At a Glance
In an evaluation, the professional doing the testing selects the type of test. The decision is based on personal preference and the kind of issues your child is having.
The results of the testing represent your child’s overall ability in that area. They don’t identify specific skills she has. Scores for these tests are reported on a standard scale. Students’ raw scores are converted into a common scale so that test results can be more easily compared between classes and school districts. It also makes it possible to compare your child’s test results over time.
Here are some tests that are commonly given.
Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI)
What it measures: Reading comprehension.
How it works: A computer-based test asks students to read fiction and nonfiction passages and then answer questions about them. It’s “computer-adaptive.” This means that if a student gets a question wrong, the next question will be slightly easier.
What the scores mean: The scores point to the child’s current reading level. Schools can then set response to intervention (RTI) goals accordingly.
Woodcock Reading Mastery Test (WRMT-III)
What it measures: Reading level.
How it works: Kids are asked to identify letters and read words aloud. They’re also asked to show an understanding of what they’ve read.
What the scores mean: Results are given as standard scores, percentile ranks and age- and grade-equivalents. They point to the child’s current reading level.
Gray Oral Reading Test (GORT-5)
What it measures: Spoken (oral) reading rate, reading accuracy and reading comprehension.
How it works: Kids are asked to read passages aloud and then answer multiple-choice questions about what they’ve just read.
What the scores mean: The scores measure reading fluency and comprehension. Because the test has an oral component, it may also pick up on issues with expressive language.
Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing
What it measures: The ability to name letters and words.
How it works: Children are asked to quickly name letters, numbers, colors and objects.
What the scores mean: Results are given as standard scores and percentile ranks for a child’s age. It can help evaluators understand specific reasons why children are having trouble with reading.
Test of Word Reading Efficiency (TOWRE-2)
What it measures: Ability to pronounce written words.
How it works: Kids are asked to pronounce real and made-up written words.
What the scores mean: The scores measure reading fluency and comprehension. In grade school, results can help identify kids who need help with their “word” reading skills. In older kids, the test can help identify specific learning issues like dyslexia.
Rapid Automatized Naming Tasks
What it measures: Ability to name things, which can be a predictor of ability to read.
How it works: Kids are tested on how quickly they can name objects, letters, symbols and pictures.
What the scores mean: Seeing where and when kids struggle with this kind of task can be useful in creating strategies to help them read.
Test of Early Reading Ability (TERA-3)
What it measures: Reading skills of children ages 3½ to 8½.
How it works: Kids are asked to identify letters of the alphabet, pictures and text.
What the scores mean: The results can point to reading strengths and weaknesses. They can also document progress in early reading intervention programs.
Wide Range Achievement Test 4
What it measures: Basic academic skills in reading, spelling and math for ages 5 and up.
How it works: Kids are tested in areas such as word reading, sentence comprehension, spelling, counting and math problems.
What the scores mean: Initial results can point to areas that need improvement. Re-evaluations can monitor children’s progress with RTI.
KeyMath–3 Diagnostic Assessment
What it measures: Essential math concepts and skills.
How it works: Kids are tested on math concepts that are appropriate for their age. These may include addition and subtraction, percentages and interpreting data.
What the scores mean: Grade- and age-based standard scores can show areas of strength and weakness.
Test of Mathematical Abilities (TOMA-3)
What it measures: Math abilities in kids 8 and up.
How it works: Kids are tested on math concepts like word problems and math symbols. They’re also tested on their general attitude toward math.
What the scores mean: The results help identify students who are significantly behind their peers in math knowledge. They also measures how far behind they are. They could be below average, poor or very poor.
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (Subtests)
What they measure: Depending on a kids’ issues, testing may assess reading, written language and math skills.
How it works: Tests measure skills like math problem-solving, reading comprehension and spelling.
What the scores mean: Age-based standard scores and percentile ranks can show areas of strength and weakness in a range of areas.
A school evaluation team will most likely be working with you and your child. Team members will explain the tests to you, as well as the results. Some tests may be repeated during the year to monitor your child’s progress.
After a public school evaluation, you might also decide to have your child evaluated privately. All of this can take time and energy. But the results will help you understand your child’s challenges and put everyone on track toward finding solutions.
- There are many tests that measure ability in reading, writing and math.
- Some tests may be given a few times a year to track progress toward academic goals.
- Tests measure overall ability, not specific strengths.
In an evaluation, the professional doing the testing selects the type of test. The decision is based on personal preference and the kind of issues your child is having.
The results of the testing represent your child’s overall ability in that area. They don’t identify specific skills she has. Scores for these tests are reported on a standard scale. Students’ raw scores are converted into a common scale so that test results can be more easily compared between classes and school districts. It also makes it possible to compare your child’s test results over time.
Here are some tests that are commonly given.
Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI)
What it measures: Reading comprehension.
How it works: A computer-based test asks students to read fiction and nonfiction passages and then answer questions about them. It’s “computer-adaptive.” This means that if a student gets a question wrong, the next question will be slightly easier.
What the scores mean: The scores point to the child’s current reading level. Schools can then set response to intervention (RTI) goals accordingly.
Woodcock Reading Mastery Test (WRMT-III)
What it measures: Reading level.
How it works: Kids are asked to identify letters and read words aloud. They’re also asked to show an understanding of what they’ve read.
What the scores mean: Results are given as standard scores, percentile ranks and age- and grade-equivalents. They point to the child’s current reading level.
Gray Oral Reading Test (GORT-5)
What it measures: Spoken (oral) reading rate, reading accuracy and reading comprehension.
How it works: Kids are asked to read passages aloud and then answer multiple-choice questions about what they’ve just read.
What the scores mean: The scores measure reading fluency and comprehension. Because the test has an oral component, it may also pick up on issues with expressive language.
Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing
What it measures: The ability to name letters and words.
How it works: Children are asked to quickly name letters, numbers, colors and objects.
What the scores mean: Results are given as standard scores and percentile ranks for a child’s age. It can help evaluators understand specific reasons why children are having trouble with reading.
Test of Word Reading Efficiency (TOWRE-2)
What it measures: Ability to pronounce written words.
How it works: Kids are asked to pronounce real and made-up written words.
What the scores mean: The scores measure reading fluency and comprehension. In grade school, results can help identify kids who need help with their “word” reading skills. In older kids, the test can help identify specific learning issues like dyslexia.
Rapid Automatized Naming Tasks
What it measures: Ability to name things, which can be a predictor of ability to read.
How it works: Kids are tested on how quickly they can name objects, letters, symbols and pictures.
What the scores mean: Seeing where and when kids struggle with this kind of task can be useful in creating strategies to help them read.
Test of Early Reading Ability (TERA-3)
What it measures: Reading skills of children ages 3½ to 8½.
How it works: Kids are asked to identify letters of the alphabet, pictures and text.
What the scores mean: The results can point to reading strengths and weaknesses. They can also document progress in early reading intervention programs.
Wide Range Achievement Test 4
What it measures: Basic academic skills in reading, spelling and math for ages 5 and up.
How it works: Kids are tested in areas such as word reading, sentence comprehension, spelling, counting and math problems.
What the scores mean: Initial results can point to areas that need improvement. Re-evaluations can monitor children’s progress with RTI.
KeyMath–3 Diagnostic Assessment
What it measures: Essential math concepts and skills.
How it works: Kids are tested on math concepts that are appropriate for their age. These may include addition and subtraction, percentages and interpreting data.
What the scores mean: Grade- and age-based standard scores can show areas of strength and weakness.
Test of Mathematical Abilities (TOMA-3)
What it measures: Math abilities in kids 8 and up.
How it works: Kids are tested on math concepts like word problems and math symbols. They’re also tested on their general attitude toward math.
What the scores mean: The results help identify students who are significantly behind their peers in math knowledge. They also measures how far behind they are. They could be below average, poor or very poor.
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (Subtests)
What they measure: Depending on a kids’ issues, testing may assess reading, written language and math skills.
How it works: Tests measure skills like math problem-solving, reading comprehension and spelling.
What the scores mean: Age-based standard scores and percentile ranks can show areas of strength and weakness in a range of areas.
A school evaluation team will most likely be working with you and your child. Team members will explain the tests to you, as well as the results. Some tests may be repeated during the year to monitor your child’s progress.
After a public school evaluation, you might also decide to have your child evaluated privately. All of this can take time and energy. But the results will help you understand your child’s challenges and put everyone on track toward finding solutions.
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