Reading Assessment

Which Type of Reading Assessment is Best?

Reading assessments are used to determine what skills are being learned and what skills need to be strengthened. A teacher or school may decide to give a formal or informal reading assessment in a group or individual setting.

In the classroom, a group or formal reading assessment may be given to a class after completion of a unit. The teacher will use the test to ascertain how well the students have understood the material and whether there is need for review.

To test more general skills, schools often use another type of reading assessment: a standardized test. These fall into two categories: norm-referenced and criterion-referenced. Norm-referenced tests compare students with others in the same grade across a wide population. These tests show how students are doing in comparison with others in their age group; however, they do not factor in variations between schools in terms of elements like economic status and language barriers.

Criterion-referenced tests measure the performance of students against a "benchmark." They help to determine if students are performing at a standard that is acceptable according to well-defined criteria. While this seems to be an efficient method for reading assessment, educators often disagree on what the standards should be.

Many educators agree that formal group settings are not the best way to ascertain how each student is doing. Students may become nervous or be distracted by disruptions and produce scores that do not reflect their skills. Also, overall good scores may result in false concepts about the performance of all students and in the overlooking of students who may need more review.

Informal reading assessments can take place any time. They may involve the whole class, as when the teacher asks each child to read aloud. They are also performed one-on-one. The teacher may take the student to a separate, quiet area and give a test or task to assess a skill. An informal reading assessment can also take the form of observing a student, listening to the student read aloud, or asking the student questions about reading.

Many teachers and parents agree that while formal testing and group testing is necessary, individual assessment provides the most accurate account of how a student is doing. An informal, individual reading assessment helps teachers to remain attuned to a each student's needs.