Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the RICA exam with our comprehensive quiz. Enhance your skills using flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Get ready to ace your test!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What does the abbreviation 'PA' stand for in RICA content areas?

  1. Phonological and phonemic awareness

  2. Phonics and sight words

  3. Professional Assessment

  4. Print Awareness

The correct answer is: Phonological and phonemic awareness

The abbreviation 'PA' in the context of RICA content areas stands for Phonological and Phonemic Awareness. This concept encompasses the skills that children develop in understanding and manipulating the sound structures of spoken language. Phonological awareness includes recognizing and working with sounds at the level of words, syllables, and onsets and rimes, while phonemic awareness zeroes in on the smallest units of sound, known as phonemes. These skills are critical for reading development as they contribute to a child's ability to decode words and enhance their reading fluency. This focus on sound awareness is foundational for effective reading instruction, making it essential for educators to prioritize these skills in their teaching practices.