ParaPathways Reading & Writing Test (5758)
This is the reading and writing half of the new ParaPathways exam. Here is exactly what you will see, how it is scored, and three worked questions so you know what to expect on test day.
What the Reading & Writing subtest covers
Think of this subtest as two close cousins sharing one score. About two-thirds of the 51 questions check your own basic reading and writing skills, and about one-third ask how you would use those skills to help a student in a real classroom. You do not need to teach a lesson here. You just need to read carefully, write correctly, and make a sensible choice about how to support a learner.
Reading skills
You will find the main idea, draw inferences, figure out vocabulary in context, and recognize how a text is structured. Most questions follow a short passage, so you read first and then answer.
Writing skills
These questions cover grammar, usage, and mechanics, plus revising sentences so they read clearly and correctly. You pick the better version, fix an error, or choose the word that fits.
Classroom application
About a third of the questions ask how you would use these skills to support a student, like spotting where a learner is stuck and choosing a helpful next step.
How it is scored
The Reading & Writing subtest is reported on a scale of 310 to 350. ETS recommends a passing score of 332, but your state can set its own cut score, so always check the requirement where you plan to work.
One thing that surprises people: this subtest score is separate from the math score. The two halves of ParaPathways are reported on their own scales, so a strong reading and writing result does not cover a weak math result, and the reverse is true too. You want to clear the bar on both.
See the passing score for your stateWorked sample questions
Read each one, decide on your answer, and then check the explanation. The goal is not just the right letter. It is seeing why the right answer is right and why the traps are tempting.
"Several schools have started moving recess to before lunch instead of after. In districts that made the switch, students threw away less food, drank more water, and came back to class calmer and ready to work. Cafeteria staff also noticed fewer half-eaten trays."
Which sentence best states the main idea of the passage?
- A. Students should drink more water during the day.
- B. Holding recess before lunch leads to several benefits. ✓
- C. Cafeteria staff do not like cleaning up trays.
- D. Schools serve lunch later than they used to.
Choose the verb that makes the sentence correct. "The box of crayons ______ on the back shelf."
- A. sit
- B. sits ✓
- C. are sitting
- D. were sitting
A student reads a paragraph aloud smoothly but cannot answer any questions about what it was about. As a paraprofessional, which support best fits what this student needs?
- A. Have the student read the paragraph aloud again, faster.
- B. Ask the student to retell the paragraph in their own words, then talk it through together. ✓
- C. Give the student a longer and harder passage.
- D. Time how quickly the student reads the next page.
How to study for Reading & Writing
You do not need a stack of textbooks. A few focused habits will move your score more than hours of passive reading.
Read the passage before the questions
Get the whole picture first. Once you know what the passage is saying, the questions go faster and you guess less.
Answer only from the passage
Pick the choice the text actually supports, not the one that sounds true in general. If you cannot point to a line that backs it up, it is probably a trap.
Learn the high-frequency grammar confusions
A handful show up again and again: its versus it's, their versus there versus they're, and subject-verb agreement. Nail these and you catch easy points.
Practice retelling for comprehension
After you read something, say it back in your own words. If you can retell it, you understood it. If you cannot, that is your signal to reread.
Do timed practice
With 51 questions in 85 minutes, pacing matters. Practice with a clock so test day feels familiar, not rushed.
Ready to see where you stand?
Start with a free diagnostic to find your strong spots and your gaps, then dig into the study book to close them.
