All members of Profiles 1-3 have silent reading comprehension scores between GE 9 and 12. This page compares these profiles using the graph and table below.

All three patterns of reading strengths can be found in Silent Reading GE 9-12 classrooms.

If you look only at the average silent reading comprehension scores for the three profiles, you might think that all readers in these profiles are ready to "graduate" from ABE classes. However, this is the case only for Profile 1 (blue) learners. Yes, they need more systematic instruction in spelling but their other component skills are high enough to take them beyond ABE classes.

Profiles 2 (red) and 3 (green) have a ways to go. Native Speakers of English (NSE) as well as Non-native Speakers of English (NNSE) in Profile 2 need a big boost in their vocabulary knowledge.

Profile 3 has the same shape as Profile 1 but at several GEs lower. Profile 3's silent reading comprehension average (10.9) is the lowest in this 9-12 group. This profile looks more like one of a pre-GED rather than a GED class. Their silent reading comprehension score doesn't tell the whole story; they need strengthening in all components.

The key background information given below also shows some significant differences among the three profiles. Profile 1 and Profile 2 have similar background pictures. Profile 2 has the most NNES learners but most NNES learners in the ARCS do not report having had reading development problems in their native language.

Profile 3 stands apart from 1 and 2 with more learners having had reading problems and at the initial stage of reading development. They are older and more have a family history of reading difficulties; they show a typical dyslexic profile of lower decoding than meaning skills.