Teachers use the Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) test to assess students' levels of reading comprehension. The SRI test is a computer-adaptive test based on the Lexile Framework, a reading measure that matches students to text, taken in a low-pressure setting with no time constraints. Teachers can use their students' scholastic reading inventory scores to monitor progress and set goals.
SRI Score Categories
The Lexile level is always shown as a number with an "L" after it, for example if a student scores 600L then he is a 600 level Lexile reader. In other words, 600L is the measure of his readability level. The higher the Lexile measure, the higher the student’s reading level. The Lexile Framework works in intervals of five, with 5L being the lowest and 2000L being the highest possible measure.
Typically, a school will split SRI scores for grades one through 11 into different categories, such as below basic, basic, proficient and advanced. Good SRI scores for each grade would fall within the categories of proficient and advanced.
It's worth noting that Scholastic advises against referring to a student's reading level as a score, in order to encourage achievement.
Elementary SRI Scores
For first-grade readers, a Lexile measure of 190L to 530L is proficient with 535L and above classified as advanced. Second-graders should ideally be between 420L and 650L to be considered proficient with scores of 655L and above considered advanced. Scores of 520L to 820L are proficient for third-graders; 825L and above is advanced.
Fourth-graders should score between 740L and 940L to be proficient, with advanced scores of 945L and above. Proficient scores for fifth-grade students are between 830L and 1010L. Fifth-graders scoring 1015L or above are advanced.
Middle School SRI Scores
Sixth-grade students who score between 925L and 1070L are proficient readers, while those who score 1075L and above are advanced. For seventh-graders, a score of 970L to 1120L is proficient and 1125L and above is advanced. Students in the eighth grade should aim for scores between 1010L and 1185L to be proficient. Eighth-graders who score 1190L and above are advanced.
High School SRI Scores
Ninth-graders should ideally be between 1050L and 1260L to be considered proficient with scores of 12065L and above considered advanced. For 10th-graders, a score of 1080L to 1260L is proficient and 1265L and above is advanced. For 11th- and 12th-graders, a score between 1185L and 1385L is proficient and a score of 1390L and above is advanced. A minimum reading level of 1385L is considered to be college- and career-ready.
Improving SRI Scores
The best way for a student to improve her SRI score is to read Lexile books tailored to her current level, with the aim of progressing to a higher level. Encourage students to read each book slowly and carefully to aid comprehension. Visualizing the story while reading may also help, to form visual memories to rely on during testing. Students should also take the quiz provided at the end of each book.
The Lexile website offers a range of tools to find books' based on a student's reading level, improve her vocabulary and increase reading comprehension, such as "Find a Book" and the PowerV tool.
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Writer Bio
Claire Gillespie has been writing and editing for 18 years. She has written about high school and higher education for private clients and various websites, including SheKnows and Reader's Digest.