ISASP — Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress — Questions and Answers

Question 1: On the ISASP Writing assessment, what does 'tone' refer to?

The physical appearance of the text on the page
The writer's attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice (Correct answer)
The number of exclamation points used in the essay
The volume at which the text should be read aloud

Correct answer: The writer's attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice

Tone is the attitude a writer conveys toward the topic or audience through deliberate word choices, sentence structure, and style.

Question 2: What does the root 'geo-' mean in words like 'geography,' 'geology,' and 'geometry'?

Water
Earth (Correct answer)
Sky or air
Time

Correct answer: Earth

The Greek root 'geo-' means 'earth,' which is why geography is the study of the earth's surface and geology is the study of the earth's physical structure.

Question 3: Students created an experiment to investigate what happens to water when it freezes. They filled multiple plastic containers of the same size with 50 milliliters (mL) of pure water. They placed each container in the freezer after covering it. Once the water became frozen, they measured the amount of ice present in each container. Although the right procedures were followed, a student accidentally filled her container with 60 mL of water. Which of these volumes of ice did she most likely observe once she took it out of the freezer?

65 mL
55 mL
60 mL (Correct answer)
50 mL

Correct answer: 60 mL

Explanation: Since the water expands as it freezes, the volume of ice formed will be slightly larger than the volume of the liquid water. Therefore, the student would most likely observe 60 mL of ice after removing it from the freezer, corresponding to the volume of water she poured into the container.

Question 4: Which organization is responsible for developing and administering the ISASP in Iowa?

The Iowa Department of Education (Correct answer)
The Iowa State University testing division
The College Board
The U.S. Department of Education

Correct answer: The Iowa Department of Education

The Iowa Department of Education oversees and administers the ISASP, which replaced the Iowa Assessments as the state's standardized assessment program.

Question 5: In two nearby farms, the researchers measured the amount of soil lost in kilograms per hectare (kg/ha). Every field was divided into two parts of the same size, one with radish ground cover and the other without. The graph below displays the results. Which of the scientists' claims are best supported by the facts they gathered?

In comparison to the portions with radish ground cover, each field lost at least 110 kg/ha more soil in the sections lacking ground cover. (Correct answer)
Wind had less of an impact on the areas of each field without any ground cover than it did on the areas with radish ground cover.
Due to its bigger surface area, the larger field lost five times as much soil as the smaller field.
Compared to other types of ground cover, radish ground cover reduced soil loss by around 50 kg/ha.

Correct answer: In comparison to the portions with radish ground cover, each field lost at least 110 kg/ha more soil in the sections lacking ground cover.

Explanation: This claim is best supported by the data because it directly compares the soil loss between sections with and without ground cover in each field. The data show a consistent reduction in soil loss in sections with radish ground cover compared to sections without ground cover in both fields, supporting the claim that radish ground cover significantly reduces soil erosion.

Question 6: How should students approach ISASP multi-select questions where more than one answer may be correct?

Read all options carefully and select every answer that is supported by the text or question (Correct answer)
Select only one answer even if multiple seem correct
Choose the first and last options by default
Always select exactly two answers

Correct answer: Read all options carefully and select every answer that is supported by the text or question

Multi-select questions require choosing all correct answers, so each option must be evaluated independently against the evidence.

Question 7: What number is equal to (7 × 3) + 4 × (1 + 8) ?

67
43
53
57 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 57

Explanation: To solve the expression, follow the order of operations: parentheses first, then multiplication, and finally addition: (7 × 3) + 4 × (1 + 8) = (21) + 4 × (9) = 21 + (36) = 21 + 36 = 57

Question 8: When analyzing an author's argument on ISASP, what should you look for?

Whether the author uses humor
The number of times the author repeats their main point
The claim, the evidence used to support it, and the reasoning connecting them (Correct answer)
Only the conclusion paragraph

Correct answer: The claim, the evidence used to support it, and the reasoning connecting them

A complete argument has a claim (position), evidence (facts/data/examples), and reasoning (logical connection between them).

Question 9: Which of the following is an example of correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Each student must bring their own pencil to the ISASP. (Correct answer)
Each students must bring their own pencils to the ISASP.
Each student must bring its own pencil to the ISASP.
Each student must bring their own pencil to the ISASP or his pencil.

Correct answer: Each student must bring their own pencil to the ISASP.

Modern grammar accepts 'their' as a singular pronoun when the antecedent is indefinite (e.g., 'each student'), making this the most accepted and clear construction.

Question 10: What is a 'counterclaim' in an argumentative text on ISASP?

The main claim of the author's essay
The conclusion paragraph of an essay
A list of supporting facts
An opposing viewpoint the author addresses to strengthen their argument (Correct answer)

Correct answer: An opposing viewpoint the author addresses to strengthen their argument

A counterclaim is an opposing argument that the author acknowledges and then refutes to make their position stronger.

Question 11: What does ISASP stand for?

Iowa State Academic Skills Program
Iowa Standardized Achievement and Skills Program
Individual Student Assessment and Standards Protocol
Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress

ISASP is an acronym for Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, Iowa's official state testing program.

Question 12: What was Manifest Destiny as understood in 19th-century America?

The belief that the United States was destined to expand across North America to the Pacific Ocean (Correct answer)
A military strategy during the Civil War
A trade agreement with Mexico
A law requiring westward migration for all citizens

Correct answer: The belief that the United States was destined to expand across North America to the Pacific Ocean

Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century ideology that American expansion westward to the Pacific was inevitable and divinely ordained.

Question 13: Which type of writing task on the ISASP requires students to analyze a topic using information from multiple sources?

Descriptive poetry writing
Creative fiction writing
Informative/explanatory writing (Correct answer)
Personal narrative writing

Correct answer: Informative/explanatory writing

Informative/explanatory writing requires students to research and synthesize information from multiple sources to explain a topic clearly and accurately.

Question 14: Students created an experiment to investigate what happens to water when it freezes. They filled multiple plastic containers of the same size with 50 milliliters (mL) of pure water. They placed each container in the freezer after covering it. Once the water became frozen, they measured the amount of ice present in each container. After taking his container out of the freezer, a student left it open under a sunny window. What did the student most likely see in the container the next school day, assuming it was undisturbed?

49 mL of liquid water (Correct answer)
None of the above
55 mL of ice
58 mL of ice

Correct answer: 49 mL of liquid water

Explanation: Leaving the container uncovered in a sunny window would likely lead to some of the ice melting due to the warmth of the sunlight. Since the original volume of water was 50 mL, the student would most likely observe 49 mL of liquid water remaining in the container the following school day.

Question 15: What is the primary purpose of the three branches of the U.S. government, as covered on the ISASP?

To separate powers and create a system of checks and balances (Correct answer)
To divide the country into three equal geographic regions
To ensure that only elected officials can make laws
To allow one branch to hold all governing authority

Correct answer: To separate powers and create a system of checks and balances

The three branches — legislative, executive, and judicial — divide governmental power to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful through a system of checks and balances.

Question 16: On the ISASP Writing assessment, what is the primary purpose of a 'thesis statement'?

To describe the physical setting of the topic
To list all the sources used in the essay
To provide a summary of what others have written
To clearly state the main argument or central idea of an essay (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To clearly state the main argument or central idea of an essay

A thesis statement is a sentence that presents the writer's main argument or central claim, giving direction to the entire essay.

Question 17: On the ISASP ELA assessment, what is 'alliteration'?

The use of words that sound like the noise they describe
The repetition of a vowel sound within a line of poetry
A comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'
The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of closely connected words (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of closely connected words

Alliteration is a sound device where the same consonant sound is repeated at the beginning of two or more nearby words, such as 'Peter Piper picked a peck.'

Question 18: In a pie chart showing percentages, what must all the sections add up to?

Any number depending on the data
50%
200%
100% (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 100%

A pie chart represents a whole divided into parts, so all sections must together equal 100% of the whole.

Question 19: On the ISASP, what does 'subject-verb agreement' mean?

A verb must always come directly before its subject
All verbs in an essay must be in the same tense
A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb (Correct answer)
The subject and verb must both be in the same paragraph

Correct answer: A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb

Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that a singular subject requires a singular verb and a plural subject requires a plural verb.

Question 20: Which text structure presents events in the order they happened?

Problem and solution
Chronological order (Correct answer)
Cause and effect
Compare and contrast

Correct answer: Chronological order

Chronological order organizes events by the sequence in which they occurred.

Question 21: What does it mean to 'make an inference' on the ISASP Reading assessment?

Reach a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning, even if not directly stated (Correct answer)
Count the number of paragraphs in the text
Copy a sentence word-for-word from the text
Identify the genre of the passage

Correct answer: Reach a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning, even if not directly stated

Making an inference means using clues from the text combined with prior knowledge to draw a logical conclusion not explicitly stated.

Question 22: In two identical trays, a student planted multiple cuttings of the same size from one parent plant. The student put the cuttings in nutrient-rich soil in Tray One. The student placed the cuttings in nutrient-poor soil in Tray Two. Trays One and Two were positioned beneath the same light source. For two weeks, the student watered the cuttings in each tray with the same quantity of water each day. After two weeks, the plants in Trays One and Two are shown in the pictures below. What was the purpose of the student using cuttings from one parent plant?

To prevent the parent plant from growing.
To rule out the effect of genetic differences. (Correct answer)
To evaluate their growth in relation to other species
To cut down on the experiment's number of steps.

Correct answer: To rule out the effect of genetic differences.

Explanation: By using cuttings from one parent plant, the student ensures that the genetic makeup of the plants in both trays is identical. This eliminates genetic variation as a factor influencing the observed differences in growth between the two trays. Thus, any differences observed between Tray One and Tray Two can be attributed to the different soil conditions (nutrient-rich vs. nutrient-poor) rather than genetic differences among the plants.

Question 23: What does 'evidence-based writing' mean on ISASP writing tasks?

Writing personal narratives without using outside sources
Using emotional appeals instead of facts
Supporting every claim with specific details, quotes, or examples drawn from source texts (Correct answer)
Writing long essays with no organizational structure

Correct answer: Supporting every claim with specific details, quotes, or examples drawn from source texts

Evidence-based writing requires grounding arguments in textual evidence rather than unsupported opinions.

Question 24: What does the term 'push and pull factors' describe in the context of human migration, as assessed on the ISASP?

Conditions that drive people away from a place (push) or attract them to a new place (pull) (Correct answer)
Economic factors that only affect international migration
Physical forces like wind and gravity that affect population movement
Government policies that legally force people to relocate

Correct answer: Conditions that drive people away from a place (push) or attract them to a new place (pull)

Push factors are negative conditions that cause people to leave a place (e.g., war, famine), while pull factors are positive conditions that attract people to a new location (e.g., job opportunities, safety).

Question 25: When preparing for ISASP, which strategy is most effective for reading comprehension questions?

Skip the passage and answer questions based on background knowledge
Only read the first and last paragraph
Read every word of the passage but ignore the questions until after
Read the questions first, then read the passage with those questions in mind (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Read the questions first, then read the passage with those questions in mind

Pre-reading the questions helps students focus their reading and locate relevant evidence more efficiently.

Question 26: Five-pound bags of oranges cost $3.00 a piece from a fruit stand. Every bag contains fifteen oranges. How much does an orange cost?

$0.25
$0.50
$0.15
$0.20 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $0.20

Explanation: To find the price per orange, you divide the total price of the bag of oranges by the number of oranges in the bag. Total price of the bag = $3.00 Number of oranges in the bag = 15 Price per orange = Total price of the bag / Number of oranges in the bag = $3.00 / 15 = $0.20

Question 27: What should a student do when they encounter a difficult ISASP question they cannot immediately answer?

Flag it, move on to easier questions, and return to it later (Correct answer)
Spend all remaining time on that one question
Click answers randomly to finish faster
Leave it blank without returning to it

Correct answer: Flag it, move on to easier questions, and return to it later

Flagging difficult questions and returning to them after completing easier items maximizes efficient use of testing time.

Question 28: Which document established the framework for the United States government and is the supreme law of the land?

The Articles of Confederation
The U.S. Constitution (Correct answer)
The Declaration of Independence
The Bill of Rights

Correct answer: The U.S. Constitution

The U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1788, established the framework of the federal government and is the supreme law of the United States.

Question 29: On the ISASP Reading test, what is an 'author's purpose'?

The setting chosen for the story
The reason the author wrote the text (to inform, persuade, or entertain) (Correct answer)
The length of each paragraph
The number of characters in the text

Correct answer: The reason the author wrote the text (to inform, persuade, or entertain)

An author's purpose is the main reason they wrote the text, which is typically to inform, persuade, or entertain the audience.

Question 30: Which of the following is required for a plant to produce glucose?

Carbon dioxide (Correct answer)
Soil
Oxygen
Hydrogen

Correct answer: Carbon dioxide

Explanation: Plants require carbon dioxide from the air as one of the raw materials for photosynthesis, the process by which they produce glucose. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is combined with water in the presence of sunlight to create glucose and oxygen. Therefore, carbon dioxide is essential for plants to synthesize glucose and produce energy.

Question 31: In two identical trays, a student planted multiple cuttings of the same size from one parent plant. The student put the cuttings in nutrient-rich soil in Tray One. The student placed the cuttings in nutrient-poor soil in Tray Two. Trays One and Two were positioned beneath the same light source. For two weeks, the student watered the cuttings in each tray with the same quantity of water each day. After two weeks, the plants in Trays One and Two are shown in the pictures below. For an extra week, the student continued the experiment. At the end of the extra week, what did the student probably observe?

The size of the plants in Trays One and Two doubled.
Tray One's plants were still taller than Tray Two's. (Correct answer)
In Trays One and Two, the plants' leaves fell off.
Compared to Tray Two, Tray One's stems were smaller.

Correct answer: Tray One's plants were still taller than Tray Two's.

Explanation: Since Tray One contained nutrient-rich soil and Tray Two contained nutrient-poor soil, the plants in Tray One likely had better access to essential nutrients, resulting in healthier growth. Even after the extra week, this difference in nutrient availability would likely persist, with the plants in Tray One continuing to outgrow those in Tray Two.

Question 32: A flammable liquid called propane was used in an experiment by a researcher to study mass conservation. In several trials, the researcher burnt propane in the presence of oxygen. The mass of carbon dioxide and water vapor created during each trial was calculated by the researcher, who then graphed the results. According to the researcher, when propane and oxygen react, carbon dioxide is created at a higher rate than water vapor. Which graph's evidence most strongly supports the researcher's claim?

It was consistent that the mass of carbon dioxide was produced than water vapor. (Correct answer)
The mass of oxygen and propane needed in each reaction determined how much carbon dioxide and water vapor were created.
Throughout the testing, the mass of water vapor created increased by more than 400 g.
In every trial, the mass of water vapor and carbon dioxide increased.

Correct answer: It was consistent that the mass of carbon dioxide was produced than water vapor.

Explanation: The evidence from the graph that supports the researcher's claim is the consistent trend where the mass of carbon dioxide produced was consistently greater than the mass of water vapor produced across multiple trials. This consistency indicates that more carbon dioxide is produced than water vapor in the reaction between propane and oxygen.

Question 33: What is a 'theme' in a literary text as assessed by the ISASP?

The main character's name
A list of events in the plot
The time period when the story is set
A universal message or lesson conveyed through the story (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A universal message or lesson conveyed through the story

A theme is the central, universal message or life lesson that the author communicates through the characters, plot, and events of the story.

Question 34: What is an effective strategy for answering multiple-choice questions on the ISASP when you are unsure of the correct answer?

Always choose the first answer option listed
Eliminate obviously wrong answers first, then choose the best remaining option (Correct answer)
Always choose the longest answer choice
Skip the question and leave it blank

Correct answer: Eliminate obviously wrong answers first, then choose the best remaining option

The process of elimination is an effective test-taking strategy: by ruling out clearly incorrect answers, you increase your chances of selecting the correct one from fewer remaining choices.

Question 35: What is the purpose of the system of checks and balances in the U.S. government?

To allow the President to veto all laws
To give states control over federal decisions
To speed up the lawmaking process
To prevent any one branch from gaining too much power (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To prevent any one branch from gaining too much power

Checks and balances ensure each branch can limit the others, preventing any single branch from becoming too powerful.

Question 36: In two nearby farms, the researchers measured the amount of soil lost in kilograms per hectare (kg/ha). Every field was divided into two parts of the same size, one with radish ground cover and the other without. The graph below displays the results. Why did the researchers select two fields that were close to each other?

To make sure that the two fields experienced the same weather conditions. (Correct answer)
For them to make their observations without having to move far.
As a result, soil lost in one area would blow into another.
To evaluate which kinds of wildlife consume radishes in each field.

Correct answer: To make sure that the two fields experienced the same weather conditions.

Explanation: Selecting two neighboring fields ensures that they are subjected to similar environmental factors such as weather patterns, soil composition, and topography. This allows for a more accurate comparison of the effectiveness of radish ground cover in reducing soil loss between the two fields.

Question 37: A primary source is best described as:

An encyclopedia entry about the Civil War
A documentary film about a historical period
An original diary written by a Civil War soldier (Correct answer)
A textbook that summarizes historical events

Correct answer: An original diary written by a Civil War soldier

A primary source is an original, firsthand document or artifact created during the time being studied, such as a diary written by someone who experienced the events.

Question 38: How does the ISASP differ from the ACT or SAT?

The ISASP is only taken voluntarily, while ACT/SAT are required by Iowa law
The ISASP is a state-required standards-based assessment for grades 3–11, while the ACT/SAT are optional college admissions tests for older students (Correct answer)
The ISASP is harder than the ACT and SAT combined
There is no difference — the ISASP, ACT, and SAT test the same content

Correct answer: The ISASP is a state-required standards-based assessment for grades 3–11, while the ACT/SAT are optional college admissions tests for older students

The ISASP is a mandatory Iowa state assessment measuring K-12 academic standards, while the ACT and SAT are voluntary college admissions exams typically taken by high school juniors and seniors.

Question 39: How can students best demonstrate deep understanding on ISASP constructed response questions?

Restate the question without adding analysis
Write as many sentences as possible regardless of relevance
State a clear claim, support it with specific text evidence, and explain how the evidence connects to the claim (Correct answer)
List only the names of characters or facts without explanation

Correct answer: State a clear claim, support it with specific text evidence, and explain how the evidence connects to the claim

Strong constructed responses require a clear claim, cited evidence from the text, and explicit reasoning linking evidence to the claim.

Question 40: What clue words signal a cause-and-effect text structure?

Similarly, on the other hand, in contrast
First, next, then, finally
For example, such as, including
Because, therefore, as a result, consequently (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Because, therefore, as a result, consequently

Words like 'because' and 'as a result' signal that one event or condition causes another.

Question 41: What is the weight of the birdseed to the nearest tenth of a gram if Mark purchased 253.64 grams of birdseed.?

253.6 (Correct answer)
253.8
253
254

Correct answer: 253.6

Explanation: To round 253.64 grams to the nearest tenth, we look at the digit in the hundredth place, which is 4. Since 4 is less than 5, we keep the digit in the tenth place the same. So, the weight rounded to the nearest tenth of a gram is 253.6 grams.

Question 42: Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly to show possession?

The teacher's instruction's were clear before the ISASP began.
The teachers' instruction's were clear before the ISASP began.
The teachers instruction was clear before the ISASP began.
The teacher's instructions were clear before the ISASP began. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The teacher's instructions were clear before the ISASP began.

An apostrophe followed by 's' (teacher's) shows that the instructions belong to a single teacher.

Question 43: On the ISASP Writing test, what is the difference between a 'narrative' and an 'argumentative' essay?

A narrative is always shorter than an argumentative essay
A narrative uses only facts; an argumentative essay uses only fiction
There is no difference between the two types on the ISASP
A narrative tells a story with characters and events; an argumentative essay presents and defends a claim with evidence (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A narrative tells a story with characters and events; an argumentative essay presents and defends a claim with evidence

Narrative writing tells a story using descriptive details and plot elements, while argumentative writing defends a position using logical evidence and reasoning.

Question 44: What was the primary purpose of the Bill of Rights?

To protect individual freedoms and limit government power over citizens (Correct answer)
To create the three branches of government
To establish the electoral college
To outline the process for adding new states

Correct answer: To protect individual freedoms and limit government power over citizens

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, protect individual liberties from government overreach.

Question 45: How did the glaciers of the last Ice Age shape Iowa's landscape?

They deposited massive boulders that created Iowa's hilly terrain
They carved deep canyons and valleys throughout central Iowa
They flattened much of Iowa's terrain and deposited rich glacial till (soil), creating Iowa's fertile farmland (Correct answer)
Glaciers did not reach Iowa and had no effect on its geography

Correct answer: They flattened much of Iowa's terrain and deposited rich glacial till (soil), creating Iowa's fertile farmland

Glaciers covered most of Iowa, flattening the landscape and leaving behind deep deposits of glacial till — mineral-rich sediment that became Iowa's famously fertile topsoil.

Question 46: What are the three branches of the U.S. federal government?

Democratic, Republican, Independent
Senate, House, President
Legislative, Executive, Judicial (Correct answer)
Federal, State, Local

Correct answer: Legislative, Executive, Judicial

The three branches are the Legislative (Congress), Executive (President), and Judicial (courts) branches.

Question 47: What does it mean for ISASP to be a 'criterion-referenced' assessment?

The test only measures IQ and general aptitude
Students are ranked against each other's scores
Student scores are compared against set learning standards, not against other students (Correct answer)
Teachers set the passing score each year

Correct answer: Student scores are compared against set learning standards, not against other students

Criterion-referenced tests measure whether students have mastered specific content standards rather than comparing students to a norm group.

Question 48: When the ISASP asks students to 'cite textual evidence,' what are they expected to do?

Summarize the entire passage in one sentence
Identify the author's name and publication date
Write a personal opinion about the text
Provide specific quotes or details from the text to support an answer (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Provide specific quotes or details from the text to support an answer

Citing textual evidence means using specific words, phrases, or details directly from the passage to support a claim or answer.

Question 49: What strategy should students use when answering an ISASP essay question that asks them to use evidence from a text?

Use evidence from outside the text, such as personal experience only
Quote or paraphrase specific details from the text and explain how each supports your answer (Correct answer)
Summarize the entire text before answering the question
Write only personal opinions without referencing the text

Correct answer: Quote or paraphrase specific details from the text and explain how each supports your answer

When a question asks for textual evidence, students should directly quote or paraphrase the text and clearly explain how that evidence supports their answer.

Question 50: On ISASP, what does it mean to 'cite evidence from the text'?

Write your personal opinion about the topic
Create your own example outside the text
Summarize the entire passage
Point to specific words or sentences from the passage that support your answer (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Point to specific words or sentences from the passage that support your answer

Citing evidence means referencing exact portions of the text to justify your response.

Question 51: What accommodations are available for students with disabilities on the ISASP?

Extended time, text-to-speech, large print, and other supports as specified in IEPs or 504 plans (Correct answer)
Reduced number of questions only
Home testing for all special education students
No accommodations — all students take the identical test

Correct answer: Extended time, text-to-speech, large print, and other supports as specified in IEPs or 504 plans

Students with IEPs or 504 plans may receive accommodations such as extended time, read-aloud, or alternative settings on the ISASP.

Question 52: Which reading skill does the ISASP assess when students are asked to compare how two authors approach the same topic?

Summarizing a single narrative
Determining the sequence of events
Identifying vocabulary in context
Analyzing multiple perspectives or points of view (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Analyzing multiple perspectives or points of view

Comparing how two authors approach the same topic assesses the ability to analyze multiple perspectives, arguments, or treatments of an idea.

Question 53: What does the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protect?

The right to a speedy trial by jury
Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition (Correct answer)
The right to bear arms
Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures

Correct answer: Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

The First Amendment protects five core freedoms: religion, speech, press, peaceful assembly, and petitioning the government.

Question 54: The ages of the Smith family members are listed in the list below. What age range do they fall into? 3, 5, 9, 13, 37, 40

37 (Correct answer)
27
12
10

Correct answer: 37

Explanation: The range of ages is found by subtracting the smallest age from the largest age. In this case, the smallest age is 3, and the largest age is 40. So, the range = 40 - 3 = 37.

Question 55: On the ISASP, what does it mean to evaluate the 'reliability' of a source in an informational text?

Count how many pages the source contains
Judge whether the source is credible, accurate, and trustworthy based on its credentials and evidence (Correct answer)
Decide if the source uses colorful illustrations
Determine whether the source is entertaining

Correct answer: Judge whether the source is credible, accurate, and trustworthy based on its credentials and evidence

Evaluating reliability means judging whether a source can be trusted based on its author's credentials, accuracy, currency, and use of evidence.

Question 56: What does 'hyperbole' mean as a literary device tested on the ISASP?

An extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect, not meant to be taken literally (Correct answer)
The repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses
A comparison between two things using 'like' or 'as'
A subtle understatement used to minimize something's importance

Correct answer: An extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect, not meant to be taken literally

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses dramatic exaggeration for emphasis or humor, such as 'I've told you a million times!'

Question 57: What does the Latin root 'port-' mean in words like 'transport,' 'portable,' and 'import'?

To carry (Correct answer)
To measure
To speak
To build

Correct answer: To carry

The Latin root 'port-' means 'to carry,' which is why transport means to carry across, portable means able to be carried, and import means to carry goods into a country.

Question 58: Which shapes have four right angles at all times?

Square and rectangle (Correct answer)
Quadrilateral and parallelogram
Square and parallelogram
Quadrilateral and rectangle

Correct answer: Square and rectangle

Explanation: Both squares and rectangles always have four right angles. A square is a special type of rectangle where all sides are equal, but both shapes have four right angles regardless of their side lengths.

Question 59: What is 'author's purpose' as assessed on the ISASP Reading test?

The publishing date of the text
The reason an author wrote the text — to inform, persuade, or entertain (Correct answer)
The author's name and background
The number of sources the author used

Correct answer: The reason an author wrote the text — to inform, persuade, or entertain

Author's purpose describes whether the writer intended to inform readers, persuade them, or provide entertainment.

Question 60: On the ISASP, what is the difference between a word's 'denotation' and its 'connotation'?

Denotation refers to spoken language; connotation refers to written language
There is no meaningful difference between denotation and connotation
Denotation is the word's origin; connotation is its current meaning
Denotation is the literal dictionary meaning; connotation is the emotional or cultural association (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Denotation is the literal dictionary meaning; connotation is the emotional or cultural association

Denotation is a word's precise, literal dictionary definition, while connotation refers to the feelings and associations that a word evokes beyond its literal meaning.

ISASP — Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress

The ISASP measures student proficiency in English Language Arts (reading and writing), Mathematics, and Science across Iowa's academic standards for grades 3 through 11.

Questions

90 min

Time Limit

41%

To Pass

Checking for saved progress...

Exam Rules

You can skip questions and return to them later
Flag questions for review before submitting
No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds

These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

educate.iowa.gov — Eligibility, score release · verified Oct 2026
ia.mypearsonsupport.com — Exam format, time limit, test delivery, fees, test dates, exam information · verified Oct 2026