ParaPro Assessment Practice Test

Click “Start Test” above to start a free ParaPro Assessment practice test for the ETS paraprofessional exam! Get a head start by practicing Reading, Mathematics, and Writing questions before test day.

ParaPro Assessment Outline

The ParaPro Assessment contains 90 selected-response questions and has a time limit of 2.5 hours.

The exam is split into three subject areas:

I. Reading

The 30 questions in this area cover your reading skills and knowledge, as well as your ability to apply reading skills and knowledge to instruction in the classroom.

Reading skills and knowledge

• Determine the meaning of words and phrases
• Identify the main idea
• Identify supporting ideas
• Interpret information from tables, charts, diagrams, and graphs
• Identify how a text is organized
• Distinguish between fact and opinion
• Draw inferences from directly stated information

Application of reading skills and knowledge to classroom instruction

• Organize words in alphabetical order
• Sound out words
• Help students use prereading strategies
• Distinguish between synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms
• Accurately observe students’ ability to interpret text
• Decode words and phrases using context
• Break down words into their parts
• Interpret written directions
• Help students use a dictionary
• Help students understand a text

II. Mathematics

The 30 questions in this area cover your mathematical skills and knowledge, as well as your ability to apply mathematical concepts to real-life and abstract situations. Note that you will not be able to use a calculator for these questions.

You will be tested in three main areas:

1. Number sense and basic algebra
2. Geometry and measurement
3. Data analysis

III. Writing

The 30 questions in this area cover your writing skills and knowledge, as well as your ability to apply writing skills and knowledge to instruction in the classroom.

Writing skills and knowledge

• Word usage errors
• Spelling errors
• Punctuation errors
• Grammatical errors
• Parts of speech
• Parts of a sentence

Application of writing skills and knowledge to classroom instruction

• Write for different purposes and audiences
• Identify and use appropriate reference materials
• Recognize and write in different modes and forms
• Use rewriting to organize ideas
• Draft and revise
• Edit written documents for grammar and clarity

Registration

Registering for the ParaPro Assessment requires an ETS account and a Prometric account. Once you have created your ETS account, you can select the option to register for the ParaPro Assessment. Online registration is available 24/7, and appointments are scheduled year-round.

Registering for the exam differs slightly depending on the test delivery method.

In-person Testing

To register for the exam at a Prometric testing center, you should register online at the Prometric website. When you register, you will need to pay the $85 testing fee.

The test is also offered at participating school districts, regional offices of education, or other agencies. Check where the exam is provided if you want an alternative testing location. Once you’ve chosen your test center, register with the test center directly.

Remote Testing

Before registering for the at-home test, ensure your equipment and environment meet the minimum requirements, including a well-lit, quiet space without the presence of others and a workspace free of pens, paper, electronic devices, and resources that could provide an unfair advantage.

Once you have determined that you meet the minimum requirements for home delivery, register and schedule your appointment through ProProctor, Prometric’s online proctoring platform. The registration fee is $85.

Test Day

In-person Testing

You should arrive at the testing center about 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment to complete the pre-test activities. You need to present one valid, government-issued ID with a signature. Your first and last name on the ID must match the first and last name you registered under.

Calculators, writing utensils, beverages and snacks, electronic devices (cell phones, smart watches, etc.), and resource materials are prohibited. An online scratchpad tool is provided in the test program for note-taking.

Once you have completed the pre-test procedures, you are directed to your testing station, and your test begins.

Remote Testing

You can sign into the test delivery platform 30 minutes before your appointment. You will need the confirmation number from the email you received after registering, and you must present one valid, government-issued ID with a signature to the proctor. Your first and last name on the ID must match the first and last name you registered under.

Calculators, writing utensils, beverages and snacks, electronic devices (cell phones, smart watches, etc.), and resource materials are prohibited. An online scratchpad tool is provided in the test program for note-taking. In addition to the scratchpad tool, you are allowed a hand-held whiteboard (white), one whiteboard eraser, cloth, or tissue, and up to three dry-erase markers. Scratch paper is not permitted.

Before beginning the exam, the proctor will direct you to move the webcam around your testing space, and your clothing will be inspected visually. You may be asked to pull your hair back, roll your sleeves up and turn your pockets inside out.

Once the proctor is satisfied with your space and workstation and you have completed the pre-test activities, your exam begins.

Test Scores

Your ParaPro Assessment score is calculated using a scaled scoring system. This system takes your raw score (each correct question equals one raw point) and converts it to a scaled score ranging from 420 to 480. Each state sets the minimum passing score, so the score you need will be different depending on your state.

You’ll receive an unofficial score at the end of your test. If you test at home, your unofficial score will appear onscreen. If you test in person at a school, institution, or education service center, your unofficial score will appear onscreen and can be printed at the end of the test.

Your official score report will be posted in your ParaPro account and issued electronically to your designated score recipient about 2–3 weeks after your test date. Scores are valid for 10 years.

Retaking the ParaPro

If you did not pass the ParaPro Assessment or would like to increase your score, you can retake the exam as soon as you’d like. If you need to retake it more than once, you’ll need to wait at least seven days, after which you can retake it two more times.

To schedule your retake after the waiting period, register and pay for the exam using the same procedures you used to register initially. There is no reduction in the registration fee for retake exams.

How to Prepare

Start with a ParaPro Practice Test

Before creating your study schedule, take a ParaPro practice test to establish a starting point. You don’t need to wait until you’ve reviewed every topic. At this stage, the goal is to identify where your preparation time will have the greatest effect.

Review your results by section:

• Reading: Can you identify main ideas and supporting information, determine word meanings based on context, distignuish fact from opinion, and help students with their reading comprehension skills?
• Math: Do you understand basic operations, basic geometry, coordinate graphs, sequences, exponents, measurement principles, and estimation?
• Writing: Do you have a firm grasp of English grammar, punctuation, parts of speech, spelling, sentence structure, and word usage?

Identifying those specific weaknesses will show you where to devote more attention during your study time.

Review Difficult Questions

After each practice session, review every question you answered incorrectly AND every question you guessed on or answered with low confidence. A correct guess does not demonstrate that you fully grasp a topic.

For each difficult question, determine which of the following caused the problem:

• You misread what the question was asking.
• You selected an answer that seemed true but was not supported by the passage.
• You made an inference that went beyond the available evidence.
• You used the wrong operation or method to solve a math problem.
• You misunderstood the mathematical language in a word problem.
• You failed to recognize why a student’s mathematical work was incorrect.
• You relied on how a sentence sounded rather than identifying the grammar rule.
• You corrected one writing problem while creating another.
• You spent too long on one question and rushed later questions.

Then, outline a specific plan for improvement based on what you discovered. In other words, don’t just say, “I need to study math.” Specify that you need to review converting between fractions, decimals, and percentages.

Similarly, replace “study reading” with a specific task such as practicing identifying the main idea of a passage and distinguishing it from the supporting details.

Utilize Answer Explanations

Answer explanations are an underutilized studying resource. To take full advantage of them, read the explanation for every question you found difficult, including questions you answered correctly.

For each one, make sure you can confidently explain:

1. Why the correct answer is correct
2. Why each incorrect answer is wrong
3. What reading, writing, or mathematics skill is being tested
4. Which information in the question supports the answer
5. Whether the question tests the skill itself or its application in a classroom
6. How the same skill could appear in a different ParaPro question

For reading questions, identify the exact activity being tested. Receiving a controlled substance, refilling its prescription, transferring it, reporting a loss, returning it, and destroying it are separate processes. Don’t choose an answer because it agrees with something you already know about the topic. Base the answer on the material provided.

For math questions, ask yourself what the problem is really asking for, identify all relevant numbers and units, check whether your answer is reasonable, and determine if a different method could solve the problem more clearly.

Study How to Support Learning, Not Individual Questions

According to ETS, about one-third of the questions in each subject area require you to apply your knowledge in a classroom context. This means that knowing how to answer practice questions isn’t enough.

When working through classroom scenarios, use a repeatable process:

1. Identify what the student is trying to learn.
2. Examine the student’s work or response.
3. Determine what the student already understands.
4. Identify the specific misunderstanding.
5. Select an appropriate prompt, question, example, or strategy.
6. Help the student complete the reasoning rather than simply doing the work for them.

The strongest answer will not necessarily be the one that solves the student’s problem fastest. Look for the response that appropriately supports the student’s understanding of the skill being taught.

ParaPro Online Prep Course

If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online ParaPro prep course designed to give you everything you need to succeed!

Here’s what you’ll find in the ParaPro course:

Everyone learns differently, so we’ve tailored the ParaPro online prep course to ensure every learner has what they need to prepare for the ParaPro exam.

Click below to check it out!

FAQs

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