CI&E Practice Packets each contain six timely practice tests for UIL competition, each test includes answer keys plus background information for the essay questions. Packet 1 is available each at the beginning of the school year in September, and Packet 2 is compiled from invitational tests given from October to December and is available each January of the school year.

TAPPS/PSIA: Although these tests were written primarily for UIL study, these Practice Packets are appropriate for TAPPS and PSIA practice meets since the topics for these competitions are the same as UIL. Please note, however, that the time allotted on TAPPS & PSIA tests differs from UIL, and the point values on LitCrit tests varies (see your competition rules for details). 

About our Current Issues & Events author: Bobby Hawthorne – Hawthorne is the former UIL Academic Director, and author of the publications, The University Interscholastic League: An Illustrated History of 100 Years of Service and Longhorn Football. He has also served as Journalism Director and Current Issues and Events Director of UIL and is the author of Hexco’s CI&E Notes, Journalism Invitational Tests and PowerJournalism. Hawthorne is also the author of the popular journalism textbook, The Radical Write.