TASC English Level 3 case studies
TASC English Level 3 · Put your knowledge to work in context.
TASC English Level 3 is a high-school-equivalency English credential for adults and older teens who need to demonstrate reading, language, and writing skills at a level beyond foundational literacy. It is typically taken by candidates preparing for a high school equivalency diploma, by job seekers who must show documented English proficiency, and by learners moving up from lower-level English coursework. The TASC English Level 3 case studies are 5 cases and about 2,702 words.
1The Transit Bond Measure: Reading a Persuasive Handout Critically
A neighborhood association distributes a one-page handout titled "Why We Must Vote Yes on Measure R." It states that the city's bus fleet averages 11 years of age, that ridership fell 6% last year, and that "every comparable city that modernized its fleet saw ridership rise within one year." The handout also says the measure would raise sales tax by 0.25% for 12 years and would fund 40 new buses. Near the bottom, in smaller type, a footnote reads: "Ridership figures reflect fixed-route service only; demand-response trips are counted separately." No source is cited for the comparison with other cities, and no cost per bus is given.
527 words, about 3 min2Two Endings for a Short Story: Point of View and Reliability
A student drafts a short story about a caretaker named Ines who tends an elderly neighbor, Mr. Okafor: "He watched Ines move through the kitchen, certain she was looking for something." In both drafts, the letters are never found, and the story ends with the two of them eating dinner in silence.
556 words, about 3 min3The Word "Sanction" in a Workplace Memo
A company memo reads: "The safety committee has voted to sanction the new lockout procedure until the next quarterly review." A second line reads: "Employees who bypass the procedure will face sanctions." A new hire asks whether the committee approved the procedure or blocked it, and whether the second sentence means the same kind of action as the first. The memo's author is unavailable, and the procedure takes effect Monday.
525 words, about 3 min4Revising a Run-On Sentence in a Lab Report
A student writes this sentence in a lab report: "The samples were stored at four degrees for six hours the enzyme activity was measured every thirty minutes the results showed a steady decline however the control group remained stable." The teacher marks it "run-on" and asks for revision without changing the meaning. The student's first attempt reads: "The samples were stored at four degrees for six hours, the enzyme activity was measured every thirty minutes, the results showed a steady decline, however, the control group remained stable." The teacher marks this attempt "comma splice" and returns it again.
534 words, about 3 min5Integrating a Source in an Argument Essay
A student argues that her school should start classes at 8:30 instead of 7:45. She found three sources.
560 words, about 3 min