Writing Skills Test (CRA)

The following section contains only examples of the types of questions included in the test. It is not part of the test.

Read the instructions carefully for each section and try the sample test questions. Then compare your answers with the answer key at the end of this document.

Subtest 1: Spelling

Select that word that is misspelled from the four words shown by choosing a, b, c, or d.

1. 1. address
   2. prevelent
   3. reference
   4. accommodate

Select the word that is spelled correctly from the four words shown by choosing a, b, c, or d.

2. 1. accreditasion
   2. acreditation
   3. accreditation
   4. accredatation

Subtest 2: Grammar

Select the option which improves the bolded portion of the sentence and that is grammatically correct.

3. Sitting behind the noisy photocopier Yasmin and me could not hardly hear each other!

   Which change improves the bolded portion above?

   1. Yasmin and I could not hardly hear
   2. Yasmin and me did not hardly hear
   3. Yasmin and me could hardly hear
   4. Yasmin and I could hardly hear

   First, read the initial sentence and the four rewritten sentences which have similar meanings. Then, select the rewritten sentence that is most grammatically correct and that has exactly the same meaning as the original sentence.

4. A few changes were made to the procedures manual, which are highlighted in yellow below.

   Rewrite the sentence above beginning with: Below

   1. Below please find a few changes to the procedures manual, which are highlighted in yellow.
   2. Below, highlighted in yellow please find a few changes to the procedures manual.
   3. Below, a few changes to the procedures manual may be found highlighted in yellow.
   4. Below, may be found highlighted in yellow a few changes to the procedures manual.

Subtest 3: Vocabulary

Select the word that has the same meaning as the word in bold from among the four options that follow that word.

5. Impartial:
   1. fractional
   2. unbiased
   3. inequitable
   4. tolerant

Select which word best fits in the blanks by choosing a, b, c, or d.

6. In order to move forward, the focus group needed to reach __________on how to proceed.
   1. consensus
   2. direction
   3. purpose
   4. resolution

Subtest 4: Punctuation and capitalization

The question may contain the following types of punctuation:

Types of punctuation

Punctuation	Symbol
Comma	,
Period	.
Colon	:
Semicolon	;
Apostrophe	'
Quotation marks	" "
Question mark	?
Hyphen	-

Select the correctly written sentence.

7. The activities that were planned for the United Way campaign included a bake sale a raffle a 50/50 draw and the staffs favourite a karaoke contest.
   1. The activities that were planned for the United Way campaign included a bake sale, a raffle, a 50/50 draw, and the staffs favourite, a karaoke contest.
   2. The activities that were planned for the United Way campaign included a bake sale, a raffle, a 50/50 draw, and the staff’s favourite: a karaoke contest.
   3. The activities that were planned for the United Way campaign included: a bake sale a raffle a 50/50 draw and the staff’s favourite: a karaoke contest.
   4. The activities that were planned for the United Way campaign included a bake sale, a raffle, a 50/50 draw, and the staffs’ favourite: a karaoke contest.

Subtest 5: Sentence Sequencing

The following questions ask you to organize sentences to form coherent paragraphs. Read each sentence carefully, then select the most logical sequence for the sentences by choosing a, b, c, or d.

8. A. Employees are reminded not to block horizontal vents in window bays with items such as books and files.

   B. This reduces the supply of fresh air and promotes condensation on the glass.

   C. Condensation can cause water damage and even mould growth.

   D. When vents are blocked, air can't flow over the window.

   1. C-A-D-B
   2. A-D-B-C
   3. D-B-A-C
   4. A-B-D-C

Answer Key

1. Correct answer is b. The word "prevelent" is misspelled. The correct spelling is "prevalent."
2. Correct answer is c. The correct spelling is accreditation.
3. Correct answer is d. Yasmin and I could hardly hear.
4. Correct answer is a. Below please find a few changes to the procedures manual, which are highlighted in yellow.
5. Correct answer is b. The word "unbiased" is most similar in meaning to the word "impartial".
6. Correct answer is a. consensus.
7. Correct answer is b. The activities that were planned for the United Way campaign included a bake sale, a raffle, a 50/50 draw, and the staff’s favourite: a karaoke contest.
8. Correct answer is (b) A-D-B-C
   Sentence A introduces the topic of the paragraph.
   Sentence D presents the main idea of the paragraph.
   Sentence B gives further detail regarding the topic.
   Sentence C provides concluding information.