Reading level finder
Enter words read, errors and seconds from a read-aloud and get words per minute and an accuracy band, with what to do next.
Listen to the child read a passage aloud, then enter what you counted. Use a passage you would choose for them, not the hardest one you have.
Count to the last word reached.
Misread, skipped or told.
60 for a one-minute read.
Enter the words read to see the result.
The three bands
| Band | Accuracy | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Independent | 95% or higher | The child read nearly every word correctly. This text is comfortable to read alone. |
| Instructional | 90 to 94% | The child read most words correctly but missed some. This text is about right to read with a teacher's help. |
| Frustration | below 90% | The child missed more than one word in ten. This text is probably too hard to read without a lot of help. |
What this is not
This is a rule of thumb for choosing a text, not a diagnosis. One sample on one day is a snapshot: a child can read well on a familiar topic and poorly on an unfamiliar one. If a child struggles across several texts, talk to your reading specialist rather than relying on a number from a web page.
Looking for something to read at the right level? Peabody has levelled stories from the earliest decodable books up.
How to use it
- Have the child read a passage aloud for about a minute while you count the words and the mistakes.
- Enter the words read, the errors and the seconds.
- Read the accuracy band and the ideas for what to do next, then pick a text on the same level or one step up or down.
Ideas for class
- Check a new child's comfortable level in their first week with two or three short passages.
- Re-check after a few weeks of practice with the same kind of passage and see whether the band has moved.
- Run it on the book a child chose for themselves to see whether it is a good fit.
- Run it with a parent watching, to show them what 'a book that is too hard' looks like and sounds like.
- Pair it with the sight word lists when the missed words are common short words.
Related
Questions
Is this a reading level test?
No. It tells you how well one child read one passage, using a widely used rule of thumb: about 95% accuracy or higher is independent, 90 to 94% is instructional, below 90% is frustration. That tells you whether the passage was easy, about right or too hard for that child. It does not give a grade level or a diagnosis.
Where do the 95 and 90 percent lines come from?
They are the traditional cut-offs teachers use when choosing texts for a reader, and you will find them in many reading programmes. They are a rule of thumb, not a precise scientific boundary, and some programmes use slightly different lines.
How do I find the child's reading level from this?
Try the same exercise on passages of increasing difficulty. The hardest passage the child reads at 95% or better on their own, and at 90 to 94% with your help, is a good place to start choosing books. Judge by how the child reads and what they understand, not the number alone.
What if accuracy is high but the child does not understand?
Then accuracy is not the problem. Ask the child to retell what they read or answer a few questions. Reading the words correctly is only part of reading.
How long should the sample be?
About 100 words or one minute gives a steadier figure than a handful of words. With a very short sample, one missed word moves the percentage a lot.
Is anything I type saved?
No. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
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