To ask what you think your reading level might be?

2023a · 2023-02-16T00:17:29+00:00

I think lots of us have had the odd frustrating conversation on here, where the other person just hasn’t seemed to be able to grasp what we’re saying. Apparently, it’s very possible that the posters in question genuinely don’t understand. A 2011 government survey of adult literacy skills found that 14.9% (or 1 in 7) of adults in England have literacy levels at or below Entry Level 3, which is equivalent to the literacy skills expected of a nine to 11-year-old. More recently, in 2015, the OECD conducted its Survey of Adult Skills, known as PIAAC (Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies). This survey found that 16.4% (or 1 in 6) of adults in England, and 17.4% (or 1 in 5) adults in Northern Ireland, have literacy levels at or below Level 1, which is considered to be 'very poor literacy skills'. More info here, if you’re interested: https://literacytrust.org.uk/parents-and-families/adult-literacy/what-do-adult-literacy-levels-mean/

CrackedLookingGlass · 16/02/2023 00:24

My parents were both only semi-literate when I was a child (poor teaching, very poor backgrounds to barely literate parents, early school leavers as their wages were needed). My own level is high — I have a doctorate in literature and read and write well in three languages other than English. I used to teach literacy in prisons. Not surprisingly, many prisoners have poor literacy.

(My numeracy skills are very poor, on the other hand.)

MagicCat83 · 16/02/2023 00:25

I read something about there being more people than you'd like to think who can't understand conditionality.

eg you could ask them "If you hadn't had dinner last night, how would you have felt this morning?" Apparently, a decent number of people can't get past the fact that they did have dinner and will say something like "I was fine".

We forget that we curate our real life bubbles. Outside of that, we really can be encountering anyone.

Also, a lot of posters on forums are bots, so they won't always make sense but they will often rile you up...........

Calistan · 16/02/2023 00:49

MagicCat83 · 16/02/2023 00:25

I read something about there being more people than you'd like to think who can't understand conditionality.

eg you could ask them "If you hadn't had dinner last night, how would you have felt this morning?" Apparently, a decent number of people can't get past the fact that they did have dinner and will say something like "I was fine".

We forget that we curate our real life bubbles. Outside of that, we really can be encountering anyone.

Also, a lot of posters on forums are bots, so they won't always make sense but they will often rile you up...........

That's interesting, would also explain a lot. I remember taking a test as an adult which was like a comparison thing, like blah is to blah as blah blah is to blah blah. Anyone know what I mean? At the end it gave your appropriate level of education.

Original poster

2023a · 16/02/2023 00:50

MagicCat83 · 16/02/2023 00:25

I read something about there being more people than you'd like to think who can't understand conditionality.

eg you could ask them "If you hadn't had dinner last night, how would you have felt this morning?" Apparently, a decent number of people can't get past the fact that they did have dinner and will say something like "I was fine".

We forget that we curate our real life bubbles. Outside of that, we really can be encountering anyone.

Also, a lot of posters on forums are bots, so they won't always make sense but they will often rile you up...........

I read something about there being more people than you'd like to think who can't understand conditionality.

eg you could ask them "If you hadn't had dinner last night, how would you have felt this morning?" Apparently, a decent number of people can't get past the fact that they did have dinner and will say something like "I was fine".

I find this completely fascinating. I’ll see if I can find any studies on it!

OP posts:

dizzydizzydizzy · 16/02/2023 00:55

I'm a copywriter so I hope my literacy level is high.

Calistan · 16/02/2023 00:56

Same. Its fascinating, actually I think people would be a lot more forgiving if they realised that some others are literally incapable of grasping the nuances.

dizzydizzydizzy · 16/02/2023 00:57

I'm also a secondary school governor. Ana amazing number of kids arrive in y7 with a key stage 1 reading ability, which is a big problem because ir prevents them from accessing the curriculum.

steff13 · 16/02/2023 00:57

I write for my job so I think it's pretty good. Standardized testing that I took in elementary school showed that in the third grade I was reading at a college level so I would guess that it's now above that.

MagicCat83 · 16/02/2023 00:58

dizzydizzydizzy · 16/02/2023 00:55

I'm a copywriter so I hope my literacy level is high.

Do you work for a newspaper? If so, I have some bad news for you..... ;)

MagicCat83 · 16/02/2023 01:03

Wasn't an idea in 1984 that if you don't have the words then you can't think the thoughts? A lack of vocabulary and ability to express oneself precisely is limiting.

Original poster

2023a · 16/02/2023 01:04

MagicCat83 · 16/02/2023 01:03

Wasn't an idea in 1984 that if you don't have the words then you can't think the thoughts? A lack of vocabulary and ability to express oneself precisely is limiting.

Yes. I believe it was called ‘newspeak’.

OP posts:

user1471453601 · 16/02/2023 01:10

@Calistan do you mean the type of things I used to do at she 10 when I took my 11+? Because if so, you've awakened a very painful (😁) memory.

The question was " foot is to human, as ....... Is to horse".

I said the answer was hand. Because you measure a human in feet, and horses in hands. Wrong answer, right answer was hoof.

But, but (the 11 year old in me shouts) I'm still right!! I am. Sigh. It still rankles 62 years later.

Original poster

2023a · 16/02/2023 01:10

@MagicCat83 So, I just refreshed my memory (read 1984 about 20 years ago), and this is actually super interesting: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newspeak

Clever fellow, that Orwell.

OP posts:

Original poster

2023a · 16/02/2023 01:12

user1471453601 · 16/02/2023 01:10

@Calistan do you mean the type of things I used to do at she 10 when I took my 11+? Because if so, you've awakened a very painful (😁) memory.

The question was " foot is to human, as ....... Is to horse".

I said the answer was hand. Because you measure a human in feet, and horses in hands. Wrong answer, right answer was hoof.

But, but (the 11 year old in me shouts) I'm still right!! I am. Sigh. It still rankles 62 years later.

You were technically correct, which is obviously the best kind of correct.

OP posts:

MagicCat83 · 16/02/2023 01:14

2023a · 16/02/2023 01:10

@MagicCat83 So, I just refreshed my memory (read 1984 about 20 years ago), and this is actually super interesting: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newspeak

Clever fellow, that Orwell.

I've meant to re-read it for the past 3 years but I don't dare to.

Same with Brave New World but I now know more about the Huxley family than I'd like to.

I managed to re-read Lord of the Flies in 2020, but even that was spooky when the 7pm ritualistic clapping was in progress!

MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 16/02/2023 01:16

eg you could ask them "If you hadn't had dinner last night, how would you have felt this morning?" Apparently, a decent number of people can't get past the fact that they did have dinner and will say something like "I was fine".

My mum does this. So if I asked that exact question she'd say "but I did have dinner". I'd ask her to imagine she didn't, and she'd answer "but why wouldn't I have dinner?"

Maybe that's not the exact same thing but it's infuriating.

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 16/02/2023 01:18

MagicCat83 · 16/02/2023 00:25

I read something about there being more people than you'd like to think who can't understand conditionality.

eg you could ask them "If you hadn't had dinner last night, how would you have felt this morning?" Apparently, a decent number of people can't get past the fact that they did have dinner and will say something like "I was fine".

We forget that we curate our real life bubbles. Outside of that, we really can be encountering anyone.

Also, a lot of posters on forums are bots, so they won't always make sense but they will often rile you up...........

I’m also really intrigued by this and would love to know more! Trying to Google it just now and not really finding anything.

Original poster

2023a · 16/02/2023 01:19

MagicCat83 · 16/02/2023 01:14

I've meant to re-read it for the past 3 years but I don't dare to.

Same with Brave New World but I now know more about the Huxley family than I'd like to.

I managed to re-read Lord of the Flies in 2020, but even that was spooky when the 7pm ritualistic clapping was in progress!

Show quote history

I’ve never read Brave New World, I don’t think. No idea why! Shall remedy that.

I remember HATING Lord of the Flies when I was younger. It genuinely made me furious. 😂

OP posts:

MagicCat83 · 16/02/2023 01:21

2023a · 16/02/2023 00:50

I read something about there being more people than you'd like to think who can't understand conditionality.

eg you could ask them "If you hadn't had dinner last night, how would you have felt this morning?" Apparently, a decent number of people can't get past the fact that they did have dinner and will say something like "I was fine".

I find this completely fascinating. I’ll see if I can find any studies on it!

Show quote history

If you can find studies and stats - and generally some reading on these ideas - please do post them. I have since tried to look this up again (after stumbling across it by accident years ago) but can't find the right search terms.

I'd be interested in descriptions of these kind of concepts and statistics of the % of the population who can understand them.

user1471453601 · 16/02/2023 01:26

@2023a, true, but,although that comforts me now, my 10 year old self is still stamping her foot and shouting "snot fair" 😁

myveryownelectrickitten · 16/02/2023 01:31

The thing about conditionality is very interesting - I would really like to know more, if anyone can dig up the reference!

One of the most reliable markers of a high level of literacy or education is, of course, the use of the subjunctive mood, which a large percentage of people either don’t understand/don’t use or aren’t familiar with. It’s usually thought of as something that is down to level of grammatical and literacy education and so a learned thing; but if it’s the case that understanding conditionality is to some degree innate somehow, then the use of the subjunctive might be connected to that too.

Calistan · 16/02/2023 01:38

I vaguely remember taking an Internet test, sure it still exists, I will have a look.

Can't find it, it was like a comparison test and gave your level of education as a result.

PennyRa · 16/02/2023 01:38

I'm dyslexic but have a very high reading level. I did several programs while at school but they never helped. When I left school I took it upon myself to learn and find the ways that work for me. To the point one of my uni professors didn't realise for almost a whole year as it didn't show in my written work

There are others out there like me, dyslexic and school failed them, but don't want to or for whatever reason can't undertake the journey I did, and that's ok.

Mommawasafarmgirl · 16/02/2023 01:44

user1471453601 · 16/02/2023 01:10

@Calistan do you mean the type of things I used to do at she 10 when I took my 11+? Because if so, you've awakened a very painful (😁) memory.

The question was " foot is to human, as ....... Is to horse".

I said the answer was hand. Because you measure a human in feet, and horses in hands. Wrong answer, right answer was hoof.

But, but (the 11 year old in me shouts) I'm still right!! I am. Sigh. It still rankles 62 years later.

Oh dear, that does seem unfair.
Did it make a difference (other than to your feelings of course) that the question was marked as it was? I hope you didn't lose out on a school place because of it...

Calistan · 16/02/2023 01:47

@MagicCat83 Yes. I took a few at job interviews too.

Brave new world is great BTW, there are debates on yt about which is more prescient, bnw or 1984, pretty interesting