T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s D O M A I N I READING... 1 C O M P E T E N C Y 1 Determine the meaning of words and phrases... 3 Skill 1.1: Use the context of a passage to determine the meaning of words with multiple meanings, unfamiliar and uncommon words and phrases, and figurative expressions...3 Skill 1.2: Using figurative expressions...7 C O M P E T E N C Y 2 Understand the main idea and supporting details in written material... 9 Skill 2.1: Identify explicit and implicit main ideas...9 Skill 2.2: Recognize ideas that support, illustrate, or elaborate the main idea of a passage... 10 C O M P E T E N C Y 3 Identify a writer s purpose, point of view, and intended meaning...12 Skill 3.1: Recognize a writer s expressed or implied purpose for writing... 12 Skill 3.2: Evaluate the appropriateness of written material for a specific purpose or audience... 13 Skill 3.3: Recognize the likely effect on an audience of a writer s choice of words... 13 Skill 3.4: Use the content, word choice, and phrasing of a passage to determine a writer s opinion or point of view... 14 C O M P E T E N C Y 4 Analyze the relationship among ideas in written material...16 Skill 4.1: Identify sequence of events or steps... 16 Skill 4.2: Identify cause-effect relationships... 17 Skill 4.3: Analyze relationships between ideas in opposition... 18 Skill 4.4: Identify solutions to problems... 18 Skill 4.5: Draw conclusions inductively and deductively from information stated or implied in a passage... 20 iii
THEA C O M P E T E N C Y 5 Use critical reasoning skills to evaluate written material...22 Skill 5.1: Evaluate the stated or implied assumptions on which the validity of a writer s argument depends... 22 Skill 5.2: Judge the relevance or importance of facts, examples, or graphic data to a writer s argument... 22 Skill 5.3: Evaluate the logic of a writer s argument... 23 Skill 5.4: Evaluate the validity of analogies... 25 Skill 5.5: Distinguish between fact and opinion... 26 Skill 5.6: Assess the credibility or objectivity of a writer or source of written material... 28 C O M P E T E N C Y 6 Apply study skills to reading assignments...31 Skill 6.1: Organize and summarize information for study purposes... 31 Skill 6.2: Follow written instructions or directions... 32 Skill 6.3: Interpret information presented in charts, graphs, or tables... 33 D O M A I N I i MATHEMATICS...35 FUNDAMENTAL MATHEMATICS... 39 C O M P E T E N C Y 7 Solve word problems involving integers, fractions, decimals, and units. of measurement...39 Skill 7.1: Solve word problems involving integers, fractions, decimals (including percents), ratios, and proportions... 39 Skill 7.2: Understand units of measurement and conversions (including scientific notation)... 52 C O M P E T E N C Y 8 Solve problems involving data interpretation and analysis...57 Skill 8.1: Interpret information from line graphs, bar graphs, pictographs, pie charts, and tables... 57 Skill 8.2: Recognize appropriate graphic representations of various data... 60 Skill 8.3: Analyze and interpret data using measures of central tendency (mean, median, and mode)... 60 Skill 8.4: Analyze and interpret data using the concept of variability... 61 iv T H E A T e x a s H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n A s s e s s m e n t
ALGEBRA... 63 C O M P E T E N C Y 9 Graph numbers or number relationships...63 Skill 9.1: Identify the graph of a given equation or a given inequality, find the slope and/or intercepts of a given line, and find the equation of a line... 63 Skill 9.2: Recognize and interpret information from the graph of a function (including direct and inverse variation)... 68 C O M P E T E N C Y 1 0 Solve one- and two-variable equations...70 Skill 10.1: Find the value of the unknown in a given one-variable equation... 70 Skill 10.2: Express one variable in terms of a second variable in two-variable equations... 71 Skill 10.3: Solve systems of two equations in two variables (including graphical solutions)... 72 C O M P E T E N C Y 1 1 Solve word problems involving one and two variables...73 Skill 11.1: Identify the algebraic equivalent of a stated relationship and solve word problems involving one and two unknowns... 73 C O M P E T E N C Y 1 2 Understand operations with algebraic expressions and functional notation...77 Skill 12.1: Factoring quadratics... 77 Skill 12.2: Performing operations on and simplifying polynomial expressions... 78 Skill 12.3: Understand rational expressions and radical expressions... 78 Skill 12.4: Apply principles of functions and functional notation... 86 C O M P E T E N C Y 1 3 Solve problems involving quadratic equations...88 Skill 13.1: Graph quadratic functions and quadratic inequalities... 88 Skill 13.2: Solve quadratic equations using factoring, completing the square, or the quadratic formula... 92 Skill 13.3: Solve problems involving quadratic models... 94 GEOMETRY... 98 C O M P E T E N C Y 1 4 Solve problems involving geometric figures...98 Skill 14.1: Solve problems involving two-dimensional geometric figures (e.g., perimeter and area problems)... 98 Skill 14.2: Solve problems involving three-dimensional geometric figures (e.g., volume and surface area problems)...104 Skill 14.3: Solve problems using the Pythagorean theorem...106 v
THEA C O M P E T E N C Y 1 5 Solve problems involving geometric concepts... 108 Skill 15.1: Solve problems using principles of similarity, congruence, parallelism, and perpendicularity...108 PROBLEM SOLVING...112 C O M P E T E N C Y 1 6 Apply reasoning skills... 112 Skill 16.1: Draw conclusions using inductive and deductive reasoning...112 C O M P E T E N C Y 1 7 Solve applied problems involving a combination of mathematical skills... 118 Skill 17.1: Apply combinations of mathematical skills to solve problems and to solve a series of related problems...118 D O M A I N I I I WRITING... 119 ELEMENTS OF COMPOSITION...121 C O M P E T E N C Y 1 8 Recognize purpose and audience... 122 Skill 18.1: Recognize writing that is appropriate for a given purpose...122 Skill 18.2: Recognize writing that is appropriate for a given audience and occasion...122 C O M P E T E N C Y 1 9 Recognize unity, focus, and development in writing... 122 Skill 19.1: Recognize unnecessary shifts in point of view or distracting details that impair the development of the main idea in a piece of writing...122 Skill 19.2: Recognize revisions that improve the unity and focus of a piece of writing...123 Skill 19.3: Recognize examples of well-developed writing...125 C O M P E T E N C Y 2 0 Recognize effective organization in writing... 127 Skill 20.1: Recognize methods of paragraph organization and the appropriate use of transitional words or phrases to convey text structure...127 Skill 20.2: Reorganize sentences to improve cohesion and the effective sequence of ideas...131 vi T H E A T e x a s H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n A s s e s s m e n t
SENTENCE STRUCTURE, USAGE, AND MECHANICS...132 C O M P E T E N C Y 2 1 Recognize effective sentences... 132 Skill 21.1: Recognize ineffective repetition and inefficiency in sentence construction...132 Skill 21.2: Identify sentence fragments and run-on sentences...134 Skill 21.3: Identify standard subject-verb agreement...137 Skill 21.4: Identify standard placement of modifiers, parallel structure, and use of negatives in sentence formation...140 Skill 21.5: Recognize imprecise and inappropriate word choice...143 C O M P E T E N C Y 2 2 Recognize edited American English usage... 146.skill 22.1: Recognize the standard use of verb forms and pronouns...146 Skill 22.2: Recognize the standard formation and use of adverbs, adjectives, comparatives, superlatives, and plural and possessive forms of nouns...152 Skill 22.3:..Recognize standard punctuation...156 S A M P L E T E S T Reading... 165 Answer Key...172 Rigor Table...173 Sample Test with Rationales...174 MATH... 187 Answer Key...198 Rigor Table...199 Sample Test with Rationales...200 writing... 225 Answer Key...235 Rigor Table...236 Sample Test with Rationales...237 vii