The Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) is taken by candidates who need to show reading and writing skills to the Virginia Department of Education. This page gives you free practice sets by skill area, worked explanations, a study plan, and the delivery, fee, scoring and retake facts in one place.
According to Virginia Department of Education, “Writing subtest (092): approximately 40 multiple-choice items, 3 short-answer items, 1 written summary assignment, and 1 written composition assignment”[1]
The VCLA measures reading and writing skills and is administered under the Virginia Department of Education. It has a Reading subtest (091) and a Writing subtest (092). You can take either subtest alone or both together.
Format. The Reading subtest has about 40 multiple-choice items. The Writing subtest has about 40 multiple-choice items, 3 short-answer items, 1 written summary and 1 written composition.
Delivery. You can test at a test center, in Virginia or nationwide, or online-proctored from home. Test center appointments are available year-round, Monday through Saturday, excluding some holidays. Online testing runs in one-week windows each month. A test center session allows 4 hours of testing time (a 4 h 15 min appointment) for one or both subtests.
Fees. It costs $40 per subtest or $80 for both, plus a $50 registration processing fee.
Scoring. The passing score is 235 per subtest, or 470 for both.
Retakes. You must wait 30 days before retaking a subtest, and your highest subtest score counts.
Who must take the VCLA, and which score your school or licensing office accepts, depends on your situation. Check the official Virginia testing site before you register. Our practice questions are written by us and are not real exam questions.
The VCLA takes about 4 hours and costs $40[1] (Virginia Department of Education, verified Oct 25, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (Reading subtest (091)) | About 40 multiple-choice items[1] | Virginia Department of Education · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Number of questions (Writing subtest (092)) | About 40 multiple-choice items, 3 short-answer items, 1 written summary and 1 written composition[1] | Virginia Department of Education · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Time limit | 4 hours testing time (4 h 15 min appointment) at a test center, for one or both subtests[1] | Virginia Department of Education · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Passing score | 235 per subtest; 470 for both[1] | Virginia Department of Education · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Exam fee | $40 per subtest, $80 for both, plus $50 registration processing fee[1] | Virginia Department of Education · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Retake policy | Wait 30 days; highest subtest score counts[2] | Virginia Department of Education · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Delivery | Test center (Virginia and nationwide) or online-proctored from home[1] | Virginia Department of Education · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Testing window | Test center: year-round, Mon–Sat; online: one-week windows each month[1] | Virginia Department of Education · Oct 25, 2026 |
The content areas below are copied from the official VCLA content outline published by Virginia Department of Education. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension and Analysis[3] | VCLA Reading Comprehension Skills Practise finding the main idea, following how an author connects ideas, and working out word meaning from context. |
| Writing Knowledge and Proficiency[3] | VCLA Written Expression and Grammar Practise grammar, sentence clarity and organisation, then write your own summary and composition to match the written tasks. |
Prepare for the VCLA Exam exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What does the prefix 'mis-' mean in words like 'misinform' and 'misplace'?
Answer: B. Wrongly or badly
Explanation:
The prefix 'mis-' means wrongly or badly, so 'misinform' is to inform incorrectly and 'misplace' is to place something in the wrong spot. 'Below or under' describes prefixes like 'sub-', which is why that option is wrong. 'Again or anew' describes 're-', as in 'rewrite'. 'Before or earlier' describes 'pre-', as in 'preview'. Each wrong option is a real prefix with a different meaning, so they are easy to confuse if you guess from familiarity alone.
Rule to remember: when a prefix is unfamiliar, test its meaning in the two example words. If 'wrongly' fits both, you have your answer.
Question: The word 'excerpt' in a VCLA passage most likely refers to:
Answer: B. A short passage taken from a longer work
Explanation:
An excerpt is a short passage taken from a longer work, so that option is correct. 'A complete novel or book' is wrong because an excerpt is only a part, never the whole. 'An original writing prompt' is wrong because an excerpt is existing text, not an instruction asking you to write. 'A list of vocabulary words' is wrong because an excerpt is connected prose, not a word list.
Rule to remember: when a passage is introduced as an excerpt, expect that it starts or ends in the middle of a larger piece. Do not look for information that the passage does not give you.
Question: A VCLA passage includes the phrase 'on the other hand.' This phrase signals that the author is about to present:
Answer: B. A contrasting viewpoint or idea
Explanation:
'On the other hand' signals a contrasting viewpoint or idea, so that option is correct. 'An additional supporting example' is wrong because additions are signalled by words like 'also' or 'in addition'. 'A definition of a key term' is wrong because definitions usually come with phrases like 'that is' or 'means'. 'A chronological next event' is wrong because sequence is signalled by words like 'then' or 'afterward'.
Rule to remember: transition phrases tell you the direction of the argument. Learn which group each one belongs to, such as contrast, addition, example or sequence, and you can predict what comes next before you read it.
Start with the official outline for the VCLA and note which of the Reading and Writing areas feels weakest. Then work through our sets in that order.
Check the official Virginia testing site for the current candidate guide and sample material, and compare it with what you practised.
The passing score is 235 per subtest, or 470 if you take both subtests together. The exam body, the Virginia Department of Education, sets this. Your own licensing office may have its own requirements, so confirm them on the official Virginia testing site.
A single subtest costs $40 and both subtests cost $80. A $50 registration processing fee is added on top. Check the official site for the current fee schedule before you register, because fees can change.
The Reading subtest (091) has about 40 multiple-choice items. The Writing subtest (092) has about 40 multiple-choice items, 3 short-answer items, 1 written summary and 1 written composition. The official content areas are Reading Comprehension and Analysis, and Writing Knowledge and Proficiency.
Yes. You can test online-proctored from home or at a test center. Test center appointments are available year-round, Monday through Saturday, excluding some holidays. Online testing is offered in one-week windows each month, so check the official site for the current dates.
At a test center you get 4 hours of testing time, within a 4 h 15 min appointment, for one or both subtests. Timing for online-proctored sessions is not listed here, so check the official Virginia testing site for those details.
You must wait 30 days before retaking a subtest. Your highest subtest score counts, so a weaker later attempt does not replace a better earlier one. Use the wait to review the question types you missed.
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