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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think a mistake has been made??

56 replies

katemaryandash · 04/10/2022 15:59

My daughter is turning 9 next week and she came home from school saying she had a test with her teacher today and she got 84 questions out of 100 right and that her teacher told her she has a reading age of 13 years and 4 months.

I know they do reading age tests but last year I think hers was maybe a year above her age. AIBU in thinking there is a mistake and it's not possible she is reading at an age four years above hers?

OP posts:
ICanHideButICantRun · 04/10/2022 16:02

I'm waiting for posters to come on and say that's nothing, that their child has the reading age of a 50 year old.

She's obviously great at reading, OP, and I hope she loves it.

Original poster
katemaryandash · 04/10/2022 16:04

ICanHideButICantRun · 04/10/2022 16:02

I'm waiting for posters to come on and say that's nothing, that their child has the reading age of a 50 year old.

She's obviously great at reading, OP, and I hope she loves it.

Hahah most definitely 😂 she honestly doesn't even read lots at home and it's a chore to get her to do it, that's why I'm wondering if either a) a mistake has been made or b) she has misheard

OP posts:
GreenLeavesRustling · 04/10/2022 16:04

Totally possible.
not quite as impressive poster above suggests 😉, but my 11 year old had a reading age of 16 at the start of secondary school when he was tested at school.

Vapeyvapevape · 04/10/2022 16:05

Check with her teacher

WithOneLook · 04/10/2022 16:07

As a teacher, I can say that yes it is possible and does happen with quite some regularity. Equally it could be a mistake/your daughter misunderstood we have no way of knowing. You're best of speaking to the teacher/person who conducted the test.

Original poster
katemaryandash · 04/10/2022 16:08

WithOneLook · 04/10/2022 16:07

As a teacher, I can say that yes it is possible and does happen with quite some regularity. Equally it could be a mistake/your daughter misunderstood we have no way of knowing. You're best of speaking to the teacher/person who conducted the test.

How do they work the age out?

OP posts:
SomeUnspokenThing · 04/10/2022 16:09

My DD was similar at that age. Maybe this will encourage your DD to read more at home. Good on her!

Lougle · 04/10/2022 16:10

It's within the range of results that is normal, although it is obviously a high result. DD3 got a reading age of 17 at 12, but I think 17 is the highest that test goes up to, so she won't improve now, even if her reading gets better.

emmetgirl · 04/10/2022 16:13

Yes that's definitely possible- I remember being told I had a reading age of 14 when I was 10. I was doing different work in class to the other kids because of it.

Lougle · 04/10/2022 16:13

I don't think it necessarily correlates with reading itself though. DD3's reading teacher said 'Oooh DD3 must love to read and she must read a lot!' Nope. She hates reading and will do anything other than pick up a book by choice. She's just got good vocabulary and comprehension. For many kids that comes through reading a wide range of books, but not all.

LIZS · 04/10/2022 16:18

I thought the maximum was 16! The test is about fluency, accuracy and reading with understanding.

SnarkyBag · 04/10/2022 16:18

Age equivalent scores should be interpreted with caution

www.pearsonassessments.com/campaign/interpretation-problems-of-age-and-grade-equivalents.html

Hoppinggreen · 04/10/2022 16:20

DD was apparently at GCSE English level by 10 apparently.
Not sure it was helpful though, she still did her GCSE at the usual time

ComtesseDeSpair · 04/10/2022 16:20

She’s obviously a good reader and bright, but I think “reading age” is a bit of an opaque judgement tbh because reading at different ages is about more than just reading words. Presumably the text was aimed at children aged approx 8-10 if nine-year-olds were being asked to read it and answer questions about what the text said? Whereas by 13/14 you’d expect a young person to be capable of reading a completely different type of text and for their comprehension of it to also be based on nuance, inference and what’s “written between the lines” etc rather than just being able . A 9-year-old would be unlikely to be able to read e.g. a novel aimed at young adults and properly understand it, because they’d lack the full ability to comprehend the subject matter.

ladydimitrescu · 04/10/2022 16:21

Completely possible and well done to your DD.
We had similar with DD who loves to read.

RachelSq · 04/10/2022 16:23

It doesn’t seem outside the range of possibility, and there’s also the possibility that she did better on the test that what she would have on an average day.

Just congratulate her and let her be happy about the achievement!

Sparkletastic · 04/10/2022 16:26

Yeah probably a mistake

TheFlis12345 · 04/10/2022 16:29

My parents were told I had a reading age of a 15 year old when I started middle school aged 8 many moons ago. I was a complete bookworm though.

BertieQueen · 04/10/2022 16:32

Yes definitely possible as others have said.

My son has always been 2-3 years above his age. He has just had a test recently and we are waiting for the results but been told he is further than they thought.

Jules912 · 04/10/2022 16:36

Possible, my DS 10 regularly reads stuff aimed at early high school or (suitably vetted) adult books. We tend to stay away from young adult as the content isn't appropriate but he could probably read and understand them. He is a total bookworm though.

Quveas · 04/10/2022 16:37

I am going back many many years, but I had a reading age of 16 at the age of 8. Although I did read a lot! That said, it would perhaps provide some context if I mentioned that the majority of newspapers are written for a reading age of 8-10 years. Which explains a lot about the general population!

Northernsoullover · 04/10/2022 16:41

Honestly, take the praise! I had a reading age off the scale at 6 years old. I was marked as 11+ on my reports. I still only got 3 GCSEs so it's no indication of academic success. That said I did eventually get a degree and I'm currently studying at Masters Level 😬

freezingmytoesoff · 04/10/2022 16:41

Yes I also had a reading age of 16 at 8, so definitely possible - well done to your DD!

CombatBarbie · 04/10/2022 16:48

When my daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia at 9, apparently her reading age was 12yrs 4 months.... No idea where they get the exact age from.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 04/10/2022 16:50

I recall being told I had a 'colouring-in' age of five when I was actually twenty-six and a half. I regret not doing that art 'O' level now.

Still it won't stop me applying for the rôle of Chancellor of the Exchequer - which must be coming up soon.

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