To ask what you think your reading level might be?

[2023a]

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: literacytrust.org.uk/parents-and-families/adult-literacy/what-do-adult-literacy-levels-mean/

Do you have any tips@PennyRa?
DC has dyslexia.

@MagicCat83 no, I don't work for a newspaper. I write websites, newsletters, press releases etc about technology.

I'm dyslexic but my school didn't believe in it so in, what was then, third year, I was in quite a low group for English.

That year were tested to find our reading age. Apparently the teacher marking mine had asked her class who I was.

The scale was reading age and went up to 16, I was off the scale apparently.

Both of my parents had really good vocabularies, due to reading lots. I do think that helped, I was used to asking what does that mean? We didn't have lots of books in the house, it was all library based.

Interesting thread. Reading the article linked I'd guess that I am definitely at level 4 and possibly at level 5. I can't say that I definitely am level 5 because I'd want to be tested to be sure but I'd also guess that anyone who can read and understand the definitions given in levels 4 and 5 is at least a level 4. I don't write as well as I used to due to neurological issues but I can still read and understand like a demon. I think the latter is in part because I was such an early reader and have remained a lifelong avid reader of anything and everything with an ongoing desire to learn and understand all manner of things.

Thank you for this thread because it's made me question how I interact with others. I'm always aware that not everyone knows as much as I think I do, but this has made me realise that people can be far more intelligent than I, or others, give them credit for but are let down (or not) by their literacy levels.

The three main things for me would be:

1. Try not to get tunnel vision. That was the main downfall of the school programs, they always believed their way was the right way for everyone, but it's not. You can try everything and see what works for you, and don't be afraid to stop a course or whatever halfway through if it's no longer working. It's not a failure, you're not giving up, you're just moving on.

1. Audiobooks and assistive technology are not "cheating"! They are great tools and should be used to their full extent with zero shame. I would include learning how to properly utilise Google for spelling, pronunciation, and meaning as part of assistive technology. I literally use it everyday.

1. Make passive reading part of your life forever. By that I mean things like putting labels on everything, posters of anything on the walls, and putting the subtitles on, basically anywhere there can be words for any reason just put them there. It helps you practice without feeling like you're practicing

But being able to grasp what someone is meaning, through the written word, isn't just about being able to read, is it?

We did reading tests at primary school, I had a reading age of 15 when I was 9.

I was hyperlexic as a child, I had a reading age of 15 when I was 8/9 but I'm unsure if my reading level would be High these days.

I know you didn't ask me but get a kindle, you can change the text to a dyslexic friendly font.

I also agree with using software / overlays, anything and everything that can help.

Correct. If you click on the link provided, the Literacy Trust explains what is required at each reading level.

We did reading tests at primary school, I had a reading age of 15 when I was 9.

Same, though I may have been 8 as I remember taking the test on the little table my year 3 class and pretending I couldn't pronounce pneumonia because I was embarrassed I had got too many questions right.

(I went to school in a very disadvantaged area and was constantly teased for being "too clever')

Such an interesting topic. I am very much guilty of forgetting to account for adult literacy levels. It's so easy to forget the variety of aptitude and mistake miscomprehension* for willful obstinacy.

It's definitely cause for thought, and I wonder how I can do better with this in mind.

just made that word up - hope that's ok with you lexicants*
** just made that up too

I used to sometimes write public information stuff, display board stuff for tourists etc, and used Flesch Kincaid software to make sure the text scored at 70-ish, which should make it readable to older children and adults - also to people for whom English is not their first language.

It's always possible to get the information across, but it's hard work getting down to that score without losing anything.

I'm level 4/5. I have a very good vocab because I've read so widely throughout my life, plus had widely read parents who encouraged reading of all kinds. My grammar is instinctive though because it was never taught at school.

I think it's shameful that literacy rates are so low in the UK. How can we ever have a high wage and high tech society if we dont/can't produce workers that have a reasonable understanding of reading and writing? Imo the UK's woeful education standards is a large part of why there is so much youth violence.

This really made me laugh. You should have got a bonus point.

Pretty decent
I read about 1500wpm and always have done

I think the issue is comprehension rather than speed.

There's also a responsibility on the part of the speaker (or writer) to make sure they are clear enough to be understood. A listener/reader who doesn't understand is not always illiterate.

I would also point out the Dunning Kruger effect: people with high levels of intelligence and literacy are often the ones with enough understanding (and confidence) to say if they don't understand, whereas people with lower ability levels may well be completely unaware when they're not getting it, and blame the speaker/writer.

Years ago, I did a Writing in Plain English course. They said that papers like the Mail and Sun were written so a 9 year old could understand them as that was the average reading ability in the uk. I worked for a local authority so we tried to write everything at that level.

I think my reading ability is good but I am now very lazy with my writing so I am not generally surprised to find people misunderstood me.

I work for a large organisation and one of our main endeavours when it comes to our comms is making sure the reading age is right as the average reading age in the UK is 9-11 as OP you’ve pointed out. We don’t always get it right but the difference when we do is huge - our customers really engage with us more and we can create more meaningful relationships with them.

I think a lot of people do over-estimate their reading age as well, literacy is a huge issue we need to address in the education system.

I work in corporate training, writing and delivering complex information in a way new employees can grasp is always on my mind. I've also heard the average reading age in the UK is 9, so I'm slightly relieved it could be higher, but still...!

I've no idea what my reading age is, but I do feel that sort of thing falls into "use it or lose it" territory. My wife is doing a Master's right now and her thinking and writing has certainly been sharpened by the course. Continuous education throughout adulthood should be normalised, it can only be a good thing. (Not necessarily a Master's, just adult courses for people who are interested in various things!)

@Xol about 85% comprehension at that speed (I was part of a study for a university thing where they took speed readers and compared comprehension, was really interesting!)

I'd love to see if they're is a test. My parents and grandparents were poorly educated but did their best. My mother, particularly loved reading, and everyone liked doing crossword puzzles. When I went to school in the 1970s my reading age was estimated at 14 or so when I was 9.
I still love reading quizzes, puzzles and challenging myself mentally and I am aware that my reading level exceeds that of my parents and grandparents because of what I have read, and exposure to people with different life experiences and logic processes to me.
DC has recently had some sort of reading skills assessment done and theirs comes out in the later teens (17 or close to), even though they're not a teenager .
We still have times when we confuse each other with one not following at all what the other is saying. It can be really frustrating when you can't articulate in a way that the other person understands.

I spent a lot of time with my maternal grandmother. She had loads of National Geographical Society magazines on her bookshelves. I taught myself to read, using the pictures to illuminate the words.
When I was three years old, I could read basic information.
In adulthood, I went on to be an advertising copywriter, industrial journalist, and other trades which required clear and concise written communication.