California Commission on Teacher
1 TSETBUS • ACIR
RICA✦
✦
SUB 1
Credentialing
Reading Instruction Competence Assessment · Subtest 1
CA CTC
ENSURING EXCELLENCE IN READING INSTRUCTION
RICA — Subtest 1 Examination
P H O N O LO G I C A L A W A R E N E SS · CO N C E PTS A B O U T P R I N T · P H O N I CS · S P E L L I N G · F LU E N C Y · W O R D
A N A LYS I S
ORGANIZATION California Commission on Teacher EXAM TYPE Reading Instruction Competence
Credentialing (CTC) Assessment (RICA)
SUBTEST Subtest 1 — Word Analysis & Fluency ACADEMIC YEAR
TOTAL QUESTIONS 25 Questions SUBJECT AREAS Phonological Awareness · Phonics ·
Fluency · Spelling · Word Analysis
FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Answer
SUBTEST 1 EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question based on RICA content specifications for Subtest 1.
▸ Content covers: phonological/phonemic awareness, concepts about print, alphabetic principle, phonics (continuous/stop
consonants, digraphs, blends, diphthongs, r-controlled/l-controlled vowels), word identification strategies (structural analysis,
syllabic analysis, context clues), sight word categories, spelling development (5 stages), fluency (accuracy, rate, prosody, WCPM
calculation), and assessment types (Yopp-Singer, entry-level, progress monitoring, summative).
▸ Key instructional approaches: whole-to-part (analytic), part-to-whole (synthetic), analogy phonics, embedded phonics,
decodable text.
SECTION I — FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS & FLUENCY Questions 1 – 25
1. What is the difference between phonological awareness and phonemic awareness?
A. They are identical concepts with interchangeable terms.
B. Phonological awareness is the broad knowledge that oral English is composed of smaller units (words, syllables,
onset/rime, phonemes); phonemic awareness is the specific ability to distinguish separate phonemes in spoken
words.
C. Phonological awareness involves letters; phonemic awareness involves sounds only.
D. Phonological awareness is tested by the Yopp-Singer; phonemic awareness is assessed through concepts about
print.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Phonological awareness is the broad knowledge that oral English is composed of smaller units
(words, syllables, onset/rime, phonemes); phonemic awareness is the specific ability to distinguish
separate phonemes in spoken words.
RATIONALE PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS is the UMBRELLA — knowledge that oral English is composed of smaller units
that can be manipulated at many levels (words, syllables, onset/rime, and individual sounds). PHONEMIC
AWARENESS is a SUBSET — the specific ability to distinguish separate PHONEMES (sounds) in spoken words
and is a PREREQUISITE to learning to read. PHONICS is knowledge of letter-sound correspondences.
GRAPHEMES are English letters representing phonemes. VOWELS occur with clear air passage; CONSONANTS
occur when airflow is obstructed. ONSET = initial consonant/blend; RIME = vowel and following consonants.
1 TSETBUS • ACIR
RICA✦
✦
SUB 1
Credentialing
Reading Instruction Competence Assessment · Subtest 1
CA CTC
ENSURING EXCELLENCE IN READING INSTRUCTION
RICA — Subtest 1 Examination
P H O N O LO G I C A L A W A R E N E SS · CO N C E PTS A B O U T P R I N T · P H O N I CS · S P E L L I N G · F LU E N C Y · W O R D
A N A LYS I S
ORGANIZATION California Commission on Teacher EXAM TYPE Reading Instruction Competence
Credentialing (CTC) Assessment (RICA)
SUBTEST Subtest 1 — Word Analysis & Fluency ACADEMIC YEAR
TOTAL QUESTIONS 25 Questions SUBJECT AREAS Phonological Awareness · Phonics ·
Fluency · Spelling · Word Analysis
FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Answer
SUBTEST 1 EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question based on RICA content specifications for Subtest 1.
▸ Content covers: phonological/phonemic awareness, concepts about print, alphabetic principle, phonics (continuous/stop
consonants, digraphs, blends, diphthongs, r-controlled/l-controlled vowels), word identification strategies (structural analysis,
syllabic analysis, context clues), sight word categories, spelling development (5 stages), fluency (accuracy, rate, prosody, WCPM
calculation), and assessment types (Yopp-Singer, entry-level, progress monitoring, summative).
▸ Key instructional approaches: whole-to-part (analytic), part-to-whole (synthetic), analogy phonics, embedded phonics,
decodable text.
SECTION I — FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS & FLUENCY Questions 1 – 25
1. What is the difference between phonological awareness and phonemic awareness?
A. They are identical concepts with interchangeable terms.
B. Phonological awareness is the broad knowledge that oral English is composed of smaller units (words, syllables,
onset/rime, phonemes); phonemic awareness is the specific ability to distinguish separate phonemes in spoken
words.
C. Phonological awareness involves letters; phonemic awareness involves sounds only.
D. Phonological awareness is tested by the Yopp-Singer; phonemic awareness is assessed through concepts about
print.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Phonological awareness is the broad knowledge that oral English is composed of smaller units
(words, syllables, onset/rime, phonemes); phonemic awareness is the specific ability to distinguish
separate phonemes in spoken words.
RATIONALE PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS is the UMBRELLA — knowledge that oral English is composed of smaller units
that can be manipulated at many levels (words, syllables, onset/rime, and individual sounds). PHONEMIC
AWARENESS is a SUBSET — the specific ability to distinguish separate PHONEMES (sounds) in spoken words
and is a PREREQUISITE to learning to read. PHONICS is knowledge of letter-sound correspondences.
GRAPHEMES are English letters representing phonemes. VOWELS occur with clear air passage; CONSONANTS
occur when airflow is obstructed. ONSET = initial consonant/blend; RIME = vowel and following consonants.
