ELAR Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield ELAR facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which word choice makes the sentence most precise? 'The scientist _____ the results of the experiment in her report.' → analyzed
2. A student re-reads a confusing paragraph and then summarizes it in their own words. Which comprehension repair strategy are they using? → Paraphrasing and re-reading
3. A teacher wants to build a culturally responsive classroom library. Which action is MOST effective? → Include texts featuring diverse characters, authors, and cultural perspectives
4. Why is inclusion important in education? → To support all students equitably
5. Which context clue strategy involves using the overall meaning of a paragraph to determine an unfamiliar word's meaning? → General context clues
6. A student reads 'was' as 'saw.' This type of error is called a: → Reversal
7. Which listening strategy involves restating what you heard in your own words to confirm understanding? → Paraphrasing
8. Which type of appeal relies on the speaker's credibility and trustworthiness? → Ethos
9. The prefix 'mis-' in the word 'misinterpret' means: → wrongly or badly
10. A passage states: 'Unlike his outspoken sister, Marcus rarely shared his feelings.' What type of context clue helps define 'outspoken'? → Antonym clue
11. A passage compares how plants and animals respond to cold weather. Which text structure is this an example of? → Compare and contrast
12. A teacher is working with a student whose IEP includes extended time on reading assessments. The MOST appropriate action is to: → Implement the accommodation consistently on all applicable assessments as written
13. A podcast is BEST described as: → A digital audio program available for streaming or download on demand
14. Which of the following words contains a consonant blend? → street
15. Which of the following BEST defines 'digital citizenship' in media education? → Using digital technology responsibly, ethically, and safely
16. What does the Latin root 'aud' mean in words like 'audible' and 'audience'? → to hear
17. A student delivering a speech pauses frequently, speaks softly, and avoids looking up from the page. These behaviors most likely indicate: → Lack of confidence or preparation
18. What does differentiated instruction aim to do? → Tailor teaching to student needs
19. The MAIN purpose of a public service announcement (PSA) is to: → Inform or persuade the public about a social issue
20. In a research paper, signal phrases are used to: → Introduce quotations or paraphrases by identifying the source
21. When analyzing the strength of an argument in a persuasive informational text, a student should primarily focus on the: → quality and relevance of the evidence supporting the author's claim.
22. An author writes: 'The city was a jungle—dangerous, unpredictable, and full of predators.' What type of figurative language is this? → Metaphor
23. When analyzing informational text, what is the purpose of identifying the author's use of statistics and expert quotes? → To evaluate the evidence supporting the author's claims
24. A reading specialist recommends 'word sorting' activities in which students categorize words by spelling pattern. This activity primarily develops: → Orthographic and phonics pattern knowledge
25. Mr. Davies wants to teach his 7th-grade students how to be active listeners. Which of the following is a key component he should model and teach? → Paraphrasing the speaker's main points to confirm understanding before responding.
26. Which Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principle guides a teacher to offer text in audio format alongside the printed version? → Multiple means of representation
27. Which approach BEST supports a student who is a strong oral communicator but struggles to transfer ideas to writing? → Use dictation tools or structured oral-to-written activities as a bridge
28. Which of the following is an example of a CLOSED research question? → Did the number of U.S. households with internet access increase between 2010 and 2020?
29. A student is giving a speech and notices confused looks in the audience. The BEST immediate response is to: → Pause, clarify the point, and check for understanding
30. A student with ADHD has difficulty sustaining attention during independent reading. Which accommodation is MOST directly aligned to this need? → Break reading into shorter timed segments with brief movement breaks