The vocabulary portion of the exam uses both vocabulary that is typical for the average second grader, as well as more advanced words to test the boundaries of a student's knowledge. Students are asked to choose the correct definition of a word from multiple choices and fill in the corresponding circle for the definition they think is most correct.
Passage comprehension is used to determine if a student can retain what they have read and interpret it effectively. Passages are usually basic and have a clear topic and thesis that students must respond to through multiple-choice questions after reading the corresponding paragraph.
Reading words in context is a mix between the vocabulary definitions and passage comprehension sections, in which students see words in bold contained within an actual sentence. They are to choose between multiple options what is the best definition of the word based on its context to the words around it.
The grammar portion of the test determines if a student is familiar with mechanical conventions in reading and can accurately identify incorrect usage, misspelling, and other flaws appropriate to the second-grade age group and above. The students are presented with sample sentences and must determine what the flaw of the sentence is, if any, through choosing between multiple answers.