Comprehensive TEAS Exam Overview and Sentence Structure Study Guide

Evaluation of Exam Breakdown and Weighting

• Reading Section Overview     - There are a total of $15$ questions focused on key ideas and details.     - The section includes $9$ questions regarding craft and structure.     - There are $15$ questions centered on the integration of knowledge and ideas.     - Broad categories covered include:         - Persuasion and narration.         - Exploring and expressing facts and opinions.         - Sequence, problem solving, and description.         - Compare and contrast.         - Synthesis and integration of knowledge (e.g., determining if an author is a good source and can be trusted).
• Math Section Breakdown     - The math portion consists of $38$ questions total, accounting for $23\%$ of the exam.     - Numbers and Algebra: $18$ questions. This covers equations, expressions, and linear expressions.     - Measurement and Data: $16$ questions. This includes upcoming topics on statistics, probability, and geometry (triangles and other shapes).
• Science Section Breakdown     - Science represents the largest portion at $29\%$ of the exam, totaling $50$ questions.     - Human Anatomy and Physiology (A&P): $18$ questions.         - Students must know the organs of the digestive system.         - Comparison between the Central Nervous System ($CNS$) and the Peripheral Nervous System ($VNS$ was noted, likely referring to the Peripheral or Autonomic system).         - Respiratory system components.         - Blood flow path through the heart (e.g., the journey of a drop of blood).     - Biology: $9$ questions.         - Focal points include DNA, RNA, and the Central Dogma of biology.     - Chemistry: $8$ questions.         - Primary focus on acids and bases and general understanding of the periodic table.         - Knowledge of electronegativity and periodic table trends (no memorization of the table itself required).     - Scientific Reasoning: $9$ questions.         - Focuses on understanding scientific experiments.         - Identification of independent variables, dependent variables, and controls.
• English and Language Usage (Grammar)     - This section constitutes $22\%$ of the exam with $33$ total questions.     - Conventions of Standard English: Includes the eight parts of speech and sentence structure.     - Knowledge of Language: Testing the ability to identify parts of speech and using vocabulary to express ideas in writing.     - Sentence Structures: Proficiency in four different sentence structure types.

General Exam Logistics and Timing

• Total Duration and Question Count     - The entire exam allows for $209$ minutes.     - There are $170$ total questions.     - Only $150$ questions are graded; $20$ questions are ungraded pilot questions for future exams.     - Candidates will not know which questions are ungraded and should treat all $170$ as if they count toward the score.
• Ungraded Question Distribution     - Reading: $6$ ungraded questions.     - Math: $4$ ungraded questions.     - Science: $6$ ungraded questions.     - English and Language Usage ($ELAR$): $4$ ungraded questions.
• Timing Per Section     - Reading: $55$ minutes for $45$ questions.     - Math: $57$ minutes for $38$ questions.     - Science: $60$ minutes for $50$ questions.     - English and Language Usage ($ELAR$): $37$ minutes for $33$ questions.
• Scoring and Strategy     - The exam is graded automatically, and scores are typically available immediately upon completion.     - Time does not "roll over" to the next section; finishing early only means you have excess time that is lost when the section closes.     - Study broadly across all sections; do not focus exclusively on higher-percentage categories, as curveballs are possible.

Sentence Purposes and Types

• Four Purposes of Sentences     - Declarative: Makes a statement (e.g., "The exam begins at $9$"). In academic writing, scientific methods are described declaratively.     - Interrogative: Asks a question (e.g., "Are you ready?").     - Imperative: Gives a command or a request (e.g., "Read directions carefully"). The subject "you" is often implied but not stated.     - Exclamatory: Shows strong emotion and ends with an exclamation point (e.g., "I can't believe we won the game!").
• Clause Definitions     - Independent Clause: Contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. It can stand alone as a sentence.         - Example: "Judy watered the lawn."     - Dependent Clause: Contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. It cannot stand alone and often starts with a subordinating word.         - Example: "Although he had the flu…"         - Subordinating words: although, because, however, after, if, when.

Sentence Structures by Clause Composition

• Simple Sentence     - Contains exactly one independent clause and zero dependent clauses.     - Can contain compound elements like compound subjects (e.g., "Judy and Alan") or compound verbs (e.g., "watered the lawn and pulled weeds").
• Compound Sentence     - Contains two or more independent clauses and zero dependent clauses.     - Clauses are joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction ($FANBOYS$) or a semicolon.         - Example: "The time has come, and we are ready."
• Complex Sentence     - Contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.     - Example: "Although he had the flu, Harry went to work."
• Compound-Complex Sentence     - Contains at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.     - Example: "John is my friend who went to India, and he brought back souvenirs."

Common Grammatical Errors and Repair Strategies

• Sentence Fragments     - A group of words that lacks an independent clause.     - Repair: Either remove the subordinating word to make it a simple sentence or attach it to an independent clause.
• Run-on Sentences     - Two or more independent clauses joined incorrectly.     - Repair Methods:         - Method 1: Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction ($FANBOYS$: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So).         - Method 2: Use a semicolon if the clauses are closely related.         - Method 3: Split into two separate sentences.         - Method 4: Turn one independent clause into a dependent clause.
• Modifiers     - Dangling Modifiers: A phrase that does not logically describe the word it is placed next to.         - Incorrect: "Reading each magazine article, the stories caught my attention."         - Correct: "Reading each magazine article, I was entertained by the stories."     - Misplaced Modifiers: Modifiers in the wrong position that cause confusion.         - Incorrect: "She read the book to a crowd that was filled with beautiful pictures."         - Correct: "She read the book that was filled with beautiful pictures to a crowd."     - Ambiguous Modifiers: Modifiers with two possible meanings.         - Example: "Derek saw a bus nearly hit a man on his way to work." (Unclear who is going to work).
• Split Infinitives     - Occurs when a word is placed between "to" and a verb.     - Example: "To clearly explain."     - While common in colloquial speech, standard formal writing prefers the unsplit version: "To explain clearly."
• Double Negatives     - Standard English allows double negatives only when a positive meaning is intended (e.g., "The team was not displeased").     - Avoid pairing negative words (no, not, never, none, etc.) with negative modifiers like "hardly" or "scarcely."

Questions & Discussion

• Question: Is the exam graded automatically?
• Response: Yes, the exam is graded automatically, and candidates usually find out their scores right after completion.
• Discussion on Study Materials: Mention of cheat sheets and formula sheets on the classroom platform. The English cheat sheet is $19$ pages long and covers comprehensive grammar rules and conversion factors for math (e.g., cups to pounds/tons).