Directions for the WRT
Printer-friendly WRT:Form A
Printer-friendly WRT:Form B
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Directions for the Word Reading Test (WRT) from the QARI
- If you are printing from the PDF version, print the teacher’s record page. Print and staple together the learner’s copy of word lists.
- Say to the learner, I’m going top ask you to read some words out loud. You may not know all of them, and it’s all right to make mistakes. You may correct yourself, and it won’t count as a mistake.
- Hand the learner a copy of word lists and ask her/him to read the words on the first page (List A) aloud.
- Record the learner’s responses on the teacher’s record page, holding the page so that the learner cannot see what you’re writing.
Scoring
- Place a check by each word read correctly.
- On a mispronounced or substituted word, try to write down the learner’s response as accurately as possible on the line next to the word.
- If the learner does not attempt a word, leave the line blank.
- If a learner mumbles, or if you didn’t hear his/her pronunciation of a word, point to the word and say, “Would you repeat that one, please?”
- Count as correct all words checked, including:
- self-corrections if made within four seconds;
- sounding out a word correctly, if it is done within four seconds.
- Count as incorrect:
- mispronunciations or substitutions;
- wrong stress on a word (e.g., emphasis for emphasis);
- taking more than four seconds to pronounce a word, even if it is eventually pronounced correctly;
- stopping on a word for more than four seconds (In this case, ask the learner to try the next word.);
- changing a response from correct to incorrect.
Dialects and Regional Accents
If you think a nonstandard pronunciation may be the result of a learner’s local, regional, or national accent or dialect, score that word as correct.
Where to Stop
Begin with List A (Grades 1-2) and have the learner read the lists in order until he or she gets fewer than 7 out 10 right, or completes List E (Grades 9-10). The learner’s level in Word Reading corresponds to the highest level on which she/he gets at least 7/10 correct.
If you have any questions about using this test, please contact us. Look for "Feedback" on the footer banner found across the bottom of most pages on the ASRP Web site.