RLA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield RLA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. How long should the Extended Response typically be, given the 45-minute time limit? → Three to five paragraphs with an introduction, body, and conclusion
2. In which sentence are the quotation marks used correctly? → She said, "I will be there soon."
3. What is the effect of using overly general language such as 'society' or 'everyone' as the subject of claims in the Extended Response? → It weakens the argument by making claims that are difficult to prove and lack precision
4. A passage about libraries includes: hours of operation, types of programs offered, and history of the local branch. The MAIN IDEA is most likely: → Libraries provide diverse resources and services to the community.
5. Which sentence best functions as a main idea statement for a paragraph about the benefits of walking? → Walking regularly improves heart health, mood, and energy levels.
6. An editorial reads: 'My grandfather smoked his whole life and lived to 95, so smoking can't be that dangerous.' Which fallacy is present? → Anecdotal evidence used to dismiss statistical data
7. Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon? → She loves hiking; she also enjoys camping.
8. Select the correct word: 'The committee made ______ decision unanimously.' → its
9. Which sentence correctly uses 'its' versus 'it's'? → The dog wagged its tail.
10. A short story ends with the protagonist achieving her goal but losing her closest friend in the process. Which type of ending is this? → Bittersweet resolution
11. A nonfiction article's headline reads: 'How Social Media Is Changing the Way Teens Communicate.' This headline most directly signals the article's: → Main idea
12. Which option shows correct subject-verb agreement with a collective noun? → The jury was divided on the verdict.
13. Which type of evidence is most appropriate to cite in a GED Extended Response? → Specific details, examples, and reasoning drawn directly from the provided source texts
14. Which of the following sentences contains a grammatical error? → Each of the players have their own locker.
15. An author writes a passage about how smartphones affect sleep. Which detail would be IRRELEVANT to the main idea? → The first smartphone was released in 1992.
16. A paragraph describes how recycling reduces landfill waste, conserves natural resources, and cuts greenhouse gas emissions. What is the main idea? → Recycling benefits the environment in multiple ways.
17. What type of sentence is: 'Although she was tired, she finished her homework.' → Complex
18. Identify the dangling modifier in: 'Running to catch the bus, my keys fell out of my pocket.' → Running to catch the bus
19. A student notices that one passage uses anecdotal evidence while the other uses statistical data. How should this observation be used in the Extended Response? → Evaluate which type of evidence more effectively supports the claim and explain why
20. A writer's body paragraph contains three quotations in a row with no commentary. What is the most significant problem? → The paragraph lacks the writer's own analysis connecting the evidence to the thesis
21. Read: "The old factory had been closed for decades. Weeds pushed through the cracked pavement, and the windows were boarded shut." What can be inferred? → The factory has been abandoned and fallen into disrepair
22. Which of the following is an example of a logical fallacy that would weaken an Extended Response argument? → Concluding that because two events occurred together, one caused the other
23. Which sentence uses the subjunctive mood correctly? → If I were taller, I could reach the shelf.
24. A narrator describes events in a story but admits, 'I may have misremembered some details from that night.' What type of narrator does this indicate? → Unreliable narrator
25. Which of the following is a supporting detail rather than a main idea? → Running for 30 minutes burns approximately 300 calories.
26. Which sentence is a run-on sentence? → He ran to the store he bought milk.
27. Which is the best version of sentence (7)? → If you live in a warm weather climate, more water may be necessary.
28. Which organizational pattern is most effective for an Extended Response that must argue one side of a debate using two sources? → A claim-evidence-analysis structure with a clear thesis guiding each paragraph
29. Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct parallel structure? → The committee plans to research the issue, hold public hearings, and write a final report.
30. Which revision would most improve this sentence: 'The passage kind of shows that the author thinks maybe the policy is bad'? → 'The author argues in the passage that the policy is harmful, citing [specific evidence].'