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