Click Study Flashcards above to open the flashcard hub — hundreds of TABE cards you can flip, match, type, or quiz yourself on. Every card targets the skills the three TABE subtests measure, so you study exactly what the test assesses.[2] Pair them with our free practice test and study guide.
TABE Flashcard Study Modes
Flip mode moves through one card at a time so you can check yourself before turning it over. Match times you as you pair terms with their definitions. Type shows the definition and asks you to produce the term, so a description of a value far outside the rest of a data set has you typing Outlier. Quiz rebuilds the same cards as multiple choice.
Why Flashcards Work for the TABE
Mathematics is the biggest block at 82 cards, and it drills the vocabulary sitting behind the computation questions. Statistics terms such as Mode, Median and Range come first, joined by the number and geometry language you meet in word problems, including Ratio, Slope and Factor. Applied cards like Markup and Outlier ask you to name the idea rather than run the arithmetic.
Language runs 66 cards and splits between parts of speech and mechanics. You get the building blocks with Noun, Verb and Adverb, then punctuation cards such as Comma and Colon that decide where a sentence breaks. Structure terms including Clause, Phrase and Pronoun round it out, since usage and revision questions usually hinge on naming the piece being edited.
Reading holds 58 cards covering the language of passage analysis. Literary elements such as Plot, Theme and Genre sit beside the author’s-craft terms Tone and Mood, while Bias, Claim and Idiom prepare you for argument and figurative-language items. Having these labels ready makes the answer choices easier to sort when a passage is unfamiliar.
How TABE Works carries 38 cards about the test itself rather than the content. You cover reporting and program vocabulary such as NRS and WIOA, along with Scale score, plus the Locator test that routes you toward the right level. Level and version labels like TABE Level L and TABE CLAS-E appear here, DRC INSIGHT covers how Data Recognition Corporation delivers the test, and TABE gets its own card.
The TABE spans a lot of ground — reading comprehension and vocabulary, core math from fractions to algebra, and grammar and usage.[1] Because the test adapts to your level, spaced flashcards are the most efficient way to strengthen the underlying skills. Used alongside our practice test and study guide, they turn review time into measurable progress.
TABE Flashcards by Subject
The cards are organized by the three TABE subtests, plus a deck on how the test works. Drill one subject at a time — start with whichever you find hardest:
| Subject | Items / focus |
|---|---|
| Reading | 47 items — main idea, inference, vocabulary |
| Mathematics | 40 items — number, algebra, geometry, statistics |
| Language | 40 items — grammar, structure, mechanics |
| How TABE Works | Levels (L–A), the Locator, and scoring |
How to Get the Most Out of These Flashcards
- Start with Mathematics. At 82 cards it is the largest domain here, and terms like Median and Slope feed directly into the word problems you will read on test day.
- Type-drill the confusable pairs. Work Mode against Median, and Clause against Phrase, since typing forces you to produce the exact term instead of recognizing it among options.
- Save Match for short labels. Single-word Language cards such as Noun, Adverb and Comma pair fast, so the timer rewards fluent recall rather than slow reasoning through a definition.
- Switch when Quiz stops surprising you. Once Reading cards like Tone and Bias come back clean, move to the practice test and use the study guide for the gaps it exposes.
- Keep the cadence small. With 244 cards, take one domain per sitting, such as the 58 in Reading or the 38 in How TABE Works, then replay only the cards you missed.
TABE Flashcards FAQ
Hundreds of free TABE flashcards, organized across the three subtests — Reading, Mathematics, and Language — plus a 'How TABE Works' deck covering the levels, Locator, and scoring. They cover the high-yield skills and terms the test measures, free with no account required.
Yes. Flashcards use active recall — pulling an answer from memory — which research shows is one of the most effective study methods, especially in short, spaced sessions. They're ideal for the TABE's vocabulary, math facts and formulas, and grammar rules.
All three subtests: Reading (main idea, inference, vocabulary in context), Mathematics (percents, fractions, algebra, geometry, statistics), and Language (grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, spelling) — plus how the TABE levels, Locator, and scoring work.
Because TABE adapts to your level, drill the underlying skills. Mix the modes: flip to learn, type to test recall, match for speed, and quiz to check yourself. Focus on your weakest subject, then confirm with a full practice test.
Yes — 100% free, all four study modes, no paywall.
Yes. The cards are organized to the current TABE 11 & 12 from Data Recognition Corporation, covering Reading, Mathematics, and Language across the five difficulty levels (L, E, M, D, A).
TABE flashcard bank
All 244 cards, by topic
A reference copy of every card in this deck. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to show it. To study with Flip, Match, Type and Quiz modes and track what you have mastered, use Study Flashcards at the top of the page.
How TABE Works (38)
- TABE
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Test of Adult Basic Education — an adult basic-skills assessment from Data Recognition Corporation (DRC).
- TABE subtests
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Reading (47 items), Mathematics (40 items), and Language (40 items).
- TABE publisher
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Data Recognition Corporation (DRC).
- The five TABE levels
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L (Literacy), E (Easy), M (Medium), D (Difficult), A (Advanced) — lowest to highest.
- TABE Level L
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Literacy level — foundational skills, grade equivalent about 0–1.9.
- TABE Level E
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Easy level — basic skills, grade equivalent about 2.0–3.9.
- TABE Level M
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Medium level — intermediate skills, grade equivalent about 4.0–5.9.
- TABE Level D
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Difficult level — upper-intermediate skills, grade equivalent about 6.0–8.9. The most common adult-ed level.
- TABE Level A
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Advanced level — high-school-level work, grade equivalent about 9.0–12.9.
- Locator test
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A short test in Reading, Math, and Language taken first to assign each subtest a level (L/E/M/D/A).
- Why the Locator matters
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Testing at the right level makes your score accurate — not too easy, not impossibly hard.
- Scale score
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A score on one continuous vertical scale per subtest, comparable across all five levels and over time.
- Grade equivalent (GE)
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Translates a TABE scale score into a school grade level (e.g., 7.2) to describe skill in plain terms.
- NRS Educational Functioning Level
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A National Reporting System level (Beginning ABE Literacy to High Adult Secondary) used for adult-ed placement and federal reporting.
- Does TABE have a passing score?
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No single national passing score — each program sets its own required score or level.
- Measurable skill gain
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Often shown by moving up at least one NRS level on a later TABE — a key adult-ed goal.
- DRC INSIGHT
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DRC's online platform for delivering TABE on a computer (paper-and-pencil is also available).
- TABE 11 & 12 test length per subject
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There is one fixed test length per subject — Reading, Mathematics, and Language. (The older TABE 9/10 'Survey vs. Complete Battery' choice was removed.)
- TABE 11 vs TABE 9/10
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TABE 11 & 12 streamlined the test: Math became one subtest (former Computation + Applied Math).
- TABE math calculator
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A no-calculator section comes first; a calculator section follows (starts at level M).
- What standards is TABE aligned to?
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The College & Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education (CCR).
- Who uses the TABE?
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Adult-education programs, WIOA/workforce training, community colleges, and some employers.
- Can subtests be at different levels?
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Yes — the Locator places each subtest independently (e.g., D in Reading, M in Math).
- TABE CLAS-E
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A separate DRC product that assesses English language learners (distinct from the academic TABE 11 & 12).
- Reading subtest length
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47 items, up to about 120 minutes.
- Mathematics subtest length
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40 items, up to about 75 minutes.
- Language subtest length
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40 items, up to about 85 minutes.
- Locator length
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About 16 items per subject (Reading, Math, Language), roughly 45 minutes total.
- Adult Basic Education (ABE)
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Instruction for adults below the high-school level in reading, math, and language — a core TABE use.
- Adult Secondary Education (ASE)
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High-school-equivalency-level instruction; the top NRS levels (Low and High Adult Secondary).
- Pre-test and post-test
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Programs give TABE at intake and again later to measure a learner's gains.
- NRS
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The National Reporting System for Adult Education — the federal accountability system TABE feeds.
- WIOA
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The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which funds many programs that use the TABE.
- Vertical scale
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TABE's single score scale that lets scores be compared across all five levels.
- Technology-enhanced items
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Online TABE question types like drag-and-drop, multiple-select, and gridded response.
- Diagnostic profile
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A TABE report showing strengths and weaknesses by skill area to guide instruction.
- Reportable level
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The level whose form a student took, which sets the score range that can be reported.
- Retesting on the Locator
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A learner may retake the Locator before a post-test to confirm a possible level change.
Reading (58)
- Main idea
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The central point a passage conveys — what the whole text is mostly about.
- Supporting detail
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A fact, example, statistic, or reason that explains or develops the main idea.
- Inference
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A logical conclusion drawn from text evidence plus prior knowledge — implied, not stated.
- Author's purpose
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The reason a text was written — to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain.
- Tone
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The author's attitude toward the subject, revealed through word choice.
- Mood
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The feeling a text creates in the reader (e.g., tense, hopeful, gloomy).
- Theme
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The underlying message or lesson of a literary text.
- Summary
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A brief restatement of a passage's main idea and key points in your own words.
- Context clues
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Words and sentences around an unfamiliar word that help reveal its meaning.
- Prefix
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A word part added to the beginning of a word that changes its meaning (un-, re-, pre-).
- Suffix
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A word part added to the end of a word (-tion, -ful, -less).
- Root word
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The core part of a word that carries its basic meaning.
- Synonym
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A word with the same or nearly the same meaning as another word.
- Antonym
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A word with the opposite meaning of another word.
- Connotation
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The emotional or implied meaning of a word, beyond its literal definition.
- Denotation
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The literal, dictionary meaning of a word.
- Figurative language
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Language that means more than the literal words (metaphor, simile, personification).
- Simile
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A comparison using 'like' or 'as' (e.g., 'busy as a bee').
- Metaphor
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A direct comparison stating one thing is another (e.g., 'time is money').
- Fact vs. opinion
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A fact can be verified; an opinion is a belief or judgment.
- Cause and effect
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A relationship where one event (cause) makes another happen (effect).
- Compare and contrast
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Identifying similarities (compare) and differences (contrast).
- Sequence
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The order in which events or steps happen in a text.
- Text structure
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How a text is organized: cause/effect, compare/contrast, sequence, problem/solution.
- Problem and solution
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A structure that presents an issue and how it is or could be resolved.
- Topic sentence
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The sentence (often first) that states a paragraph's main idea.
- Drawing a conclusion
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Combining stated details to decide something the text strongly implies.
- Evaluate an argument
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Judge whether the evidence is sufficient and relevant to support the claim.
- Claim
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A debatable statement an author tries to support with evidence.
- Evidence
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Facts, examples, and reasoning used to support a claim.
- Point of view
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The perspective from which a text is told or argued (first person, third person).
- Informational text
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Nonfiction writing that explains, describes, or argues (most TABE Reading passages).
- Literary text
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Fiction, drama, or poetry, included in some TABE Reading passages.
- Paraphrase
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Restating a passage in your own words while keeping its meaning.
- Genre
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A category of text (e.g., news article, memo, short story, poem).
- Implicit vs. explicit
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Explicit is directly stated; implicit must be inferred from clues.
- Primary source
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A firsthand account or original document (e.g., a letter, a speech).
- Integration of ideas
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Combining a passage with charts, graphics, or another text to answer a question.
- Skimming
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Reading quickly to get the general idea or find the main point.
- Scanning
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Searching a text quickly for a specific detail or keyword.
- Chronological order
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A text structure that presents events in time order.
- Persuasive text
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Writing meant to convince the reader, often with a strong, opinionated tone.
- Expository text
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Writing that explains or informs in a neutral, factual tone.
- Narrative text
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Writing that tells a story with characters and events.
- Plot
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The sequence of events in a story.
- Setting
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The time and place in which a story occurs.
- Character
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A person (or being) who takes part in a story.
- Bias
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A one-sided perspective that can affect how information is presented.
- Generalization
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A broad statement drawn from specific examples; check whether the text supports it.
- Supporting evidence
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The specific facts and examples a writer uses to back a claim.
- Counterargument
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A point raised against a claim; strong arguments address it.
- Implied main idea
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A central point a reader must infer because it is not stated outright.
- Restating vs. analyzing
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Summarizing repeats the text; analyzing explains how or why it works.
- Multiple-meaning word
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A word with more than one meaning; context decides which applies.
- Analogy
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A comparison showing how two relationships are alike (hot:cold as up:down).
- Idiom
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An expression whose meaning differs from its literal words ('hit the books').
- Visual aids
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Charts, tables, maps, and diagrams that accompany and extend a text.
- Caption
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Text that explains a picture, chart, or graphic.
Mathematics (82)
- 8% of 250
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0.08 × 250 = 20.
- Order of operations (PEMDAS)
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Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division (left to right), Addition/Subtraction (left to right).
- Percent to a decimal
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Divide by 100, or move the decimal two places left (25% = 0.25).
- Decimal to a percent
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Multiply by 100, or move the decimal two places right (0.4 = 40%).
- Percent of a number
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Convert the percent to a decimal and multiply (20% of 80 = 0.20 × 80 = 16).
- Percent change
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(new − old) ÷ old × 100.
- Finding a discount price
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Subtract the discount, or multiply by (100% − discount): 25% off = pay 75%.
- Ratio
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A comparison of two quantities by division (3 to 4, or 3:4).
- Proportion
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An equation stating two ratios are equal; solve by cross-multiplying.
- Unit rate
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A rate per one unit (e.g., miles per hour, price per ounce).
- Adding fractions
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Use a common denominator, then add the numerators.
- Multiplying fractions
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Multiply numerators together and denominators together.
- Dividing fractions
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Multiply by the reciprocal of the second fraction (flip and multiply).
- Improper fraction
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A fraction whose numerator is greater than or equal to its denominator (7/4).
- Mixed number
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A whole number plus a fraction (1 3/4).
- Integer
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A whole number and its negative (…, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, …).
- Adding a negative
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Adding a negative number subtracts: 5 + (−3) = 2.
- Subtracting a negative
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Subtracting a negative adds: 5 − (−3) = 8.
- Absolute value
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A number's distance from zero, always non-negative (|−7| = 7).
- Exponent
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Repeated multiplication: 3² = 3 × 3 = 9.
- Square root
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A value that, multiplied by itself, gives the number (√25 = 5).
- Prime number
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A whole number greater than 1 divisible only by 1 and itself (2, 3, 5, 7, 11).
- Factor
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A number that divides evenly into another number.
- Multiple
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The product of a number and an integer (multiples of 4: 4, 8, 12, …).
- Rounding
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Replacing a number with a nearby simpler one (round 47 to 50).
- Estimation
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Finding an approximate answer to check reasonableness.
- Variable
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A letter that stands for an unknown number (x, y).
- Expression
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A combination of numbers, variables, and operations with no equals sign (3x + 2).
- Equation
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A statement that two expressions are equal (3x + 2 = 11).
- Solving a linear equation
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Isolate the variable with inverse operations on both sides.
- Inequality
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Compares two values with <, >, ≤, or ≥; flip the sign when × or ÷ by a negative.
- Slope
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Rise over run = (y₂ − y₁)/(x₂ − x₁); the m in y = mx + b.
- Y-intercept
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Where a line crosses the y-axis (x = 0); the b in y = mx + b.
- Coordinate plane
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A grid with an x-axis and a y-axis; points are written (x, y).
- Function
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A rule where each input has exactly one output.
- Evaluating an expression
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Substitute the value for the variable, then use order of operations.
- Area of a rectangle
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length × width.
- Perimeter of a rectangle
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2 × (length + width).
- Area of a triangle
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½ × base × height.
- Area of a circle
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π × r² (r is the radius).
- Circumference of a circle
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2 × π × r, or π × diameter.
- Volume of a box
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length × width × height.
- Volume of a cylinder
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π × r² × height.
- Pythagorean theorem
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a² + b² = c² for the sides of a right triangle (c is the hypotenuse).
- Radius vs. diameter
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The radius is half the diameter; the diameter passes through the center.
- Unit conversion
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Keep all measurements in the same unit before calculating.
- Mean (average)
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Add all values and divide by how many there are.
- Median
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The middle value when data are in order (average the two middle if the count is even).
- Mode
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The value that appears most often in a data set.
- Range
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The highest value minus the lowest value.
- Outlier
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A value far from the rest of a data set; the median resists it better than the mean.
- Probability
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Favorable outcomes ÷ total outcomes, a number from 0 to 1.
- Reading a bar graph
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Compare bar heights to the axis labels and scale.
- Reading a line graph
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Track how a value changes over the horizontal axis (often time).
- Scientific notation
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Writing a number as a value times a power of 10 (3,200 = 3.2 × 10³).
- Word problem strategy
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Translate the words into an equation first, then compute carefully.
- Greatest common factor (GCF)
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The largest factor shared by two or more numbers.
- Least common multiple (LCM)
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The smallest multiple shared by two or more numbers.
- Equivalent fractions
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Fractions that represent the same value (1/2 = 2/4 = 3/6).
- Simplifying a fraction
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Divide the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor.
- Converting a fraction to a decimal
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Divide the numerator by the denominator (3/4 = 0.75).
- Place value
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The value of a digit based on its position (the 5 in 53 means 50).
- Distributive property
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a(b + c) = ab + ac.
- Commutative property
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Order doesn't change the result for addition or multiplication (3 + 4 = 4 + 3).
- Associative property
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Grouping doesn't change the result for addition or multiplication.
- Combining like terms
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Add or subtract terms with the same variable (3x + 2x = 5x).
- Cross-multiplying
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To solve a/b = c/d, set a × d = b × c.
- Markup
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An increase added to a cost to set a selling price (the opposite of a discount).
- Sales tax
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A percent added to a purchase; compute the percent of the price and add it.
- Tip / gratuity
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A percent of a bill; 18% of $60 = 0.18 × 60 = $10.80.
- Simple interest
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Interest = principal × rate × time (I = P × r × t).
- Coordinate point
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An ordered pair (x, y) giving a location on the coordinate plane.
- Quadrants
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The four regions of the coordinate plane, numbered I–IV.
- Linear pattern
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A sequence that increases or decreases by a constant amount.
- Volume vs. area
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Area covers a flat surface (square units); volume fills a solid (cubic units).
- Surface area
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The total area of all the faces of a solid.
- Right angle
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An angle of exactly 90°.
- Supplementary angles
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Two angles that add to 180°.
- Complementary angles
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Two angles that add to 90°.
- Mean from a frequency table
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Multiply each value by its frequency, add, then divide by the total count.
- Negative exponent
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Means the reciprocal: 2⁻² = 1/2² = 1/4.
- Percent greater than 100
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Values above the whole; 150% of 20 = 1.5 × 20 = 30.
Language (66)
- Subject-verb agreement
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A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb.
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement
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A pronoun must match the noun it refers to in number and gender.
- Noun
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A person, place, thing, or idea.
- Pronoun
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A word that replaces a noun (he, she, it, they, which).
- Verb
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A word showing action or state of being.
- Adjective
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A word that describes a noun (a red car, a quiet room).
- Adverb
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A word that describes a verb, adjective, or adverb, often ending in -ly (ran quickly).
- Preposition
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A word showing relationship in space or time (in, on, before, with).
- Conjunction
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A word that joins words or clauses (and, but, or, because).
- Verb tense
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Shows when an action happens (past, present, future); keep it consistent.
- Subject pronoun
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Used as the subject: I, he, she, we, they.
- Object pronoun
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Used as the object: me, him, her, us, them.
- Complete sentence
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Has a subject, a verb, and expresses a complete thought.
- Sentence fragment
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A group of words missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.
- Run-on sentence
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Two complete sentences joined without proper punctuation or a conjunction.
- Comma splice
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Two complete sentences joined by only a comma; fix with a period, semicolon, or conjunction.
- Independent clause
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A group of words that can stand alone as a sentence.
- Dependent clause
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A clause that cannot stand alone (begins with 'because,' 'when,' 'although').
- Parallel structure
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Items in a list or comparison share the same grammatical form.
- Modifier
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A word or phrase that describes another part of the sentence.
- Misplaced modifier
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A descriptive phrase positioned so it seems to modify the wrong word.
- Capitalization
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Capitalize sentence starts, proper nouns, and the pronoun 'I.'
- Proper noun
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The specific name of a person, place, or thing — always capitalized.
- Comma
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Separates items in a list and sets off introductory or nonessential phrases.
- Semicolon
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Joins two closely related complete sentences.
- Colon
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Introduces a list, explanation, or quotation after a complete sentence.
- Apostrophe
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Shows possession (worker's) or contraction (don't) — never a plain plural.
- End punctuation
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A period, question mark, or exclamation point ending a sentence.
- Quotation marks
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Enclose a speaker's exact words or a title of a short work.
- Contraction
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A shortened form joining two words with an apostrophe (do not = don't).
- Its vs. it's
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Its is possessive; it's always means 'it is' (or 'it has').
- Their / there / they're
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Their = possessive; there = place; they're = they are.
- Your vs. you're
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Your = possessive; you're = you are.
- To / too / two
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To = direction; too = also/excessively; two = the number 2.
- Affect vs. effect
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Affect is usually a verb (to influence); effect is usually a noun (a result).
- Accept vs. except
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Accept = to receive; except = leaving out.
- Principal vs. principle
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Principal = main, or a school's head; principle = a rule or belief.
- Lose vs. loose
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Lose = to misplace; loose = not tight.
- Homophones
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Words that sound alike but differ in spelling and meaning (to/too/two).
- Word choice / usage
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Choosing the precise, standard-English word for the context.
- Concise writing
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Saying something clearly with no unnecessary words — usually the best TABE answer.
- Transition words
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Words that connect ideas (however, therefore, in addition, for example).
- Active vs. passive voice
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Active: the subject does the action; passive: the subject receives it.
- Clause
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A group of words with a subject and a verb.
- Phrase
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A group of related words without both a subject and a verb.
- Subject
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Who or what a sentence is about.
- Predicate
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The part of a sentence that tells what the subject does or is.
- Direct object
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The noun receiving the action of a verb.
- Compound sentence
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Two independent clauses joined by a conjunction or semicolon.
- Complex sentence
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An independent clause plus at least one dependent clause.
- Coordinating conjunction
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FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
- Subordinating conjunction
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Begins a dependent clause (because, although, when, if).
- Possessive noun
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Shows ownership using an apostrophe (the dog's leash).
- Plural possessive
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For a plural ending in s, add only an apostrophe (the dogs' bowls).
- Comparative form
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Compares two things (faster, more careful).
- Superlative form
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Compares three or more (fastest, most careful).
- Double negative
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Two negatives in one clause — nonstandard ('don't have no').
- Capitalizing titles
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Capitalize the first, last, and all major words of a title.
- Sentence combining
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Merging short, choppy sentences into one clearer sentence.
- Redundancy
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Needless repetition of an idea; cut it for concise writing.
- Dangling modifier
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A modifier with no clear word to describe in the sentence.
- Antecedent
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The noun a pronoun refers back to.
- Spelling rule: i before e
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'i before e, except after c' (believe, receive) — with exceptions.
- Adding -ing to verbs
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Often double a final consonant after a short vowel: run becomes running, sit becomes sitting.
- Then vs. than
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Then = time/sequence; than = comparison.
- Who vs. whom
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Who is a subject; whom is an object.
References
- 1.Data Recognition Corporation. “TABE 11 & 12.” tabetest.com. ↑
- 2.Data Recognition Corporation. “About TABE 11 & 12.” tabetest.com. ↑
- 3.U.S. Department of Education. “NRS Educational Functioning Level Tables.” nrsweb.org. ↑
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