The CASAS STEPS Level E Reading test measures how well you can use English in real-life situations—at work, at home, in your community, and when reading about government or health. Each question is built around a competency, or skill area, that adult learners need for success in everyday life. In this guide, you’ll learn what every competency means and what kinds of texts you might see on the test, such as job ads, product labels, medical forms, or community flyers. By understanding these CASAS STEPS Level E competencies, you’ll know exactly what to expect and how to prepare for top performance on your next CASAS Reading assessment.
| Competency Area | % of Test Items | ≈ Number of Questions (out of 36) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Consumer Economics | 11 % | ≈ 4 questions |
| 2. Community Resources | 19 % | ≈ 7 questions |
| 3. Health | 21 % | ≈ 8 questions |
| 4. Employment | 39 % | ≈ 14 questions |
| 5. Government and Law | 10 % | ≈ 3 questions |
| Total | 100 % | 36 questions (total) |
1. Consumer Economics
1. Consumer Economics
This area of CASAS STEPS Level E Competencies focuses on how people make smart and safe choices as consumers. In real life, it includes comparing prices, reading warranties, understanding return policies, and protecting yourself from scams.
On the CASAS Level E test, you might read a store policy, online review, product label, or customer-service email and answer questions about the main idea, details, or vocabulary.
1.6 Understand consumer protection measures in CASAS STEPS Level E Competencies
You’ll need to recognize how buyers can protect their money and personal information. Examples include spotting false advertising, reading safety warnings, or understanding credit-card terms.
You may see a consumer-alert article warning against fake job offers or online fraud and be asked, “What is the purpose of this notice?” or “Which action is safest for the consumer?”
1.7 Understand procedures for the care, maintenance, and use of personal possessions
This sub-competency of the CASAS STEPS Level E Competencies covers instructions and responsibilities for maintaining everyday items such as appliances, vehicles, and electronics.
Expect to read owner’s manuals, warranty forms, cleaning instructions, or service reminders and answer questions like “What should the user do first?” or “Why should this product not be used on marble surfaces?”
2. Community Resources
2. Community Resources
This area of the CASAS STEPS Level E Competencies helps you understand how to participate in your community and use available services. It focuses on locating programs, comparing facilities, and following procedures to access help.
Texts often include flyers, community-center schedules, library announcements, and educational brochures.
2.5 Use community agencies and services
This competency involves reading texts that describe services offered by nonprofits, social agencies, utilities, or government departments (food banks, housing assistance, family counseling, senior services), and being able to determine eligibility, location, schedule, and how to apply. Learners must decode application forms, flyers, brochures, rules, and guidelines for these services.
2.6 Use leisure time resources and facilities
Here, learners read and interpret information about parks, recreation centers, libraries, clubs, local events. They must find hours, rules, membership requirements, fees, scheduling, etc. For example: “The community pool is open Monday–Thursday 1–6 p.m., closed Fridays, $3 admission for adults, $1 for children.”
2.8 Understand how to access and use educational systems and services
As part of the these CASAS STEPS Level E Competencies, you’ll learn to navigate school or college information such as course listings, tutoring schedules, or online-registration forms.
Typical tasks include identifying deadlines, understanding eligibility, and interpreting academic terms.
3. Health
3. Health
Health competencies measure your ability to understand medical information, forms, and wellness materials. The texts focus on maintaining personal and family health, using healthcare services, and following safety advice.
Expect medical forms, clinic brochures, health-awareness articles, prescription labels, or appointment reminders.
3.1 Understand how to access and use the health care system
You may see a flyer for a local clinic or an email describing free wellness screenings.
Questions in these CASAS STEPS Level E Competencies will test if you can identify services offered, eligibility, or steps to make an appointment.
3.2 Understand forms related to health care
You’ll interpret medical-information or insurance forms, noticing what data is required and how to answer correctly.
A question might ask, “What should the patient write under ‘Emergency Contact’?” or “Why must the patient sign the form?”
3.3 Understand how to select and use medications
This sub-competency of the CASAS STEPS Level E Competencies covers reading prescription labels, dosage directions, and drug-interaction warnings.
Questions might ask about the safest time to take medicine or what to avoid while using it.
3.6 Understand basic health and medical information
In this section of the CASAS STEPS Level E Competencies, you’ll read magazine articles, wellness posters, or safety pamphlets about topics like stress management, nutrition, or exercise.
You might be asked, “What is the main benefit described?” or “Which behavior supports the article’s message?”
4. Employment
4. Employment
Employment, among the CASAS STEPS Level E Competencies, is the largest section and prepares you for real-world workplace communication. You’ll read emails, job ads, memos, training charts, and employee-handbook excerpts.
Questions test your understanding of procedures, professionalism, and language used at work.
4.1 Understand basic principles of getting a job
This includes job searching, applications, and interviews.
You might analyze a job-fair flyer or an employment-application form and answer, “What should the applicant bring?” or “What skill is most important for this job?”
4.2 Understand wages, benefits, employee rights, and concepts of employee organizations
As part of the CASAS STEPS Level E Competencies, you’ll read pay stubs, benefits summaries, or HR emails about time-off and worker protections.
Questions could ask you to identify total deductions, define vocabulary like “gross pay,” or recognize employee rights.
4.4 Understand concepts and materials related to job performance and training
This covers on-the-job procedures and workplace instructions.
Expect training guides, safety memos, or production charts with questions about following steps correctly or recognizing causes of errors.
4.6 Communicate effectively in the workplace
As part of the CASAS STEPS Level E Competencies, you’ll practice interpreting tone and professionalism in workplace emails, notes, and announcements.
A question might ask, “What is the main reason for the manager’s message?” or “Which response is most professional?”
5. Government and Law
5. Government and Law
This area of the CASAS STEPS Level E Competencies focuses on civic understanding—how laws, voting, and government systems affect daily life.
You might read posters about voter registration, articles on civic duties, public notices, or informational letters from local offices.
5.1 Understand voting and the political process
You’ll learn how citizens participate in elections and decision-making.
Texts include voter-information flyers or news summaries about local issues, followed by questions like “What must a resident do to vote?” or “Why was this notice written?”
5.8 Understand concepts of economics
This sub-competency of the CASAS STEPS Level E Competencies connects economics with everyday life—understanding taxes, budgets, and how governments fund services.
You may read a newspaper article comparing local tax rates or a community-budget announcement and be asked, “What is the main point of this report?” or “Which sentence best explains how taxes are used?”
Understanding the five CASAS STEPS Level E Competencies helps you see what the CASAS Reading test really measures—your ability to use English in daily life, at work, and in your community. Each competency connects to real-world reading tasks you’ll face as an adult learner: completing forms, comparing products, reading workplace messages, or interpreting government notices. The more you practice reading different kinds of texts—emails, charts, ads, forms, or articles—the more confident you’ll become in recognizing main ideas, details, and vocabulary in context. By studying these competencies one by one, you’ll not only prepare for the test but also strengthen the English skills you need for college, career, and community success.
Now that you understand what each CASAS Level E competency covers, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice. Explore the free CASAS STEPS quizzes for Level E and challenge yourself with real-world reading tasks—from job emails and health forms to community notices and workplace charts. Each quiz shows the type of questions you’ll find on the official test and helps you build confidence one step at a time.
Ready to start? Visit our Level E Reading Practice Quizzes and see how many you can master today!
For official information about CASAS tests and competencies, visit the CASAS official website for current test blueprints, sample items, and updates.
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