Your FREE PELLETB Flashcards 2026 – 250+ Cards

A PELLETB writing sub-test that pairs two sentences and asks which is most clearly and correctly written. POST says it is the one sub-test where studying markedly improves your score.

A describing word or phrase placed so it seems to modify the wrong thing, blurring meaning. Fix it by moving it next to the word it really describes.

A modifying phrase whose intended subject is missing from the sentence, so it seems to describe the wrong noun. 'Running late, the bus was missed' wrongly says the bus was running late.

A pronoun (he, she, it, they) that could point to more than one person or thing, leaving the meaning unclear.

Wording where a reader can't tell which noun a pronoun stands for — a common Clarity error the clearer option removes.

Two complete sentences joined with no punctuation or conjunction. Fix it with a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.

A type of run-on where two complete sentences are joined by only a comma. Replace the comma with a period or semicolon, or add a conjunction.

A group of words punctuated like a sentence but missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.

A joining word (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so — FANBOYS) that links two independent clauses, usually after a comma.

A group of words with a subject and verb that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

A group of words with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone because it doesn't express a complete thought (e.g., 'because she left').

Using the same grammatical form for items in a series: 'typing, filing, and answering' — not 'typing, filing, and to answer.'

A verb must match its subject in number: a singular subject takes a singular verb ('the list includes').

A word or phrase (adjective, adverb, or phrase) that describes or limits another word in the sentence.

The noun a pronoun refers back to. A clear sentence leaves no doubt which antecedent each pronoun has.

The phrasing implies automobiles also kill hunters. The clearer version is 'more deer are killed by automobiles than by hunters' — a misplaced-modification fix.

'She' could mean Mary or Sue — a vague pronoun reference. Clearer: 'The next time Mary was in town, she agreed to have lunch with Sue.'

No — it's a run-on. Two complete sentences are fused with no punctuation. Separate them with a period or semicolon.

No — it's a sentence fragment. It has no subject performing an action and can't stand alone.

'...is frequently the cause...' — placing 'frequently' there avoids wrongly modifying 'stretching.' Misplaced-modifier fix.

Use a period or semicolon ('She filed the report; she left'), or add a conjunction ('She filed the report, and she left').

It's a sentence fragment — a dependent phrase with no main subject-verb, broken off from the sentence it belongs to.

Check what each descriptive word or phrase sits next to. If it's beside a word it can't logically describe, it's misplaced.

Use commas to separate three or more items: 'He typed, filed, and answered calls.'

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses: 'She filed it, and he left.'

A semicolon joins two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction: 'He left; she stayed.'

A colon introduces a list or explanation after a complete sentence: 'Bring three things: a pen, a form, and ID.'

Add 's for singular ('the officer's report') and just an apostrophe for plural possessives ('the suspects' alibis').

Place a modifier next to the word it describes: 'She nearly drove for six hours' vs. 'She drove for nearly six hours.'

A pronoun must match its antecedent in number: 'Each officer filed his or her report,' not 'their report.'

Active: the subject acts ('The officer wrote the report'). Passive: the subject receives the action ('The report was written').

Use 'that' (no commas) for information essential to meaning: 'The car that was stolen is red.'

Use 'which' with commas for nonessential information: 'The car, which was red, was stolen.'

A clause beginning with a word like 'because' or 'although' that can't stand alone and supports the main clause.

Avoid two negatives in one clause ('didn't see nothing'); use one ('didn't see anything').

To confirm, verify, or support — as when a second witness corroborates an account.

Practical; concerned with real results rather than theory. 'It was not a very pragmatic plan.'

To isolate or set apart. 'The police sequestered the witness.'

Done openly and unashamedly; obvious. 'She told a blatant lie.'

Unaware; lacking knowledge. 'He was ignorant of the proper procedures.'

Careful, diligent, and thorough. 'She was a conscientious worker.'

Clearly visible or obvious; seeming to be true. 'It was not apparent who committed the crime.'

The act of carrying someone off by force or deception; kidnapping.

A detailed examination of the parts of something to understand it.

To arrest or seize; also, to understand.

Believable; worthy of belief. A credible witness is one a jury can trust.

To discourage or prevent someone from acting, usually through fear of consequences.

To hold or keep someone in custody, often briefly.

Showing careful, persistent effort in work or duties.

A difference or inconsistency between things that should match (e.g., two accounts that don't agree).

To draw out or bring forth a response or information. 'Elicit a confession.'

To escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or deceit.

To clear someone of blame or a charge.

Unbiased; treating all sides equally and fairly.

About to happen; impending. 'An imminent threat.'

Unintentional; happening by accident or without thinking.

To make someone appear guilty of a crime.

Affected by alcohol or drugs to the point of impaired control.

Merciful or tolerant; not strict in punishment.

Failing to take proper care; careless in a way that causes harm.

Famous for something bad; widely and unfavorably known.

Not clear or easily understood; also, to hide or make unclear.

Seeming reasonable or believable, even if not certain.

An earlier event or decision used as a guide or example for later ones.

Unwilling or hesitant to do something.

A formal expression of disapproval; to scold officially.

Coming after something else in time; following.

Able to be touched or clearly seen; concrete (e.g., tangible evidence).

Keenly watchful and alert to danger or problems.

Likely to change suddenly; unstable or explosive.

Next to or adjoining something. 'The suspect fled into the adjacent building.'

To force someone to act through pressure or threats.

Brief but complete; saying much in few words. Good for police reports.

To become progressively worse.

To make up or invent (a story or evidence) in order to deceive.

Unfriendly, antagonistic, or aggressive.

To ask for information; to investigate.

Lawful, valid, or genuine.

Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.

Required by rule, law, or custom; mandatory.

Widespread; common in a particular area or time.

To examine closely and critically.

To provide evidence that supports or proves a claim.

Close, continuous observation of a person or place, often by police.

A formal statement, especially one given under oath in court.

Means life. Examples: biology, biography, autobiography.

Means death. Examples: mortal, mortician, mortuary.

Means write or record. Examples: autograph, photograph, paragraph.

Means foot. Examples: pedestrian, pedal. (In Greek, 'ped-' can mean child, as in pediatric.)

Means fear. Examples: phobia, claustrophobia.

Means city. Examples: urban, suburb.

Means say or speak. Examples: predict, dictate, verdict.

Means carry. Examples: transport, portable, deport.

Means look or see. Examples: inspect, spectator, suspect.

Means lead or pull. Examples: conduct, abduction, deduct.

Means against or opposite. Examples: antidote, antibody.

Means between or among. Examples: intervene, interstate.

Means before. Examples: predict, precaution, preview.

Means under or below. Examples: submerge, subordinate.

Means across or through. Examples: transport, transfer.

Means not. Examples: incorrect, illegal, impossible, irregular.

Means wrong or badly. Examples: misunderstand, misplace.

Means not or opposite of. Examples: disapprove, disagree.

Means a state or quality. Examples: vigilance, persistence.

Means a quality or state. Examples: alertness, fairness.

Often means a place for, or relating to. Examples: laboratory, mandatory.

To free someone from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty.

Refusing to change one's mind; unyielding.

A claim or evidence that one was elsewhere when an act took place.

To make a problem or pain less severe; to ease.

Open to more than one interpretation; unclear in meaning.

Anxious or fearful that something bad will happen.

Based on random choice or personal whim rather than reason.

Able to express ideas clearly; (verb) to express clearly.

The quality of being brief; shortness in speech or writing.

Honest, frank, and direct.

To quote or refer to as evidence or authority.

Kept secret, especially because it is illicit.

Aware of something; having knowledge of it.

To force or strongly urge someone to do something.

To agree with someone or something.

To accept or allow behavior that is wrong.

To take or seize property, often by authority.

Deserving blame; responsible for a fault or wrong.

A person's outward behavior or manner.

To depart from an established course or standard.

To make or become smaller or less.

To argue about or question the truth of something.

Fluent and persuasive in speaking or writing.

Irregular or unpredictable in behavior or movement.

Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for doubt.

Possible to do easily or conveniently; practicable.

Conspicuously bad or offensive; blatant.

Done secretly to avoid being noticed; sly.

To delay, obstruct, or get in the way of something.

To formally charge someone with a crime.

A breaking of a rule or law; a minor violation.

Harmless; not likely to cause offense or injury.

To intervene on behalf of another; to mediate.

The official authority to enforce laws or make legal decisions in an area.

Legally responsible; likely to do or be something.

To make less severe or serious; to lessen.

Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course.

Relevant or applicable to the matter at hand.

Nearness in space or time.

Deserving strong condemnation; blameworthy.

Occurring at irregular intervals; scattered.

A legal order requiring someone to appear in court or produce evidence.

Likely to be affected by or vulnerable to something.

Present everywhere at once; very common.

To clear of blame or suspicion; to prove right.

Cautious; on guard against danger or deception.

Highly skilled or proficient at something.

Hostile and aggressive; eager to fight.

To act in accordance with a rule, order, or request.

To recognize or distinguish, often with effort.

Adding a prefix does not change the base word's spelling: dis + approve = disapprove; mis + spell = misspell.

Double a final single consonant after a single vowel before -ing/-ed/-er: wrap to wrapping, occur to occurring.

Drop a silent final e before a suffix starting with a vowel: hide to hiding, write to writing, make to making.

Keep a silent final e before a suffix starting with a consonant: care to careful, hope to hopeless.

Change final y after a consonant to i before -es/-ed: cry to cries/cried; county to counties. Keep y before -ing: crying.

Add -es after s, x, z, ch, or sh: box to boxes, church to churches, dish to dishes.

Words ending in consonant + o usually add -es: tomato to tomatoes, hero to heroes, potato to potatoes.

Words ending in vowel + o add -s: stereo to stereos, radio to radios, video to videos.

I before e, except after c, or when sounding like 'ay': believe, niece — but receive, deceive; neighbor, weigh.

Receive — i comes after e here because it follows c ('except after c').

Separate — note the 'a' in the middle ('there's a rat in separate'), not 'seperate.'

Definitely — built from 'finite'; there is no 'a' (not 'definately').

Occurrence — double c, double r, ends in -ence.

Embarrass — double r and double s.

Necessary — one c, two s's.

Accommodate — double c and double m.

Lieutenant — 'lieu' + 'tenant.'

Sergeant — 'ser' + 'geant.'

Surveillance — 'sur' + 'veill' + 'ance'; double l.

Apparent — double p, ends in -ent.

Conscientious — 'con' + 'scien' + 'tious.'

Maintenance — 'mainten' + 'ance' (not 'maintainance').

Privilege — no 'd'; ends in -lege (not 'priviledge').

Committed — double m, double t (double the consonant before -ed).

Beginning — double n (double the consonant before -ing).

Judgment — the common U.S. spelling drops the e (no 'judgement').

Acknowledgment — U.S. spelling drops the e before -ment.

Foreign — an exception to 'i before e' ('ei' not 'ie').

Misspell — prefix 'mis-' + 'spell' keeps both s's; the prefix doesn't change the base.

Rhythm — no vowels except y; 'rhy' + 'thm.'

'Its' shows possession ('its bumper'); 'it's' is the contraction for 'it is' or 'it has.'

'Their' = possessive; 'there' = a place; 'they're' = 'they are.'

'Whether' introduces a choice; 'weather' refers to climate conditions.

'Affect' is usually a verb (to influence); 'effect' is usually a noun (a result).

'Whose' shows possession; 'who's' is the contraction for 'who is' or 'who has.'

'To' = direction/infinitive; 'too' = also or excessively; 'two' = the number 2.

Use 'less' for uncountable amounts (less time); 'fewer' for countable items (fewer reports).

'Ensure' = to make certain; 'insure' = to provide insurance.

'Principal' = main, or a person in charge; 'principle' = a rule or belief.

'Lay' takes a direct object (lay the file down); 'lie' does not (lie down). Past tense: laid / lay.

'Accept' = to receive; 'except' = excluding.

'Than' makes a comparison; 'then' refers to time or sequence.

'Your' shows possession; 'you're' is the contraction for 'you are.'

'Stationary' = not moving; 'stationery' = writing paper.

Accidentally — built from 'accidental' + -ly; keep the -al.

Acquaintance — 'acquaint' + -ance; note the c before q.

Argument — drops the e from 'argue' before -ment.

Calendar — ends in -ar, not -er.

Cemetery — three e's, no a.

Changeable — keeps the e after g to keep the soft sound.

Conscience — 'con' + 'science.'

Discipline — 'disci' + 'pline'; one s.

Existence — ends in -ence, not -ance.

Guarantee — 'guar' + 'antee.'

Harass — one r, two s's.

Independent — ends in -ent, not -ant.

Liaison — two i's: 'li' + 'ai' + 'son.'

Mischievous — no extra i before -ous (not 'mischievious').

Noticeable — keeps the e after c to keep the soft sound.

Occasion — double c, one s.

Perseverance — ends in -ance; no double r.

Possession — double s twice.

Questionnaire — double n, ends in -aire.

Recommend — one c, double m.

Relevant — ends in -ant; note 'relev,' not 'revel.'

Restaurant — 'restau' + 'rant.'

Vacuum — one c, double u.

Weird — an exception to 'i before e' ('ei').

Category — 'cate' + 'gory,' not 'catagory.'

The PELLETB reading sub-test (20-24 items). It presents passages and asks multiple-choice questions answerable solely from the passage.

The central point a passage is built around — what it is mostly about. Choose an answer broad enough to cover the whole passage.

A specific fact, example, or reason in a passage that backs up the main idea. Find the exact sentence; don't rely on memory.

A conclusion a passage implies but doesn't state outright. On the PELLETB, every inference must be supported by the passage.

Understanding what a passage states directly — facts you can point to in the text.

Reading between the lines to draw a reasonable conclusion the passage implies but doesn't say.

A hint in the surrounding sentence — a definition, example, or contrast — that reveals an unfamiliar word's meaning.

The reason an author wrote a passage: to inform, persuade, explain, or describe.

The author's attitude toward the subject, shown through word choice (neutral, critical, supportive).

The sentence (often first) that states the main idea of a paragraph.

To restate the key points of a passage briefly in your own words.

To restate a specific idea from the passage in different words while keeping the meaning.

A fact can be verified; an opinion expresses a belief or judgment. PELLETB answers rely on facts in the passage.

POST's own tip: read the question and answer options before the passage, then read with those points in mind.

Never use personal knowledge or opinion; each item is scored solely on what the passage states.

Most wrong answers come from misreading the question — watch for 'EXCEPT,' 'best,' and 'mainly.'

Rule out choices the passage doesn't support, pick the best remaining one, and move on under the shared clock.

Asks which option is NOT supported by the passage. The correct answer is the odd one out — read carefully.

Asks for the title that captures the whole passage — essentially a main-idea question in disguise.

Reading quickly to find specific information or get the gist; useful for locating a detail the question asks about.

The POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery — California's reading/writing aptitude test for peace-officer applicants.

The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, which owns and distributes the PELLETB.

Two: Writing Ability (Clarity, Vocabulary, Spelling) and Reading Ability (Reading Comprehension).

Four: Clarity, Vocabulary, Spelling, and Reading Comprehension. CLOZE was removed in 2025.

A standardized PELLETB score on a bell curve with an average of 50 and a standard deviation of 10 — not a percentage.

POST recommends 42 or above. Each agency sets its own passing score, and many require higher.

Candidates get 1 hour and 45 minutes (105 minutes) of testing time; total administration is about 2 hours 15 minutes.

POST removed the CLOZE sub-test effective January 1, 2025, after research found it redundant with the other sub-tests.

You may retake the test after 30 days, becoming eligible on the 31st day — even if you test with a different agency.

A test of skills built over years (reading and writing), not memorized facts. POST notes Clarity is the most improvable sub-test.

A relationship where one event leads to another. Signal words: because, therefore, as a result, so.

Showing how things are alike and different. Signal words: similarly, however, unlike, whereas.

The order in which events happen. Signal words: first, next, then, finally.

A judgment reached by reasoning from the passage's stated facts.

A central point a passage suggests without stating directly; you infer it from the details.

Denotation is a word's literal meaning; connotation is the feeling or association it carries.

A one-sided slant in a passage. Identify it from loaded word choice and omitted viewpoints.

Writing meant to convince the reader of a position, often using opinion and emotional appeals.

Writing meant to explain or inform with facts, without trying to persuade.

Facts, examples, or reasons a passage gives to back up a claim.

Scan the passage for the keyword in the question, then read that sentence carefully before choosing.

Pick the answer the passage best supports — not the most dramatic option or one you know from outside.