This free ParaPro study guide covers everything the ParaPro Assessment measures — Reading, Mathematics, and Writing— organized to ETS’s official content for the test.[2] It teaches both the academic skills and how a paraprofessional applies them to support students.
It’s interactive, not a wall of text: every section has built-in checkpoint quizzes, flashcards, and practice questions, so you learn by doing — not just reading.
The ParaPro Assessment qualifies (teacher aides), often under and federal ESSA rules.[1] It has 90 selected-response questions — 30 each in Reading, Mathematics, and Writing — in 2 hours 30 minutes, and is reported on a 420–480 .[3]
There’s no national passing score: each state or district sets its own cut score (real examples: Virginia 455, Arizona 459, Colorado 460, Massachusetts 464).[5] Read a section, test yourself at each checkpoint, then drill gaps with our free practice test and flashcards. This guide is a high-yield overview of what the test measures — not a full textbook.
ParaPro Assessment Snapshot
| Detail | ParaPro Assessment |
|---|---|
| Publisher | ETS (Educational Testing Service) — also makes the Praxis and GRE |
| Test code | 1755 (computer-delivered); a successor, ParaPathways, is rolling out |
| Purpose | Qualify paraprofessionals/teacher aides (often for Title I / ESSA) |
| Sections | Reading, Mathematics, Writing |
| Format | 90 selected-response questions (30 per section), mostly multiple choice |
| Time | 2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes) for the whole test |
| Score scale | 420–480 (a scaled score); scores are valid 10 years |
| Passing score | Set by each state/district — no national cut (e.g., VA 455, MA 464) |
| Each section tests | ~2/3 the academic skill + ~1/3 applying it to classroom instruction |
Reading
30 QComprehension and analysis of reading material — main idea, inference, vocabulary in context — plus applying reading skills to help students.
Mathematics
30 QNumber sense, algebra, geometry & measurement, and data analysis — plus applying math skills to support classroom instruction.
Writing
30 QGrammar, usage, sentence structure, and the writing process — plus helping students with their own writing.
The single most important thing to understand about the ParaPro is its structure: every section is split between the skill itself and applying that skill in the classroom.[2] You need to both know the content and know how a paraprofessional would help a student with it.
Knowledge & Skills (about two-thirds)
The academic content itself — reading comprehension, computation and number sense, grammar and the writing process — the foundational ability the test measures directly.
Application to Classroom Instruction (about one-third)
Using that same skill to support a teacher — explaining a concept, helping a student practice, reinforcing a lesson, or working one-on-one under the teacher's direction.
Above most cut scores
Comfortably clears the passing score in nearly every district and state.
Common passing range
Most states/districts set their qualifying score here — e.g. Virginia 455, Arizona 459, Colorado 460, Massachusetts 464.
Below many cut scores
May fall short of your district's requirement — check the exact score where you'll work.
Module 1 · Reading
30 questions. The Reading section measures your ability to understand, interpret, and analyze a range of texts — and to apply reading skills to help students.[2] You’ll see literary and informational passages, single-sentence items, and questions about how a paraprofessional would support a reader.
Main Idea & Supporting Ideas
Identify the central point of a passage and the details, examples, and reasons that develop it.
Inference & Author's Purpose
Draw logical conclusions the text supports, and recognize why a text was written and its tone.
Organization & Vocabulary
Track how a text is structured and determine the meaning of words and phrases in context.
Apply to Instruction
Use reading strategies to help students decode words, build comprehension, and read independently.
1.1 Main Idea & Supporting Details
Comprehension starts with the — the central point a passage makes — and the that develop it. The ParaPro asks you to identify the main idea, summarize a passage, and tell which details back up a claim.
| Skill | What it asks you to do |
|---|---|
| Main idea | Identify the central point and restate it concisely |
| Supporting details | Find the facts, examples, or reasons that develop the main idea |
| Summarizing | Capture a passage's gist in one or two sentences |
| Fact vs. opinion | Tell a provable statement from a belief or judgment |
1.2 Inference, Purpose & Vocabulary
Beyond literal comprehension, ParaPro Reading tests reasoning: you make (conclusions the text supports but doesn’t state), recognize the and , follow how a text is organized, and determine a using .
| Skill | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Inference | Draw a conclusion the passage supports but doesn't state outright |
| Author's purpose | Decide whether the text informs, persuades, entertains, or explains |
| Tone | Read the author's attitude from word choice |
| Vocabulary in context | Use surrounding clues to find a word's meaning in this sentence |
| Text organization | Track how ideas are sequenced (cause/effect, compare/contrast, order) |
1.3 Supporting Students in Reading
About a third of the Reading section asks how a paraprofessional applies reading skills to help students.[2] The best answers reinforce the teacher’s instruction and keep the student doing the thinking — prompting strategies, asking comprehension questions, and re-reading hard passages.
| Situation | Effective support |
|---|---|
| A student is stuck on a word | Prompt a decoding strategy or context clue — don't just say the word |
| A student finished but didn't understand | Ask comprehension questions and have them re-read for evidence |
| A student reads too fast | Slow them down; ask them to summarize each paragraph |
| Building vocabulary | Connect new words to context and prior knowledge, not just definitions |
Checkpoint · Reading
Question 1 of 10
When analyzing a complex text, what is the first step in identifying the author's argument?
Module 2 · Mathematics
30 questions. The Mathematics section measures your number sense and problem solving across four areas — number and operations, algebra, geometry and measurement, and data analysis — plus applying math to help students.[2] A calculator is not permitted, so master mental math and estimation.
2.1 Number Sense & Operations
Work confidently with whole numbers, , decimals, , and , and apply and the (PEMDAS). To add or subtract fractions, use a common denominator; to convert a percent to a decimal, divide by 100.
- 1
P — Parentheses
Do everything inside grouping symbols (parentheses, brackets) first.
- 2
E — Exponents
Evaluate powers and roots next: 3² = 9 before any multiplication.
- 3
MD — Multiply & Divide
Work left to right — multiplication and division have equal priority.
- 4
AS — Add & Subtract
Finally, add and subtract left to right to reach the answer.
| Task | Key move |
|---|---|
| Add/subtract fractions | Find a common denominator, then add/subtract the numerators |
| Multiply fractions | Multiply numerators and denominators; simplify the result |
| Divide fractions | Multiply by the reciprocal (flip the second fraction and multiply) |
| Percent of a number | Convert to a decimal and multiply: 20% of 80 = 0.20 × 80 = 16 |
| Order of operations | PEMDAS: parentheses, exponents, multiply/divide, then add/subtract |
| Add integers | Same signs add and keep the sign; different signs subtract and take the larger's sign |
2.2 Algebra, Geometry & Measurement
Solve simple equations by isolating the with inverse operations (if x − 8 = 5, then x = 13), evaluate expressions, and use patterns. In geometry and measurement, find , , and volume, work with basic shapes and angles, and convert units.
| Concept | What to remember |
|---|---|
| Solve an equation | Do the same inverse operation to both sides to isolate the variable |
| Evaluate an expression | Substitute the value, then follow the order of operations |
| Perimeter | Add up all the side lengths of a shape |
| Area of a rectangle | Length × width (in square units) |
| Area of a triangle | ½ × base × height |
| Unit conversion | Multiply or divide by the conversion factor (12 inches = 1 foot) |
2.3 Data Analysis & Supporting Students
Read tables, bar graphs, line graphs, and pictographs, and find the measures of center — , , and . The application items ask how a paraprofessional would help a student understand a math concept — usually with manipulatives, examples, or guided practice.
| Idea | How to find or use it |
|---|---|
| Mean (average) | Add all values, divide by how many there are |
| Median | Middle value when data are in order (average the two middle if even count) |
| Mode | The value that appears most often |
| Read a graph | Check the title, axis labels, and scale before reading values |
| Help a struggling student | Use concrete examples or manipulatives and guided practice |
Checkpoint · Mathematics
Question 1 of 10
In the number 5,098,431, which digit is in the ten-thousands place?
Module 3 · Writing
30 questions. The Writing section measures your command of standard English — grammar, usage, sentence structure, and mechanics — and your grasp of the , plus how a paraprofessional helps students write.[2] There is no essay; questions are multiple choice.
3.1 Grammar & Usage
Usage covers the rules of correct English: , agreement and case, verb tense, placement, and . These are the most heavily tested Writing skills.
| Rule | What to check |
|---|---|
| Subject-verb agreement | Singular subject → singular verb; ignore phrases between them |
| Pronoun agreement & case | Pronouns match their nouns; use the right subjective/objective case |
| Verb tense | Keep tense consistent unless the meaning requires a shift |
| Parallel structure | Items in a list/comparison share the same grammatical form |
| Modifier placement | Place modifiers next to what they describe (avoid dangling modifiers) |
3.2 Sentence Structure & Mechanics
Build and fix complete sentences: repair a and a (including the ), and apply the mechanics of edited writing — capitalization, punctuation (commas, semicolons, apostrophes), and spelling.
| Issue | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| Sentence fragment | Add the missing subject or verb, or join it to a complete sentence |
| Run-on / comma splice | Use a period, a semicolon, or a comma + conjunction (, and / , but) |
| Commas in a series | Separate three or more items: 'red, white, and blue' |
| Apostrophes | Show possession (dog's) or contraction (it's = it is); not for plurals |
| Capitalization | Capitalize proper nouns and the first word of a sentence |
3.3 The Writing Process & Supporting Students
ParaPro Writing also tests the — and the difference between (improving ideas and organization) and (fixing grammar and mechanics). The application items ask how a paraprofessional guides a student through each stage.
- 1
Prewriting
Brainstorm, gather ideas, and plan — list, cluster, or outline before drafting.
- 2
Drafting
Get ideas down in sentences and paragraphs; focus on content, not perfection.
- 3
Revising
Improve the ideas — clarity, organization, development, and word choice.
- 4
Editing
Fix grammar, usage, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.
- 5
Publishing
Produce the final, clean copy to share — the polished result of the process.
| Stage | How a paraprofessional helps |
|---|---|
| Prewriting | Help the student brainstorm and organize ideas (lists, webs, outlines) |
| Drafting | Encourage getting ideas down without worrying about perfection yet |
| Revising | Ask questions about clarity and order — keep the student making the changes |
| Editing | Point to a grammar or spelling rule rather than just correcting it for them |
Checkpoint · Writing
Question 1 of 10
What is the purpose of a counterargument in an argumentative essay?
How to Use This ParaPro Study Guide
The ParaPro tests three sections equally, so build a balanced plan and confirm the score you need before you test:
- Find your district’s cut score. There’s no national passing score — ask where you’ll work which score qualifies you, then aim above it.
- Read a section, then check yourself. Take the end-of-module checkpoint to see exactly which sub-topics need another pass.
- Practice both halves of each section. You’re tested on the skill and on applying it to help a student — study both.
- Check off as you go. Mark each section done in the Study Guide Contents — it raises your exam-readiness score.
- Drill weak spots. Send shaky topics into the flashcards and a practice test until you’re comfortable.
- Practice math by hand. No calculator is allowed, so rehearse fractions, percent, and mental estimation until they’re automatic.
ParaPro Concept Questions
Common ParaPro concepts students search while studying — each answered briefly and backed by an official source. Test yourself, then drill them as flashcards.
ParaPro Glossary
The high-yield ParaPro terms across Reading, Mathematics, and Writing in one place — hover any dotted term in the guide, or flip the whole deck here as a self-grading flashcard set.
- Area
- The amount of surface a two-dimensional shape covers, measured in square units.
- Author's purpose
- The reason a text was written — to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain.
- Comma splice
- Two independent clauses joined by only a comma — a type of run-on sentence.
- Context clues
- Words or phrases near an unfamiliar word that help reveal its meaning.
- Editing
- Correcting grammar, usage, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling in a draft.
- Fact vs. opinion
- A fact can be proven true or false; an opinion expresses a belief, judgment, or feeling.
- Fraction
- A number written as a part of a whole, with a numerator over a denominator (3/4).
- Inference
- A logical conclusion the reader draws from textual evidence plus reasoning — not stated outright.
- Integer
- A whole number and its opposite, including negatives and zero (…, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, …).
- Main idea
- The central point or message a passage conveys — what the whole text is mostly about.
- Mean
- The average — the sum of all values divided by the number of values.
- Median
- The middle value of a data set arranged in order.
- Mode
- The value that appears most often in a data set.
- Modifier
- A word or phrase that describes another word; it should sit next to what it describes.
- Order of operations
- The agreed sequence for evaluating an expression — PEMDAS: parentheses, exponents, multiply/divide, add/subtract.
- Parallel structure
- Using the same grammatical form for items in a list, pair, or comparison.
- Paraprofessional
- A trained classroom aide who supports a certified teacher and works under the teacher's direction.
- Percent
- A part per hundred; convert to a decimal by dividing by 100 (25% = 0.25).
- Perimeter
- The distance around the outside of a two-dimensional shape (the sum of its sides).
- Place value
- The value a digit has because of its position in a number (ones, tens, hundreds, tenths).
- Pronoun
- A word that takes the place of a noun (he, she, it, they); it must agree with the noun it replaces.
- Revising
- Improving a draft's ideas, organization, and clarity (different from editing).
- Run-on sentence
- Two complete sentences joined without correct punctuation or a conjunction (includes comma splices).
- Scaled score
- A converted score (the ParaPro is reported on a 420–480 scale) used to compare results fairly across test forms.
- Sentence fragment
- An incomplete sentence missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.
- Subject-verb agreement
- A grammar rule requiring a singular subject to take a singular verb and a plural subject a plural verb.
- Supporting detail
- A fact, example, statistic, or reason that explains, proves, or develops the main idea.
- Title I
- A federal program funding schools with high percentages of low-income students; it sets paraprofessional qualification rules.
- Tone
- The author's attitude toward the subject, revealed through word choice (e.g., formal, critical, hopeful).
- Variable
- A letter that stands for an unknown number in an expression or equation (the x in x − 8 = 5).
- Word in context
- The meaning of a word or phrase as it is actually used in a sentence, which can differ from its dictionary definition.
- Writing process
- The stages of producing writing: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.
ParaPro Study Guide FAQ
The ParaPro Assessment is an ETS test that measures the skills and knowledge of paraprofessionals (teacher aides). Many school districts and states use it to satisfy Title I requirements — showing that an aide can read, do math, and write, and can apply those skills to help students in the classroom.
The ParaPro Assessment has 90 selected-response questions (mostly multiple choice), evenly split across three sections — Reading (30), Mathematics (30), and Writing (30). You have 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete all three sections. It is computer-delivered (test code 1755).
ParaPro scores are reported on a 420–480 scale. There is no single national passing score — each state or school district sets its own qualifying score. Real published examples include Virginia 455, Arizona and Alaska 459, Colorado and Illinois 460, and Massachusetts 464. Always confirm the exact cut score required where you plan to work.
You get 2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) to answer all 90 questions across the three sections. That's about 100 seconds per question — comfortable for most test-takers, so read carefully and use any extra time to check your work.
ParaPro Mathematics covers number sense and operations (whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percent), basic algebra, geometry and measurement, and data analysis (mean, median, mode, graphs). About a third of the questions ask how a paraprofessional would apply these skills to help a student.
Each ParaPro section is split two ways. Most questions test the academic skill itself — reading comprehension, computation, grammar. The rest test applying that skill to classroom instruction: choosing how a paraprofessional would help a student practice or understand the concept, under the teacher's direction.
Yes. If you don't reach the required score, you can retake the ParaPro Assessment after a waiting period (ETS limits how often you can test). Use the wait to drill your weakest section with a study guide, flashcards, and a practice test, then try again.
The ParaPro Assessment is published by ETS (Educational Testing Service), the same organization behind the Praxis and the GRE. This study guide, plus our practice test and flashcards, are 100% free with no account required.
References
- 1.Educational Testing Service (ETS). “ParaPro Assessment — Test Overview.” parapro.ets.org. ↑
- 2.Educational Testing Service (ETS). “ParaPro Assessment Study Companion (1755).” ets.org. ↑
- 3.Educational Testing Service (ETS). “ParaPro Assessment — Scores.” parapro.ets.org. ↑
- 4.Educational Testing Service (ETS). “ParaPro Assessment — Test Content.” parapro.ets.org. ↑
- 5.Educational Testing Service (ETS). “ParaPro Assessment — State Requirements.” parapro.ets.org. ↑
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