ARCA test-takers have access to the text and use of a dictionary. They read the text, making notes for themselves on main claims in the text’s argument(s) and the most important supporting details for those claims using a note-taking pad on the screen.

The notes will not be graded.

At the end of the 60-minute limit, the text disappears, and the screen auto advances to the next part.

With reference to notes—but NOT to the text itself—test takers summarize the author’s arguments in English in their own words.  Test takers should include the most important claims and as much supporting evidence for the claims as they have comprehended.

Test takers SHOULD NOT TRANSLATE. Test takers MAY NOT include any information that is not contained in the text.

This section will be graded on the accuracy and adequacy of the claims and supporting details. Test takers will NOT be graded on their writing ability.

At the end of the allotted time, the screen auto-advances to the next section.

The original text reappears on the screen for Section 3.

With use of the original text, test takers answer three open-ended questions and translate a short passage from the original text into English. For the English ARCA, test takers will paraphrase a short excerpt into their own words.

Responses to the questions will be graded on how accurately test takers are able to comprehend and make inferences and understand the author’s rhetorical purposes. The translation/paraphrased text will be graded based on the clarity and accuracy with which the meaning of the original passage is conveyed.

At the end of the 40-minute time limit all the responses are autosaved and the test is ended by the test engine.