California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) English Practice Exam 2026 - Free CAASPP English Practice Questions and Study Guide

The "A" in the R.A.C.E strategy stands for "Answer the question." This approach is designed to help students structure their responses to open-ended questions, particularly in English language arts. By starting with a direct answer to the question posed, students provide a clear and focused response, which sets the foundation for the subsequent parts of their answer. This strategic method encourages clarity and ensures that students are directly addressing the prompt, facilitating a more organized response. The subsequent components of R.A.C.E—restating the question, providing evidence, and explaining or elaborating—build upon this initial answer to create a comprehensive and well-supported response.

In this context, the other options, while relevant to various aspects of critical thinking and writing, do not pertain specifically to this component of the R.A.C.E strategy. Addressing a problem, analyzing evidence, or articulating thoughts may be important in other educational frameworks or discussions, but they do not align with the specific focus of the "A" in the R.A.C.E strategy.