Reading Comprehension and Written Communication
Reading Comprehension and Written Communication tests two linked skills: extracting the exact rule from policy or correspondence, and recording facts so another person can act on them. You will see short passages, inmate requests, and report-writing items.
Reading for the rule
- Identify the actor, required action, deadline, and exception. A policy may say 'shall' for mandatory and 'may' for discretionary; do not swap them.
- Separate the main idea from supporting detail. If the question asks what the passage supports, choose only what is stated or logically follows.
- Watch calendars: 'working days' excludes weekends and holidays; 'calendar days' does not.
Writing that holds up
- Write in chronological order with specific times, locations, names, and observed behavior.
- Record what you saw and heard, not conclusions. 'Inmate clenched fists and shouted' is better than 'inmate was angry.'
- Use direct quotes for threats or orders. Include your response and notifications.
- Keep sentences short; use active voice and past tense; check names, numbers, and times.
Worked example
Policy: 'An inmate may file a grievance within 15 working days of the incident. Late grievances are rejected unless the inmate documents a compelling reason.' Question: an inmate files 20 calendar days after the incident, with no explanation. Best answer: the grievance is late and may be rejected. Reasoning: 20 calendar days exceeds 15 working days, and no exception is documented; do not assume weekends extend the deadline.
Traps
- Choosing a true statement that does not answer the question.
- Inserting opinions or diagnoses into a report.
- Confusing 'may' with 'must' or missing an exception.