Quick Reading Assessment

This modified San Diego State Quick Reading test is designed to assess your student’s word recognition ability. It may also help you determine your student's approximate reading level.

Directions :

  1. Have your student sit at the computer while you look over their shoulder. They can then click on the links below to begin the reading assessment.

  2. Start the student on the Readers 1 Word List screen.

  3. Tell your student, "There are ten big red words on the computer screen. I would like you to try and read every word out loud. That way I can tell which words you already know. After the test, I will help you with the parts you didn't know."

  4. Let your student read the words to you. Write down each mispronounced word for later study.

  5. Move on to the next higher word list by clicking the "Next -->" link at the bottom of the word list.

  6. You can count the dots at the top of the screen to see what level they are on.

    - . (dash dot) for kindergarten level
    . (dot) for Readers 1 level
    . . (dot dot) for Readers 2 level
    . . - (dot dot dash) for Readers 2 intermediate level
    . . - - (dot dot dash dash) for Readers 2 advanced level
    . . . (dot dot dot) for Readers 3 level, etc.

  7. Below the word list on each test page there are also three links to reading sample pages. Once you think you have found the proper instruction level for your student, you can also ask your student to try to read an actual page from a typical Sonlight reader in that level. There is one sample from each trimester for each reading level. Printing these pages out on your printer and having your student read them from paper may be more natural than reading them on the screen.

How to Determine Reading Level:

  • The list on which students miss no more than one or two of the ten words is the level at which they can read independently. Move on to the next higher test list.
  • Three missed words indicates the level at which they need to begin instruction. Ask your student to read the sample reading pages from each trimester to be certain. The next section will show you how to use this information to pick your Sonlight Curriculum.
  • Four or more missed words identifies the reading level which will be too difficult and frustrating for them. Try the next lower test list.

Click Here To Start The Test

How to use your student's reading level to choose the correct Sonlight Core or Newcomer™ Program :

Reading level alone does not determine the Sonlight level your student should begin with. Here are two other important factors:

  1. Age - Though your young child may read at a much higher level, sometimes the books in that Sonlight level contain material that is too mature for them. Use their reading level as the maximum level they could be in but look at the Sonlight Core or Newcomer™ information in your Sonlight Catalog or on our website to make sure your student is also in the age range usually used by that program.

    Note: Once your student has a reading level above level 7 there is no need to consider their reading level as a factor to choose their Sonlight Curriculum program, they can go strictly by age.

  2. Language Arts Abilities - Sonlight Language Arts programs are tied to the Readers in our Core programs. For example, if you choose Core 3 then the Language Arts 3 program would be your recommended choice because its assignments reference the level 3 Readers. Therefore, please consider whether or not your student has the language arts skills for a particular reading level. You can view the topics addressed at teach Language Arts level by looking at the Topics and Skills list on our Language Arts IG samples, which can be found here. These skills include (but are not limited to): mechanics (capitalization, punctuation), grammar (subject verb agreement, etc.), writing ability and fine motor skills. Fine motor skills especially is a big consideration for very young advanced readers—like the 5 year old who reads at a 3rd grade level.

Usually used by...

At the top of each of our product pages there are two indicators to help you determine if that product is appropriate for your student. They look like the examples below. One is for the ages this product is usually used by and the other is the reading levels that the product is usually used by. Just keep in mind the two rules listed above.

Ages:
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Grades:
P3/4
P4/5
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

EXAMPLE: If a product is displaying the age and reading level indicators shown above then it is usually used by a student between the ages of 7-9 who has a reading level of grade 2, 3 or 4. Even if a six-year-old has a reading level of 3, this product would not be appropriate for them because of their age. Furthermore if an 8-year-old has a reading level of 4 but their language arts skills are actually at a much lower level it would be better to select a lower reading level to begin with.

There are many key product samples located on certain product pages to let you see exactly what is involved.

For more advice you can also visit Sonia, our online internet advisor or you can get in touch with one of our live Sonlight Curriculum Advisors. Get better advice while browsing Sonlight by filling in your student profiles on our site.

Recommended :

Once you've found your student's reading level, go ahead and have them try the next screen to see what words they know beyond the grade level achieved.

Graded Reading Level Word List Pages :

You can jump right to a specific reading level word list by clicking on the links with the dashes and dots below.

- .

Kindergarten Word List:

No test needed. For children who are ready to learn the alphabet.

Download attachment(s):
  • Trimester 1 Reading Sample [59 KB]
  • Trimester 2 Reading Sample [75 KB]
  • Trimester 3 Reading Sample [78 KB]

    .

    Readers 1 Word List:

    pet
    the
    hut
    tan
    lid
    naps
    hop
    mix
    eggs
    duck

    Download attachment(s):
  • Trimester 1 Reading Sample [198 KB]
  • Trimester 2 Reading Sample [165 KB]
  • Trimester 3 Reading Sample [155 KB]

    . .

    Readers 2 Word List:

    string
    think
    chin
    sinking
    owe
    soap
    bedtime
    heat
    flee
    whale

    Download attachment(s):
  • Trimester 1 Reading Sample [233 KB]
  • Trimester 2 Reading Sample [190 KB]
  • Trimester 3 Reading Sample [112 KB]

    . . -

    Readers 2 Intermediate Word List:

    chief
    stool
    stream
    point
    annoy
    house
    word
    book
    blue
    outlaw

    Download attachment(s):
  • Trimester 1 Reading Sample [173 KB]
  • Trimester 2 Reading Sample [305 KB]
  • Trimester 3 Reading Sample [277 KB]

    . . - -

    Readers 2 Advanced Word List:

    cookies
    disagree
    foolish
    garage
    dozen
    future
    kindly
    father
    raise
    rewind

    Download attachment(s):
  • Trimester 1 Reading Sample [166 KB]
  • Trimester 2 Reading Sample [226 KB]
  • Trimester 3 Reading Sample [231 KB]

    . . .

    Readers 3 Word List:

    city
    middle
    moment
    frightened
    exclaimed
    several
    lonely
    drew
    since
    straight

    Download attachment(s):
  • Trimester 1 Reading Sample [219 KB]
  • Trimester 2 Reading Sample [278 KB]
  • Trimester 3 Reading Sample [117 KB]

    . . . .

    Readers 4 Word List:

    decided
    served
    amazed
    silent
    wrecked
    improved
    certainly
    entered
    realized
    interrupted

    Download attachment(s):
  • Trimester 1 Reading Sample [298 KB]
  • Trimester 2 Reading Sample [257 KB]
  • Trimester 3 Reading Sample [197 KB]

    . . . . .

    Readers 5 Word List:

    successful
    business
    develop
    considered
    discussed
    behaved
    splendid
    acquainted
    escaped
    squirming

    Download attachment(s):
  • Trimester 1 Reading Sample [243 KB]
  • Trimester 2 Reading Sample [276 KB]
  • Trimester 3 Reading Sample [219 KB]

    . . . . . .

    Readers 6 Word List:

    bridge
    commercial
    abolish
    trucker
    apparatus
    elementary
    comment
    necessity
    gallery
    relativity

    Download attachment(s):
  • Trimester 1 Reading Sample [257 KB]
  • Trimester 2 Reading Sample [222 KB]
  • Trimester 3 Reading Sample [257 KB]

    . . . . . . .

    Readers 7 Word List:

    amber
    dominion
    sundry
    capillary
    impetuous
    blight
    wrest
    enumerate
    daunted
    condescent

    Download attachment(s):
  • Trimester 1 Reading Sample [274 KB]
  • Trimester 2 Reading Sample [195 KB]
  • Trimester 3 Reading Sample [335 KB]

    Hint :

    You can also do this offline using 3x5 cards. Put each word list on a separate card. On the back of the card put:

    - . (dash dot) for kindergarten level
    . (dot) for Readers 1 level
    . . (dot dot) for Readers 2 level
    . . - (dot dot dash) for Readers 2 intermediate level
    . . - - (dot dot dash dash) for Readers 2 advanced level
    . . . (dot dot dot) for Readers 3 level, etc.

    This way, if you drop the cards you can sort them out again, but an older student cannot readily tell what grade level s/he is reading at.