FREQUENTLY A SKED QUESTIONS

Lexile Assessments for Compass Reading Log

1 What is a Lexile
Measure?
Simply put, a Lexile Measure is a calculation of both a student’s reading ability and
the difficulty of a text. It is a useful score for educators, administrators and parents.
Measures fall on an intuitive Lexile scale with beginning readers or easy text at the
bottom and more advanced students and texts further up.

Why use a Lexile Measure?

When measuring attributes like weight, length or temperature, we always use
objective, scientific units of measurement, such as grams, meters and degrees
Celsius. These units are accepted as the standard for measurement of these
attributes.
When measuring a skill such as reading, it is equally important to use a scientific
scale. It is not enough to say that a student is “good” or “above average” or “needing
improvement.” These terms are vague and cannot easily be compared over time. A
Lexile Measure is a more specific value. Once a student is on the scale, a teacher can
easily chart growth over time.

2 Why are Lexile

Measures
Reading is an important skill for English language learners. Like any other skill,
reading improves with consistent practice over a sustained period of time. But it
is not just a question of reading a lot of books. It is also important to read books in
important the correct Lexile range. This should be not too easy and not too hard—just right for
for English students to be able to read independently and yet be challenged in order to grow.
Reading is a great way to provide the comprehensible input that is necessary for
Language
second language learners. And choosing books according to Lexile Measures is a
Learners? great way to ensure they are in the ideal Lexile range for consistent practice.

3 How is the
content of
The content of the Lexile Assessments is not related to the content or topics of the
Reading Logs (which contain their own content-specific comprehension activities).
However, the Lexile range of each Reading Log was taken into account when
the Lexile designing the Compass Reading Log assessment system so that students can be
Assessments placed at the appropriate level on the Lexile scale.
A well-rounded English Language program should provide three key features:
related to
(1) an engaging curriculum and challenging content, (2) the opportunity to practice
Reading Log and build language skills and (3) a way to assess progress. Compass Reading
content? Logs incorporate all three of these features. The engaging curriculum includes
interesting texts and a variety of comprehension activities to inspire learning.
The activities in the day-to-day lessons help students build knowledge and skills
in vocabulary, grammar, writing and various other aspects of English. Lessons
also allow students to internalize what they are learning and teachers to assess
informally as they notice who is struggling and might need additional help. Then,
at three times during the year, the program tests students’ overall ability using an
objective Lexile Assessment. This process is similar to practicing a different tennis
skill in isolation each day and then putting those skills together to play in an actual
match. The Lexile Assessments test how well students can use what they have
learned.
 FREQUENTLY A SKED QUESTIONS
Lexile Assessments for Compass Reading Log

4 When should
each of the
The Compass Reading Log assessment system is designed to test students at the
beginning, middle and end of each grade. The initial assessment places students on
the Lexile scale, the second assessment monitors their progress halfway through the
three tests be year and the final assessment tests their reading skills at the end of the year. Using
taken? this structure, the Compass Reading Log assessment system frequently updates
students’ Lexile Measure so that they may be presented with reading material at an
appropriate level of difficulty that challenges them to improve their reading ability.

5 Why are there

three tests per
The three tests were established purposefully to be able first to place students
on the Lexile scale and then to monitor their progress over time. The tests are
scheduled to allow enough time to pass between each one for significant growth in
level instead of students’ reading ability to take place. As with any other skill, reading requires time
nine (one per and persistence to develop. Assessing students’ level three times allows time for
growth to occur and be measured.
topic)?

6 How will Lexile

Assessments
Students with strong reading comprehension and reading fluency are more likely to
perform well in CEFR exams. A student’s Lexile Measure is actionable in that it can
be used to match readers with appropriate books and texts that will improve their
help my reading comprehension and fluency in preparation for the CEFR exams. As students’
students who Lexile Measures increase, they can be matched with more demanding texts, thus
facilitating additional improvement and preparation for CEFR examinations.
are taking
International English language tests typically just report students’ scale
CEFR exams? scores and corresponding CEFR levels, leaving it up to educators to decide what
instructional materials students will benefit most from using. A common practice is
to pair students with materials of the same CEFR level. For practical purposes, this
is problematic for two reasons:
1. CEFR levels tend to have very large bands. Matching a student with material of
the same CEFR level does not always guarantee a good match. At A2 level, for
example, Lexile Measures can range from 230L to 930L!
2. There is a proven lack of consistency in how publishers assign CEFR levels to
their materials.
The Lexile scale is better suited for capturing students’ reading ability because
it is a more fine-grained scale than CEFR. While they are both helpful frameworks,
they function in different ways. An easy analogy when comparing Lexile and CEFR
is that a CEFR can get you into the correct soccer stadium, but a Lexile Measure can
get you to the right row and seat.

7 Does Starter
Reading Log
Compass Starter Reading Log is designed for very early readers and provides a year
of skill-building for students. At this point in a student’s education, learning the
building blocks of reading is key—letters, sounds, blends, and so on. These aspects of
include Lexile reading will help a child become a strong reader and a good learner overall.
Assessments? Assessment using a Lexile Measure begins at Reading Log 1, when students
already have some command of the basic building blocks of reading. The Level 1
tests will put students on the Lexile scale early and will give teachers a way to view
progress as they grow from year to year.
 FREQUENTLY A SKED QUESTIONS
Lexile Assessments for Compass Reading Log

8 Are the tests

different in
Yes, each grade has its own tests, and the initial, middle and final tests in each
grade are different. Students will not receive the same test form or test items more
than once.
each level?

9 What should
teachers do
There are many opportunities for supporting students’ reading progress using test
results. Here are some suggestions:
a. A Lexile Measure provides information about students’ English reading abilities.
after receiving The measure from an initial test is the point at which to start charting progress.
the results This can be an exciting process for students, allowing them to take ownership of
their own learning. We should think of it as helping students to start their own
from the Lexile
personal journeys by charting their starting point on the Lexile scale! It is never
Assessments? too early to help students start to set learning goals.
b. From a teacher’s perspective, the distribution of Lexile Measures across the
classroom from the initial test shows where students fall on the scale. This can
help the teacher understand which students might be struggling or need extra
help. It also helps guide conversations with parents and get their help to provide
reading practice at home and become part of the learning team.
c. A subsequent test shows how students are progressing over time and allows
teachers to intervene with those who are still struggling. The information
provided by the test report allows parents to take further ownership of their
children’s progress.
d. In general, teachers can use the measure to find targeted material for students
to read and to gauge the reading experience. It allows for differentiation when
students fall at various ability levels.
e. Teachers and parents can find the Lexile level of hundreds of books on
Amazon.com or on the Find-a-Book search site provided in the Lexile reports.
f. For administrators, Lexile data reveals distribution and growth within a
classroom, across a grade level and/or across each grade vertically.
g. Also for administrators, Lexile data allows for a common language to be used
across the school in talking about students’ reading levels. A “good reader” might
mean different things to different people. But a 570L as opposed to a 320L is
much more precise.
h. And finally, building English reading ability is a great goal to foster across the
school environment. Reading is a powerful skill that is linked to many positive
attributes in life. Encouraging students to take ownership of their own learning
and providing the tool to do just that will—as the saying goes—“teach a child to
fish” instead of “feeding a child.”

10 Where can
students get
The Compass reports are a guide to suggest possible books for students. They
provide a link to the Find-a-Book search site that can help students identify a book
in their Lexile range. On the search site, once you have found a book, there is a link
the books to Amazon.com. Alternatively, students can check in an online library or in their
suggested in school library for availability of specific books to read.

the reports?
 FREQUENTLY A SKED QUESTIONS
Lexile Assessments for Compass Reading Log

11 What happens
if a student
It is recommended that students take all three tests each year. However, if a
student cannot take one test, this will not affect him or her in the long term. As long
as students are continuing to read and practice, their growth will be captured in the
skips one of the other tests that they take.
three tests?

12 What range
of Lexile
The Lexile ranges of the Reading Log levels were reviewed and taken into account
when designing the Lexile Assessments. This review ensured that the tests were
compatible with the overall program. The reading difficulty of texts increases
Measures does within each level throughout the six grades of the Reading Log. It also increases in
each level of difficulty as each grade level progresses.

the Reading Compass Reading Log

Log cover? Grade Lexile Range
G1 230L to 420L
G2 450L to 570L
G3 600L to 730L
G4 640L to 780L
G5 730L to 850L
G6 860L to 920L

13 What if my
students have
That’s OK! Students should read books in an optimal targeted reading zone that
ranges from 100L below their Lexile Measures to 50L above. Of course, students can
try to read any book they are interested in, even if it is out of their range—that’s OK,
a lower Lexile as whatever is motivating for students to read will develop their reading ability.
Measure than The Lexile, as a tool, just helps a teacher know how students might experience a
certain book. If the measure is higher, they might struggle. If the measure is lower,
the texts of the
they will be fine. If the plan is to help students grow, then they should be targeting
corresponding their optimal window of 100L below to 50L above for independent reading. Reading
Reading Log? within this targeted window will give consistent practice and encourage growth.

14 What if a
student’s Lexile
There may be a myriad of things that a student is experiencing at school or at
home, but regarding reading, one obvious question is: Is the student reading? And
if so, is he or she reading consistently? With the Compass Reading Log assessment
Measure goes system, by the mid-year progress monitoring test, a teacher will have a good
lower and overview of where students are and how they are doing. The end-of-year test gives
a more complete picture of overall growth. While it is normal to fluctuate a little
lower instead
throughout the year, a steady decline could be indicative of larger issues that may
of increasing require intervention and exploration.
throughout the From a teacher’s perspective across a classroom, the Lexile Measure is a data
school year? point to share with administrators or parents when discussing a child’s progress
or lack thereof. It could serve as one of several data points that give clues to a
student’s motivation and progress.
 FREQUENTLY A SKED QUESTIONS
Lexile Assessments for Compass Reading Log

15 My school uses
myON. How are
Quite simply, myON and Compass are two different kinds of programs and the tests
that were built for them were developed specifically for those programs.
The myON library was developed for independent learning, with students
the myON and choosing their own book titles with no guidance necessary from the teacher. The
Compass tests Compass Lexile Assessments were developed based on the Lexile Measures of the
Compass Reading Logs and support schools following this program.
different? Why
You can think of it like this: using the myON program, students are taking an
should I use the online reading program where they progress entirely at their own pace. Using the
Compass Lexile Compass Reading Log assessment system, students are following a structured
Assessments if reading program that allows teachers and administrators to guide, intervene and
I already have track individual, whole-class and school growth at very specific points of each
school year. If your school is applying the Compass tests and also using myON, this is
myON?
great, as your students will reap the benefits of both systems!