Access Reading Test: Manual

New National Curriculum Levels conversion table now available: www.hoddereducation.co.uk/nationalcurriculumlevels The Access Reading Test is purpose-designed for wide-range assessment from age 7 to 20+ years, and pinpoints strengths and weaknesses in four key reading skill areas: * Literal comprehension * Vocabulary * Comprehension requiring inference or prediction and opinions * Comprehension requiring analysis Two parallel test forms A and B each contain 60 questions based on carefully matched reading experiences, allowing reliable retesting and progress monitoring over time. The test may be given to groups or individuals: it takes just 30 minutes to administer, and is quick and easy to score. The gradually increasing difficulty allows students to meet a variety of graded texts (fiction and non-fiction) and styles - the level of demand ranges from reading strategies, vocabulary and literacy skills appropriate to Key Stages 2 and 3, to the vocabulary and grammatical structures associated with GCSE. This ensures that the test is valid across a wide age and ability range.
The Access Reading Test gives standardised scores, reading ages and percentiles, together with information about the average scores for each year group in each skill area. The manual also describes how to use the test to help establish if a student may be eligible for extra time in national tests or examinations.