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NSW Check-in Assessment study materials
NSW Check-in Assessment study resources

NSW Check-in Assessment practice questions

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Question 1Literacy

Read this sentence: 'The dog chased the ball across the park.' Which word is the verb?

  1. ball
  2. dog
  3. chased Correct answer.
  4. park

Explanation

A verb expresses an action or state. In this sentence, 'chased' is the action the dog performs, while the other words are nouns naming things.

Question 2Literacy

Which sentence uses correct punctuation?

  1. Where are you going asked Tom.
  2. Where are you going, asked Tom.
  3. "Where are you going?" asked Tom. Correct answer.
  4. "Where are you going asked Tom?"

Explanation

Direct speech is enclosed in quotation marks, and the question mark belongs inside the closing quotation mark. The reporting clause 'asked Tom' follows outside the quotation.

Question 3Literacy

Read this sentence: 'The cat sat on the mat.' Which word is the subject?

  1. mat
  2. cat Correct answer.
  3. on
  4. sat

Explanation

The subject is the person or thing performing the action or being described. 'The cat' is what the sentence is about, so 'cat' is the subject.

Question 4Literacy

Which sentence is written in the past tense?

  1. She walks to school every day.
  2. She walked to school yesterday. Correct answer.
  3. She is walking to school now.
  4. She will walk to school tomorrow.

Explanation

Past tense verbs describe actions already completed. 'Walked' is the past tense form, and 'yesterday' confirms the action is finished.

Question 5Literacy

What is the main purpose of a heading in a report?

  1. To show who wrote the text
  2. To list the sources used
  3. To entertain the reader with humour
  4. To signal what a section is about Correct answer.

Explanation

Headings organise a text and tell readers what each section covers. They help readers locate information quickly within a longer document.

Question 6Literacy

Which word is an adjective in this sentence: 'The tall girl kicked the red ball.'?

  1. tall Correct answer.
  2. girl
  3. kicked
  4. ball

Explanation

Adjectives describe or modify nouns. 'Tall' describes the girl, and 'red' also describes the ball, so both are adjectives.

Question 7Literacy

Which of these is a complete sentence?

  1. Running down the hill quickly.
  2. The children played outside. Correct answer.
  3. After the long bus trip.
  4. Because it was raining.

Explanation

A complete sentence needs a subject and a finite verb that express a complete thought. 'The children played outside' has both a subject and a verb.

Question 8Literacy

Read this short text: 'Mia packed her bag. She checked the map twice. At dawn she set off along the coastal track.' What is the text mainly about?

  1. A family planning a holiday overseas
  2. A guide explaining how to read maps
  3. A girl who has lost her map on a beach
  4. A girl who is preparing for and beginning a journey Correct answer.

Explanation

The main idea is found by combining the key details: packing, checking a map, and setting off at dawn. Together these show preparation for and the start of a journey.

Question 9Literacy

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The soup was so ___ that it burned my tongue.'

  1. sweet
  2. hot Correct answer.
  3. cold
  4. thick

Explanation

The clue 'burned my tongue' tells us the soup's temperature was very high. Only 'hot' fits this cause-and-effect relationship.

Question 10Literacy

Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe to show possession?

  1. The dogs' bowl was empty for one dog.
  2. The dog s' bowl was empty.
  3. The dogs bowl was empty.
  4. The dog's bowl was empty. Correct answer.

Explanation

For a singular noun, possession is shown by adding an apostrophe before the s. 'Dog's' correctly indicates the bowl belonging to one dog.

Question 11Literacy

Read this sentence: 'Although it was raining heavily, the match continued.' What does the word 'Although' signal?

  1. A sequence in time
  2. A cause and its result
  3. A list of similar items
  4. A contrast between two ideas Correct answer.

Explanation

'Although' introduces a concessive clause that contrasts with the main clause. The rain would normally stop play, but the match continued anyway.

Question 12Literacy

Which word is an antonym for 'generous'?

  1. helpful
  2. selfish Correct answer.
  3. kind
  4. wealthy

Explanation

Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. 'Generous' means willing to give freely, so its opposite is 'selfish', meaning concerned only with oneself.

Question 13Literacy

A student is writing a persuasive letter asking the school to add more rubbish bins. Which sentence best supports the argument?

  1. Our school has many students who enjoy sport.
  2. The bins near the oval are painted green.
  3. Last week I saw litter blowing across the playground at lunchtime. Correct answer.
  4. Some schools have different lunch times.

Explanation

Strong persuasive writing uses specific evidence that supports the claim. The observation of litter directly supports the need for more bins.

Question 14Literacy

In the sentence 'The teacher gave the class a challenging task', which word is the object?

  1. gave
  2. teacher
  3. class Correct answer.
  4. challenging

Explanation

The object receives the action of the verb. The teacher gave what? The class received the task, so 'class' is the indirect object and 'task' the direct object.

Question 15Literacy

Which sentence uses 'their', 'there' and 'they're' correctly?

  1. They're going to their house and there they will stay. Correct answer.
  2. They're going to there house and their will stay.
  3. Their going to there house and they're going to stay.
  4. There going to they're house and their will stay.

Explanation

'They're' means 'they are', 'their' shows possession, and 'there' refers to a place. Only one option uses each form according to its meaning.

Question 16Literacy

Read this passage: 'The wind howled through the empty streets. Leaves skittered across the pavement like frightened mice. Not a single light shone in any window.' Which mood does the description create?

  1. An eerie, deserted atmosphere Correct answer.
  2. A warm family gathering
  3. A noisy sporting event
  4. A cheerful, busy morning

Explanation

Word choices such as 'howled', 'empty', 'frightened' and 'not a single light' build a sense of isolation and unease. The imagery suggests a place that feels abandoned and unsettling.

Question 17Literacy

Which sentence contains a simile?

  1. The moon was a silver coin in the sky.
  2. The moon glowed above the quiet town.
  3. The moon shone like a polished coin. Correct answer.
  4. The moon, bright and round, rose slowly.

Explanation

A simile compares two things using 'like' or 'as'. The phrase 'like a polished coin' makes an explicit comparison using 'like'.

Question 18Literacy

A recipe lists ingredients, then steps in order. Which text structure does it mainly use?

  1. Cause and effect
  2. Problem and solution
  3. Compare and contrast
  4. Sequence Correct answer.

Explanation

A recipe organises information in the order the steps must be completed. This chronological ordering is the defining feature of a sequence structure.

Question 19Literacy

Which sentence uses a comma correctly?

  1. After, dinner we watched a movie.
  2. After dinner we, watched a movie.
  3. After dinner, we watched a movie. Correct answer.
  4. After dinner we watched, a movie.

Explanation

An introductory phrase is followed by a comma before the main clause begins. The comma after 'dinner' correctly separates the opening phrase from the rest.

Question 20Literacy

Read this sentence: 'The scientist's findings were inconclusive, so further research is required.' What does 'inconclusive' most nearly mean?

  1. Widely published
  2. Not leading to a clear conclusion Correct answer.
  3. Definitely proven
  4. Carefully written

Explanation

The prefix 'in-' means 'not', and 'conclusive' means settling an issue. The 'so further research' clause confirms the results did not settle the question.

Question 21Literacy

Which revision best combines these two sentences without changing the meaning? 'The train was late. We missed the concert.'

  1. The train was late; however, we missed the concert.
  2. The train was late, or we missed the concert.
  3. The train was late, but we missed the concert.
  4. Because the train was late, we missed the concert. Correct answer.

Explanation

The original sentences show a cause-and-effect link: the lateness led to missing the concert. 'Because' expresses this causal relationship accurately.

Question 22Literacy

An author writes: 'Surely no reasonable person could oppose recycling at our school.' Which persuasive technique is being used?

  1. Presenting a counterargument fairly
  2. Using a rhetorical question to invite debate
  3. Citing statistical evidence
  4. Appealing to the reader's sense of reason and shared values Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase 'no reasonable person' pressures the reader to agree by linking the view to being reasonable. This is an appeal to shared values rather than to evidence.

Question 23Literacy

Read this sentence: 'Having finished the exam, the students, relieved but exhausted, filed quietly out of the hall.' Which best describes the sentence's structure?

  1. A simple sentence with no subordinate elements
  2. A complex sentence containing a participial phrase and an embedded adjectival phrase Correct answer.
  3. A compound sentence joined only by a conjunction
  4. A sentence fragment lacking a main clause

Explanation

The sentence has one main clause, 'the students filed quietly out of the hall'. 'Having finished the exam' is a participial phrase and 'relieved but exhausted' is embedded description, making it complex.

Question 24Literacy

Two articles discuss a new bike path. Article A quotes residents and council figures; Article B describes the writer's own ride along the path. Which statement best compares their purposes?

  1. Article A is fictional, while Article B reports facts only.
  2. Both articles aim mainly to entertain readers with humour.
  3. Both articles are written to persuade readers to buy bicycles.
  4. Article A informs through reported evidence, while Article B recounts a personal experience. Correct answer.

Explanation

Quotations from residents and officials indicate an informative report built on evidence. A first-person account of riding the path signals a personal recount or reflection.

Question 25Literacy

In the sentence 'The report, which the committee had debated for hours, was finally approved', what is the function of the clause 'which the committee had debated for hours'?

  1. It introduces a condition for approval.
  2. It states the main action of the sentence.
  3. It gives the reason the report was rejected.
  4. It adds non-essential descriptive information about the report. Correct answer.

Explanation

A non-restrictive relative clause, set off by commas, adds extra detail about a noun without changing the main meaning. Removing it leaves the core statement intact.

Question 26Literacy

Which word in this sentence is a verb? 'The hungry dog barked loudly at the postman.'

  1. loudly
  2. hungry
  3. barked Correct answer.
  4. dog

Explanation

A verb expresses an action or a state of being. In this sentence the action word is 'barked', which tells what the dog did. The other words name a quality, a thing or the manner of the action.

Question 27Literacy

Which word in this sentence is a pronoun? 'Sam forgot his lunchbox on the bus.'

  1. forgot
  2. his Correct answer.
  3. bus
  4. Sam

Explanation

A pronoun stands in place of a noun. 'His' replaces the name of the person who owns the lunchbox, so it is a possessive pronoun. The other words are a proper noun, a verb and a common noun.

Question 28Literacy

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

  1. We need eggs milk, and bread from the shop.
  2. We need eggs, milk and bread from the shop. Correct answer.
  3. We need eggs milk and bread from the shop.
  4. We need, eggs milk and bread from the shop.

Explanation

Items in a simple list are separated by commas, with no comma needed between the final two items in this style. Only the second sentence places commas correctly between the listed goods. The others either omit needed commas or put them in the wrong place.

Question 29Literacy

Which word is the subject of this sentence? 'After the storm, the old fence collapsed.'

  1. fence Correct answer.
  2. storm
  3. After
  4. collapsed

Explanation

The subject is the noun or noun group that performs the action of the verb. Here 'the old fence' is what collapsed, so 'fence' is the head of the subject. 'After the storm' is a phrase giving time, not the doer.

Question 30Literacy

Which word is an antonym for 'scarce'?

  1. plentiful Correct answer.
  2. rare
  3. limited
  4. sparse

Explanation

An antonym is a word with the opposite meaning. 'Scarce' means in short supply, so its opposite is 'plentiful', meaning available in large amounts. The other options all mean close to scarce.

Question 31Literacy

Which sentence uses 'its' correctly?

  1. The cat licked its' paw.
  2. The cat licked its paw. Correct answer.
  3. The cat licked it's paw.
  4. The cat licked it is paw.

Explanation

'Its' is the possessive form showing that something belongs to it. 'It's' is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has', and 'its'' is not a valid form. Only the second sentence shows possession correctly.

Question 32Literacy

A text begins: 'First, gather your materials. Next, fold the paper in half. Finally, cut along the fold.' Which text structure is this?

  1. cause and effect
  2. problem and solution
  3. sequence Correct answer.
  4. comparison

Explanation

Signal words such as 'first', 'next' and 'finally' show steps arranged in order. This ordered arrangement of steps is called a sequence structure. The passage gives instructions rather than comparing, explaining causes or offering solutions.

Question 33Literacy

Read this sentence: 'The crowd erupted when the final whistle blew.' What does 'erupted' most likely mean here?

  1. felt confused
  2. became quiet
  3. burst out loudly Correct answer.
  4. left the ground

Explanation

'Erupted' literally describes a volcano bursting out, and here it is used figuratively for a crowd reacting with sudden noise and energy. The context of a final whistle signals an excited reaction, not silence. The other options do not match the sense of a sudden outburst.

Question 34Literacy

Which sentence is written in the passive voice?

  1. The meal was prepared by the chef. Correct answer.
  2. The chef will prepare the meal.
  3. The chef is preparing a meal.
  4. The chef prepared the meal quickly.

Explanation

In the passive voice the subject receives the action rather than doing it, and the verb uses a form of 'be' with a past participle. 'The meal was prepared' fits this pattern. The other sentences all have the chef actively doing the preparing.

Question 35Literacy

Read this sentence: 'The hikers, exhausted and muddy, trudged into the campsite.' What is the effect of the phrase 'exhausted and muddy'?

  1. It tells when the hikers arrived.
  2. It explains why they chose the campsite.
  3. It shows where the campsite is.
  4. It describes the hikers' condition. Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase sits between commas directly after 'the hikers', so it modifies that noun group. It supplies detail about how the hikers looked and felt. It does not give time, reason or location information.

Question 36Literacy

Which sentence contains a metaphor?

  1. The river ran like a silver ribbon.
  2. The river ran quickly past the rocks.
  3. The river babbled as it flowed.
  4. The river was a silver ribbon in the sun. Correct answer.

Explanation

A metaphor states that one thing is another without using 'like' or 'as'. Saying the river 'was a silver ribbon' makes that direct comparison. A simile uses 'like' or 'as', and personification gives human qualities to non-human things.

Question 37Literacy

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The instructions were so ___ that nobody could follow them.'

  1. vocal
  2. vivid
  3. vague Correct answer.
  4. valuable

Explanation

The second half of the sentence says nobody could follow the instructions, so the missing word must mean unclear. 'Vague' means not clearly expressed, which explains the difficulty. The other options describe clarity, strength or value and do not fit the cause-and-effect link.

Question 38Literacy

Read this sentence: 'The committee reached a decision, but the chairperson refused to announce it.' What does the conjunction 'but' signal?

  1. an example
  2. a cause
  3. a contrast Correct answer.
  4. a sequence

Explanation

'But' joins two ideas and signals that the second differs from what the first leads us to expect. Reaching a decision suggests it would be announced, yet the chairperson refuses. This is a contrast between the two clauses.

Question 39Literacy

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?

  1. I finished my homework; I watched television afterwards. Correct answer.
  2. I finished my homework; and watched television.
  3. I finished; my homework and watched television.
  4. I finished my homework; because I was tired.

Explanation

A semicolon can join two independent clauses that are closely related, replacing a full stop. 'I finished my homework' and 'I watched television afterwards' are both complete clauses. The other sentences put the semicolon before a fragment or a conjunction that needs different punctuation.

Question 40Literacy

A writer wants to persuade readers that school libraries should stay open longer. Which sentence uses the strongest evidence?

  1. Everyone knows that books are important for young people.
  2. I think longer hours would be nice for everyone.
  3. A survey of 300 students found that 68 per cent used the library after 4 pm. Correct answer.
  4. Libraries are obviously the best place in any school.

Explanation

Strong persuasive evidence is specific, verifiable and directly relevant to the claim. A survey with a stated number of students and a percentage provides concrete data about after-school use. The other sentences offer opinion, vague appeal or general assertion without support.

Question 41Literacy

In the sentence 'The coach praised the team for their persistence', what role does 'for their persistence' play?

  1. It describes the coach.
  2. It names the thing being praised.
  3. It explains why the praise was given. Correct answer.
  4. It states when the praise happened.

Explanation

The phrase begins with 'for' and gives the reason behind the coach's praise. It functions as an adverbial phrase of reason, answering the question of why the team was praised. It does not name the object, describe the coach or give a time.

Question 42Literacy

Read these sentences: 'The lights flickered. The room went dark. Someone gasped.' Which best describes the effect of the short sentences?

  1. They compare two different places.
  2. They provide detailed background information.
  3. They create a slow, calm mood.
  4. They build tension and a sense of sudden action. Correct answer.

Explanation

Short, clipped sentences delivered one after another create a quick rhythm that mirrors fast-moving events. Each brief statement adds a new shock, which builds tension rather than calm. They contain no background detail or comparison.

Question 43Literacy

Which sentence correctly uses a colon?

  1. She packed three things: a map, a torch and water. Correct answer.
  2. She packed three things; a map, a torch and water.
  3. She packed three things, a map: a torch and water.
  4. She packed: three things a map, a torch and water.

Explanation

A colon introduces a list after a complete clause and is followed by the listed items. The first sentence has a full clause before the colon and then the three items. The others place the colon or semicolon where it breaks the grammar of the sentence.

Question 44Literacy

Read this sentence: 'The new policy was met with widespread criticism.' Which word is closest in meaning to 'widespread'?

  1. extensive Correct answer.
  2. occasional
  3. narrow
  4. private

Explanation

'Widespread' means found or happening over a large area or among many people. 'Extensive' carries the same sense of covering a broad range. The other options suggest something limited, rare or personal, which is the opposite of widespread.

Question 45Literacy

A student is writing an informative report about recycling. Which sentence is written in the most formal register?

  1. Recycling reduces the volume of waste sent to landfill. Correct answer.
  2. You should totally recycle because it's the right thing.
  3. Everyone knows recycling is a big deal these days.
  4. Recycling is like, really important for the planet and stuff.

Explanation

A formal report uses precise vocabulary and avoids slang, contractions and conversational filler. The sentence about reducing waste sent to landfill is factual and uses subject-specific terms. The other sentences include informal words such as 'like', 'totally' and 'big deal'.

Question 46Literacy

Read this passage: 'The town council voted to remove the old fig tree to widen the road. Some residents argued that the tree had stood for over a century and should be protected. Others said the road was dangerous and needed widening.' Which statement best describes the passage?

  1. It describes the history of a town council.
  2. It explains how to widen a road safely.
  3. It presents two opposing viewpoints without deciding between them. Correct answer.
  4. It argues strongly that the tree should be saved.

Explanation

The passage reports what each group said, giving one view about protecting the tree and another about road safety. It does not adopt either position or state a conclusion. This balanced reporting of opposing views is what the passage presents.

Question 47Literacy

Read this sentence: 'Not only did the team lose the final, but they also lost their captain to injury.' What is the effect of the 'not only ... but also' structure?

  1. It emphasises that two setbacks occurred. Correct answer.
  2. It softens the impact of the bad news.
  3. It questions whether the events happened.
  4. It suggests the two events are unrelated.

Explanation

The paired structure 'not only ... but also' adds one point to another and stresses both. Here it highlights that the team suffered two separate misfortunes. It intensifies rather than softens the news and presents both events as real and connected.

Question 48Literacy

Read this sentence: 'The proposal, having been rejected twice, was unlikely to succeed a third time.' Which rewrite keeps the meaning while using the active voice?

  1. The proposal rejected twice and unlikely to succeed a third time.
  2. Twice rejected the proposal, a third time was unlikely to succeed.
  3. Having rejected the proposal twice, it was unlikely to succeed a third time.
  4. The proposal was unlikely to succeed a third time after being rejected twice. Correct answer.

Explanation

The original uses a passive construction, 'having been rejected twice', in which the proposal receives the action. The first rewrite keeps the same meaning and the same logical link between the two rejections and the low chance of success. The others change the meaning or create dangling modifiers and fragments.

Question 49Literacy

Read this sentence: 'The author's use of the word "cage" when describing the office suggests that the workers feel trapped.' Which type of reasoning does this sentence show?

  1. comparing two different texts
  2. correcting a factual error
  3. summarising the plot
  4. interpreting word choice for effect Correct answer.

Explanation

The sentence takes a specific word from the text and explains the impression it creates about the workers. This is analysis of language choice and its effect on meaning. It does not retell events, check facts or set two texts side by side.

Question 50Literacy

Read this sentence: 'While the report acknowledged the risks, it stopped short of recommending any change.' What does 'stopped short of' mean here?

  1. went beyond what was expected
  2. briefly mentioned
  3. strongly opposed
  4. did not go as far as Correct answer.

Explanation

The idiom 'stop short of' means to come close to something but not actually do it. The report noticed the risks but did not take the further step of recommending change. The phrase signals a limit rather than going beyond, merely mentioning or opposing.