Lexile scores measure reading skills and help educators choose appropriate reading material for students. Scores range from 200L to 1700L and are determined by a test. Thousands of books are indexed on the Lexile scale, and standardized tests use it to develop grade-appropriate tests.
If you’re the parent of a school-age child, you may have heard of Lexile scores before. Lexicons refers to a measurement of reading skills based on the Lexile Framework for Reading, a nationally accepted scale designed to measure text and reading skills. Lexile scores are used by educators to not only measure and track a child’s reading skills and progress, but also to help them choose the appropriate reading material for their abilities, allowing them to practice reading without feeling frustrated from the material.
An individual’s Lexile scores are determined by administering a test that measures both text recognition and understanding. The scale for Lexile scores ranges from 200L for beginning readers to 1700L for advanced reading material. Once a child’s Lexile score has been determined, teachers and parents can refer to a list of books that are within the child’s reading ability based on the Lexile score. Frequent reading outside of school has been shown to increase academic achievement, so selecting appropriate reading material can help a child succeed in school by increasing independent reading.
Thousands of titles have been indexed on the Lexile scale, and most school staff and even public librarians are familiar with the Lexile Framework. A parent or child can go to the library and easily choose books that are within the child’s reading ability range, or parents can challenge children to try a book that is indexed slightly above their current Lexile scores. Parents can also ask their child’s teacher to provide a suggested reading list based on their child’s most recent Lexile scores.
Additionally, many standardized tests now use the Lexile index to develop grade-appropriate tests. The difficulty of understanding the text is measured by both the frequency of the words and the length of each sentence. There are also ways for other text creators, such as children’s authors or teachers who design their own tests and worksheets, to measure their material against the Lexile index. This tool, along with more information, is available on the Lexile Framework for Reading website.
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