How the RLA Test Works

Before you study a single skill, it helps to know exactly what the test in front of you looks like. The Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) test is one long section that measures two things: how well you read and how well you write. Knowing its shape removes a lot of test-day surprise.

The RLA test gives you about 150 minutes to answer roughly 46 questions about reading passages and to write one short essay called the extended response. A score of 145 passes.

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What the Test Includes

Most of the questions are multiple choice (and a few drag-and-drop or drop-down) based on passages you read on screen. About three-quarters of the passages are nonfiction (informational) and about a quarter are literature. The questions ask you to find main ideas, make inferences, follow a text’s structure, judge evidence, and fix grammar and punctuation. In the middle sits the extended response: you read two passages that argue opposite sides of an issue and write an essay explaining which side is better supported.

How to Approach It

You do not need outside knowledge — every answer comes from the passage. Read actively, look back at the text for evidence, and manage your time so the essay gets a full 45 minutes. Because the test rewards careful reading over memorization, the smartest preparation is practicing the reading and writing skills in this hub, one at a time.

Watch: A Short Video Lesson

David Cohen gives a clear overview to go with this lesson:

A Routine for Test Day

1. Expect one long section: reading questions plus one essay, about 150 minutes.
2. Most passages are informational; some are literature.
3. Every answer is based on the passage — no outside facts needed.
4. Save a full 45 minutes for the extended response.

Practice

1. About how long is the RLA test?
2. What are the two main things it measures?
3. What is the extended response?
4. Do you need outside knowledge to answer the questions?
5. Which kind of passage is more common: informational or literature?
6. What score do you need to pass?

Answers

1. About 150 minutes.
2. Reading and writing.
3. A short essay comparing two passages that argue opposite sides.
4. No — every answer comes from the passage.
5. Informational.
6. 145.

Where This Fits in Your RLA Prep

Start building your reading skills with active reading strategies and finding the main idea. See every topic on the Language Arts Prep Hub.

Recommended Prep Books

Keep building momentum with a full study guide and practice tests:

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