NRRF - Reading Competency Test

Reading Competency Test

How well is your child reading? Print out The National Right to Read Foundation's Reading Competency Test and find out today. To improve reading skills, choose a product from Phonics Products for Home or Phonics Products for School.

The First Step Towards Literacy
Background for Parents and Teachers
How to Give the Test
How to Interpret the Results
Phonics is the Answer

Part 1

Print two copies of Part 1. Have the student read aloud from his copy. As you listen, make a checkmark on your copy each time the student 1) Skips a word, 2) Substitutes a different word, even though it may have similar meaning, 3) Inserts a non-related word, or 4) Mispronounces a word (if the student corrects the mispronounciation, remove the check). Stop if the student receives four or more checks in any one group. To continue would only add to the student's sense of frustration.

A	The big red hen is mad. Did Bob get on the bus? Ben can fix his bad bat. Hit the fat bug on the bed. Don let the cat sit on his lap.	checkmarks in group A: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
B	Step up when I yell, “Lift the flag.” Bang went the black drum! Stan shot the last duck. Blot up the mess on the glass top desk. Help Fred lift the big clock.	checkmarks in group B: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
C	Steve got a base hit late in the game. Take the pan of white rice off the stove. Kate will bake a fine cake and win a dime. Dave rode his bike in the race. Mike chose the cage of mice for his prize.	checkmarks in group C: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
D	In a dream Gail met a sheep on the beach. Take a seat on the boat by the sail. Wait a week to paint the chain. His team made roast beef to eat. The rain on his feet made Dean groan.	checkmarks in group D: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
E	Her third bird was born in the barn. Take more care of your hair. Four car horns were heard by the clerk. Wear your shirt in the street or at work. The sports stars will park their cars by the church.	checkmarks in group E: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
F	I found a foul mouse in our room. If I boil the sour soup it will spoil. A loud howl was heard on the lawn. The clown shook the round hoop. Mack bought his smooth boots in town.	checkmarks in group F: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
G	He saw Sue play with the toy bee. You may buy the two new saws. Can she ski on the wide blue sea? The cow and the crow play by the tree. The blue fly lays its eggs in the dry hay.	checkmarks in group G: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
H	It was dumb to leave his glove in the field. The calf would like some salt this cold night. A ghost said, “Dare to guess if I am dead.” Phone for some bread and fruit for the child. Find the part of the sword that is rough to touch.	checkmarks in group H: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Part 2

Print two copies of Part 2. Have the student read aloud from his copy. As you listen, make a checkmark on your copy each time the student 1) Skips a word, 2) Substitutes a different word, even though it may have similar meaning, 3) Inserts a non-related word, or 4) Mispronounces a word (if the student corrects the mispronounciation, remove the check). Stop if the student receives five or more checks in any one group. To continue would only add to the student's sense of frustration.

1	“What is that?” said Lucy, as she came out on the steps. “Oh, it is a little boat! What a pretty one it is!” “I will give it to you when it is finished,” said John, kindly. “Would you like to have it?” “Yes, very much, thank you, John. Has grandma seen it?”	checkmarks in group 1: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
2	Herbert worked away until he had made the beam and the post. Then he made a hole in the middle of the block, and put the post in. Next, he put the beam into a little groove at the top of the post, so that it would balance nicely.	checkmarks in group 2: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
3	“Don’t you hate splitting wood?” asked Charlie, as he sat down on a log to hinder Rob for a while. “No, I rather like it. When I get hold of a tough old fellow, I say, ‘See here, now, you think you’re the stronger, and are going to beat me.’”	checkmarks in group 3: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
4	In several parts of the world there are to be found large herds of wild horses. In South America the immense plains are inhabited by them, and it is said that ten thousand are sometimes found in a single herd. These herds are always preceded by a leader, who directs their motions.	checkmarks in group 4: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
5	The bear, a ten–foot mass in tolerable proportion, seemed to be regularly beset by a pack of hungry little swells. First, one would take him on the haunch, then whip back into the sea over his tail and between his legs. Presently a bolder swell would rise and pitch into his back.	checkmarks in group 5: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
6	It is a spacious and timbered room, with one large bull’s eye window—an overgrown lens. The thing is sort of a Cyclops. There are ropes, and chains, and a windlass. There is a bell by which the engineer of the first engine can signal the plowman, and a cord whereby the plowman can talk back.	checkmarks in group 6: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

The National Right to Read Foundation
P.O. Box 560
Strasburg, VA 22657

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Part 1

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Part 2

1

2

3

4

5

6