USA Exam
From your first SAT practice test through graduate admissions, professional licensing and school-level AP exams — AAIS tutors help you prepare for the American exam that's actually in front of you. Tap any exam below for its full section-by-section breakdown.
Every pathway through US education and licensing
From college admissions and graduate school through to professional certification and school-level exams.
Standardized Tests for College Admissions
Reading Test
- Comprehension passages from U.S. and world literature, history/social studies, and sciences.
- Skills taught: Reading comprehension, interpretation of evidence, understanding words in context, and analysis of author's choices.
Writing and Language Test
- Passages with grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetoric errors.
- Skills taught: Grammar and usage, sentence structure, and paragraph organization.
Mathematics
- Algebra: Linear equations and inequalities, word problems, and systems of equations.
- Problem Solving and Data Analysis: Ratios, percentages, proportions, statistics, and data interpretation.
- Advanced Math: Quadratic equations, polynomials, exponents, and non-linear expressions.
- Additional Topics: Geometry, trigonometry, and complex numbers.
Essay (Optional)
Analyze an argument presented in a passage, focusing on evidence, reasoning, and persuasive elements.
English
Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, rhetorical skills, and strategy.
Mathematics
Pre-Algebra, Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, Coordinate Geometry, Plane Geometry, and Trigonometry.
Reading
Reading comprehension passages from prose fiction, humanities, social studies, and natural sciences.
Science
Data representation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints in biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth/space sciences.
Writing (Optional)
Essay that requires the student to take a position on a given issue and support it with evidence and reasoning.
Graduate Admissions Tests
Analytical Writing
- Two tasks: 'Analyze an Issue' and 'Analyze an Argument.'
- Skills taught: Critical thinking, argument construction, clarity, and coherence.
Verbal Reasoning
- Reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence.
- Topics: Vocabulary, logical thinking, and understanding of complex texts.
Quantitative Reasoning
- Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis.
- Skills taught: Problem-solving, quantitative comparison, and numeric entry.
Analytical Writing Assessment
- One essay: Analysis of an Argument.
- Skills taught: Critical thinking, argument evaluation, and coherent writing.
Integrated Reasoning
Multi-source reasoning, graphic interpretation, two-part analysis, and table analysis.
Quantitative
- Problem-solving and data sufficiency questions.
- Topics: Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and word problems.
Verbal
- Reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction.
- Skills taught: Grammar, understanding complex texts, and evaluating arguments.
Reading Comprehension
Passages that test the ability to read, understand, and analyze complex texts, typically from law, social sciences, and humanities.
Analytical Reasoning
Logic games that involve determining relationships and drawing logical conclusions from a given set of conditions or statements.
Logical Reasoning
Critical thinking questions that assess argument analysis, evaluating evidence, and identifying flaws in reasoning.
Writing Sample
Essay that presents an argument based on a given prompt.
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
Topics: Cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, physiology, and biochemistry.
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
Topics: General chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry.
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
Topics: Psychology, sociology, and related biological concepts.
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
Passages that test comprehension, analysis, and reasoning across a wide range of disciplines.
Exams for Professional Certification
Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
Planning and supervision of audits, internal controls, procedures, and audits of financial statements.
Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)
Corporate governance, economics, financial management, information technology, and operations management.
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
Topics: Financial statements, accounting standards, governmental and non-profit accounting.
Regulation (REG)
Ethics, federal taxation, business law, and tax procedures.
Step 1
Basic sciences such as anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, and behavioral sciences.
Step 2 (CK – Clinical Knowledge)
Clinical sciences including medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics/gynecology.
Step 2 (CS – Clinical Skills)
Standardized patient examinations to assess communication, physical examination, and clinical reasoning.
Step 3
Advanced patient management and diagnosis with a focus on clinical scenarios and decision-making skills.
Client Needs
- Safe and Effective Care Environment: Safety, infection control, and management of care.
- Health Promotion and Maintenance: Growth and development, prevention, and early detection of disease.
- Psychosocial Integrity: Coping and adaptation, psychosocial adaptation.
- Physiological Integrity: Basic care and comfort, pharmacological therapies, and physiological adaptation.
School Level Exams
Subjects Covered
Over 38 subjects such as AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Calculus, AP English Literature, AP U.S. History, AP Psychology, and more.
Featured AP Subjects
AP Biology
- Topics Covered: Evolution, Cellular Processes (energy and communication), Genetics and Information Transfer, Ecology, and Interactions.
- Skills Assessed: Interpreting data, forming hypotheses, designing experiments, using models, and connecting biological concepts across different scales and contexts.
- Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions, free-response questions that require writing and problem-solving based on scenarios, lab work, or data analysis.
AP Chemistry
- Topics Covered: Atomic Structure, Molecular and Ionic Compound Structure and Properties, Intermolecular Forces and Properties, Chemical Reactions, Kinetics, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium, Acids and Bases.
- Skills Assessed: Experimental design, quantitative problem-solving, conceptual understanding of chemical processes, and data interpretation.
- Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions, free-response questions including calculations, essays, and laboratory-based questions.
AP Physics (1 & 2)
- Topics Covered (AP Physics 1): Newtonian Mechanics, Rotational Motion, Work, Energy, Power, Mechanical Waves, Sound, and Simple Circuits.
- Topics Covered (AP Physics 2): Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electricity and Magnetism, Optics, and Modern Physics.
- Skills Assessed: Mathematical modeling, data analysis, laboratory investigations, and application of physics concepts to real-world scenarios.
- Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions and free-response questions, which may involve calculations, lab data interpretation, and conceptual questions.
AP Calculus (AB & BC)
- Topics Covered (AB): Limits, Derivatives, Integrals, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
- Topics Covered (BC): All AB topics plus Parametric, Polar, and Vector Functions, Sequences, Series, and more advanced integration techniques.
- Skills Assessed: Mathematical reasoning, solving real-world problems using calculus, graph interpretation, and communication of mathematical arguments.
- Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions and free-response questions, involving analytical, numerical, and graphical methods.
AP English Literature and Composition
- Topics Covered: In-depth analysis of prose, poetry, and drama from various periods and genres, close reading and interpretation, literary criticism.
- Skills Assessed: Critical thinking, analytical writing, synthesis of ideas from multiple texts, interpretation of literary devices and themes.
- Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions on reading comprehension, literary analysis, and three free-response essays (literary analysis of a poem, a prose excerpt, and a thematic question).
AP U.S. History
- Topics Covered: Nine historical periods from 1491 to the present, including colonization, independence, industrialization, world wars, and contemporary America.
- Skills Assessed: Historical thinking skills, analysis of primary and secondary sources, making historical connections, argumentation, and synthesis.
- Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, a document-based question (DBQ), and a long essay question.
AP Psychology
- Topics Covered: History and Approaches to Psychology, Research Methods, Biological Bases of Behavior, Sensation and Perception, Learning, Cognition, Developmental Psychology, Motivation and Emotion, Personality, Psychological Disorders, and Treatment.
- Skills Assessed: Analysis and interpretation of psychological research, application of psychological concepts, data analysis, and critical thinking.
- Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions and free-response questions, requiring students to design experiments, interpret data, and apply psychological concepts.
Reading Section
- Passages: Four single passages and one pair, drawn from U.S. and world literature, history/social studies, and science.
- Skills Assessed: Reading comprehension, analysis of text, vocabulary in context, identifying main ideas, and understanding relationships between parts of a text.
- Types of Questions: Multiple-choice questions based on passages, including some that require interpreting graphs or data related to the text.
Writing and Language Section
- Passages: Four passages with various topics (careers, history, science, humanities).
- Skills Assessed: Identifying grammatical errors, improving sentence structure, understanding punctuation, enhancing word choice, and organizing paragraphs.
- Types of Questions: Multiple-choice questions that test understanding of standard English conventions, expression of ideas, and word choice.
Mathematics Section
- Algebra: Linear equations, inequalities, and systems of equations.
- Problem Solving and Data Analysis: Ratios, percentages, proportional relationships, statistics, and data interpretation.
- Additional Topics: Geometry and trigonometry.
- Skills Assessed: Mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, data interpretation, and application of concepts.
- Types of Questions: Multiple-choice and grid-in questions, some requiring the use of a calculator and others that do not.
Verbal Section
- Topics Covered: Synonyms and analogies.
- Skills Assessed: Vocabulary, word relationships, and logical reasoning.
- Types of Questions: Synonym questions test understanding of word meanings; analogy questions assess the ability to relate ideas and concepts.
Quantitative Section (Math)
- Content Areas: Arithmetic (basic calculations, number operations), Elementary Algebra (simple equations, variables), Geometry (properties and measurements of shapes), and Basic Statistics (mean, median, mode).
- Skills Assessed: Mathematical computation, problem-solving, logical reasoning, and understanding of basic algebraic and geometric concepts.
- Types of Questions: Multiple-choice questions that require arithmetic operations, algebraic thinking, and geometric reasoning.
Reading Comprehension Section
- Passages: 6-7 reading passages from fiction, poetry, or humanities and social studies.
- Skills Assessed: Identifying main ideas, determining the author's purpose, drawing inferences, and understanding literal and figurative language.
- Types of Questions: Multiple-choice questions based on passages that test comprehension and interpretation skills.
Writing Sample
- Task: Students are required to write an essay on a given topic.
- Skills Assessed: Organization, coherence, grammar, creativity, and ability to express ideas clearly.
Verbal Reasoning Section
- Topics Covered: Synonyms and sentence completions.
- Skills Assessed: Vocabulary, logical reasoning, ability to understand and analyze sentence structure.
- Types of Questions: Synonyms to test vocabulary, sentence completions to assess understanding of context and meaning.
Quantitative Reasoning Section
- Topics Covered: Algebra (equations, variables), Geometry (properties of shapes, measurements), Data Analysis (interpretation of graphs, charts), and Problem Solving.
- Skills Assessed: Identifying the main idea, understanding details and structure, drawing inferences, and interpreting vocabulary in context.
- Types of Questions: Multiple-choice questions based on reading passages that test comprehension and interpretative abilities.
Mathematics Section
- Content Areas: Number operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis.
- Skills Assessed: Mathematical skills typically taught at grade level, including arithmetic operations, understanding of mathematical concepts, and solving mathematical problems.
- Types of Questions: Multiple-choice questions that require application of learned mathematical concepts.
Essay Section
- Task: A short essay response to a prompt.
- Skills Assessed: Writing skills, including clarity, organization, grammar, and creativity.
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