=read=at=the=
5th=gtade=level,=give=them=something=that=is=at=a=simpler=level=and=note=that=the=stan
dard=was=not=met).
Quality=Indicators=That=Apply=to=Standardized=Assessments=-=ans-✔✔1.=Reliability
B.=Validity
C.=How=to=Interpret=the=Results=of=Standardized=Tests
What=Assessments=Are=Used=to=Determine=Students'=Reading=Levels?=-=ans-
✔✔1.=Informal=Reading=Inventories=(IRI)
2.=Word=Recognition=Lists
3.=Graded=Reading=Passages
What=is=an=Informal=Reading=Inventory?=-=ans-
✔✔An=IRI=us=a=collection=of=assessments=administered=individually=to=students.=For=a
n=IRI,=one=adult=gives=the=assessments=to=one=student.=The=selection=of=the=IRI=depe
nds=on=the=students=reading=level.
,What=are=some=types=of=assessments=that=are=included=in=an=Informal=Reading=Inven
tory=(IRI)?=-=ans-✔✔1.=Word=Recognition=Lists
2.=Graded=Reading=Passages
3.=Reading=Interest=Survey
4.=Assessments=Measuring=Concepts=about=Print
5.=Phonemic=Awareness=Assessments
6.=Phonics=Assessments
7.=Assessments=of=Reading=Fluency
8.=Structural=Analysis=Assessments
9.=Vocabulary=Assessments
10.=Spelling=Tests
What=is=the=purpose=of=a=word=recognition=list?=-=ans-✔✔They=serve=3=purposes:
1.=to=provide=a=rough=guess=of=the=child's=reading=level=so=that=whoever=is=administer
ing=the=tests=knows=where=to=start=on=the=graded=reading=passages.
2.=to=provide=information=on=the=child's="sight"=vocabulary,=the=words=the=child=can=co
rrectly=identify
3.=provide=information=about=the=student's=ability=to=use=sound-
symbol=relationships=(phonics)=to=decode=words.=The=child's=errors=will=provide=a=parti
al=picture=of=what=letters=and=letter=combinations=the=child=knows=and=which=ones=he=
or=she=needs=to=learn.
Which=Assessment=is=the=most=important=part=of=the=IRI?=-=ans-
✔✔The=graded=reading=passages.
What=is=a=miscue=analysis?=-=ans-
✔✔Examining=a=record=of=a=student's=oral=reading=to=identify=and=classify=errors.=(=a=
student=reads=aloud=a=passage=and=the=teacher=keeps=a=detailed=record=of=the=stude
nt's=performance).
What=are=Graphophonemic=Errors?=-=ans-✔✔These=errors=are=related=to=the=sound-
symbol=relationships=for=English,=such=as=reading=feather=or=father.=The=words=sound
s=alike,=but=feather=wouldn't=make=sense=in=a=sentence=where=the=correct=word=is=fat
her.=A=child=who=repeatedly=makes=graphophonemic=errors=is=either=a)=reading=word=
by=word=and=depending=too=much=on=phonics=to=decode=each=word=b)=reading=a=pas
sage=that=is=too=difficult,=or=they=are=not=using=the=meaning=of=the=sentences=and=par
agraphs=to=decode=words=(contextual=clues).
What=are=Semantic=Errors?=-=ans-✔✔Semantic=Errors=are=meaning-
related=errors,=such=as=reading=dad=for=father.=The=student=has=relied=too=much=on=th
e=semantic=cueing=system=-
=and=hasn't=used=graphophonemic=clues.=A=child=who=repeatedly=makes=semantic=err
ors=understands=what=the=are=reading=but=needs=to=be=taught=to=use=phonics=skills=to
=be=sure=that=every=word=read=makes=sense=from=a=graphophonemic=sense.
, What=are=common=strategies=for=struggling=readers=and=students=with=learning=disabil
ities?=-=ans-✔✔1.=re-
teach=what=is=not=mastered.=Use=visual,=kinesthetic,=and=tactile=activities.
2.=Teach=things=in=manageable=units.
3.=Provide=concrete=examples
What=are=common=strategies=meeting=the=needs=for=EL=and=Speakers=of=Non-
standard=English?=-=ans-
✔✔1.=Take=advantage=of=transfer=of=relevant=skills=and=knowledge=from=the=first=lang
uage
=a)=English/Spanish=cognates:=active/activo,=
=artist/artista,=color/color
2.=Teach=vocabulary=with=concrete=items,=pictures,=charts=and=diagrams
3.=Modeling
What=are=common=strategies=for=meeting=the=needs=of=Advanced=Learners?=-=ans-
✔✔1.=Increase=the=pace=and=complexity=of=instruction
2.=Extend=the=depth=(same=topic)=and=breadth=(additional=topics)=of=instruction
3.=Build=on=and=extending=current=skills
What=are=the=English-
Language=Arts=Content=Standards=for=California=Public=Schools=K-12?=-=ans-
✔✔These=standards=state=what=every=child=should=know=and=be=able=to=do=at=each=g
rade=level.=All=textbooks=purchased=with=money=from=the=state=of=CA=are=aligned=with
=these=standards.=The=STAR=test=measures=students=achievement=of=the=standards.=
*=All=of=your=instructional=decisions,=including=materials=you=choose,=how=to=group=stu
dents,=the=activities=you=plan,=and=the=pace=of=your=teaching,=should=enable=every=st
udent=to=achieve=each=of=the=standards=for=your=grade=level.
What=is=the=California=Reading/Language=Arts=Framework=for=CA=Public=Schools,=K-
12?=-=ans-
✔✔The=framework=provides=guidelines=on=what=should=be=taught=at=grade=level=and=
how=to=assess=and=teach=that=content.
What=is=the=difference=between=a=skill=and=a=strategy?=-=ans-
✔✔A=skill=is=something=that=a=reader=does=automatically=(or=with=automaticity)=The=a
bility=to=decode=is=a=skill.=For=example,=knowing=that=the=c=in=cake=is="hard"=and=mak
es=the="k"=sound,=whereas=the=c=in=city=is="soft"=and=makes=the=s=sound.
A=strategy=is=something=a=reader=consciously=chooses=to=implement.=For=example,=a=
reader=may=want=to=get=an=overview=of=a=chapter,=so=she=previews=the=chapter=by=re
ading=the=first=paragraph,=all=the=subtitles=and=chapter=summary.
What=is=systematic=instruction?=-=ans-
✔✔systematic=instruction=is=when=the=teacher=knows=what=skills=to=teach=(defined=by=
content=standards)=and=assessment=drives=the=instruction.=Those=students=who=are=n
ot=acquiring=a=skill=or=strategy=are=grouped=together=for=additional=lessons.
