educational assessments

LITERACY
Diagnostic Test of Word Reading Processes
Forum for Research into Language and Literacy, Institute of Education, University of London
quick guide
Age Range:
5–12 years
Suitable for:
Class Teachers, Specialist Teachers
and SENCOs
Administration:
Individual
Timings:
Untimed, 30 minutes approx
With the introduction in 2012 of a mandatory phonics screening test for all
Y1 children in England, the government is rightly emphasising the
importance of phonic knowledge as the foundation of word reading skills.
The Diagnostic Test of Word Reading Processes (DTWRP) goes beyond
this, by giving teachers the opportunity to assess pupils ability to read
words using both phonological and lexical-semantic processes, thus
providing diagnostic information to guide intervention. Because the test is
fully standardised teachers will be able to assess their pupils in the context
of national performance of children between the ages of 5 and 12.
The DTWRP is short and individually administered and contains items that
assess the two sets of word reading processes shown by research to
underlie skilled reading: phonological recoding (through non-words and
regular words); and lexical-semantic (exception words and regular words).
The test contains 30 of each type of word (90 in total), matched on
variables known to influence word reading performance, such as length
and frequency.
Why use the DTWRP?
Readers need to develop two sets of processes:
• Phonological recoding – the automatic conversion of spelling patterns
to sound which is key to reading unfamiliar words and non-words
• Lexical-semantic processing – direct access to the meaning and
pronunciation of familiar words which is key to accurate reading of
irregular words
In combination these two processes enable any word in the language to
be read and understood, regardless of whether it has been seen before.
The DTWRP compares children’s performance on matched sets of regular
and irregular words and non-words.
• The non-words provide a pure measure of phonological recoding
processes
• Irregular words do not conform to the spelling-sound rules of English
and so provide a pure measure of lexical-semantic processes
• Regular words can be read by either process
a complete approach
DTWRP in our portfolio
Our Phonological Assessment Battery (PhAB) (page 37)
is an ideal follow-on assessment for some children tested with
the DTWRP. The DTWRP is designed to benchmark and test
pupils foundation skills in word reading and can be used to
track progress as part of a school’s assessment regime. If
persistent problems are detected then the specialist
teacher/SENCO could administer PhAB.
Did you know?
The Diagnostic Test of Word Reading Processes is
the only test in the UK that assesses regular and
irregular words and non-words and provides
normative data necessary to identify the three
different patterns of difficulty outlined opposite
Therefore, including this test as part of a school’s assessment regime with
children from age 5 to 12, teachers can identify the source of a child’s
reading difficulty whether this is poor phonological recoding, poor lexicalsemantic
processing or a combination of both.
Contents: The Complete Set contains: Manual, Stimulus Card and 50 Record
Forms
Prices
*+VAT
Complete Set 978 07087 20721/GLA500 £100.00*
Record Forms (Pack of 50) 978 07087 20738/GLA500 £36.00*
Find your Area Consultant on pages 4– Tel: 084 602 1937 www.gl-assessment.co.uk
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