Diagnostic Assessments of Reading (DAR),

Second Edition
Type:

Individuallyadministereddiagnostic
readingtest

Purpose:

Toassessstudentsrelativestrengths
andweaknessesinninekeyareasof
reading

Ages:

5toAdult

ReadingLevels: Prereadingthroughhighschool
Administration Untimed;about40minutes
Time:

Authors:
Florence G. Roswell, Jeanne S. Chall, Mary E. Curtis, and Gail FundingSources:
Kearns

TitleI,
EETT

Availableforpurchaseonline
Product Details > Overview

General Information
Use theDiagnostic Assessments of Reading DAR) to identify areas in which struggling readers
need help. DAR tests nine key components of reading and language:
DAR, forms A and B, consists of these nine tests of components of reading and language:

Print awareness

Phonological awareness

Letters and sounds

Word recognition

Word analysis

Oral reading accuracy and fluency

Silent reading comprehension

Spelling

Word meaning

Scoring
The teacher/test administrator simultaneously administers and scores DAR tests, marking
students' responses as correct, incorrect, or omitted. A mastery criterion has been set for each
test, and the student continues with each test until a highest mastery level has been
established.

DAR ScoringPro
DAR ScoringPro allows for the aggregation and disaggregation of student scores collected from
the DAR Interpretive Profile. Reports available include an Individual Report/Profile and a Class
List Report.
How you can use DAR to assess student performance in nine key areas of student
learning in reading and language arts.
Print Awareness

Evaluate whether a student understands basic concepts involved in using the printed
word

Phonological Awareness
Assess phonological awareness with tasks involving:

Rhyming words

Segmenting words into syllables

Hearing initial and final consonant sounds

Auditory blending

Letters and Sounds

Evaluate specific early decoding skills, including:

Identifying capital and lowercase letters

Matching letters and matching words

Writing words using basic knowledge of letter-sound correspondence

Word Recognition

Listen to a student read graded word lists that gradually increase in difficulty

Determine word-reading levels

Word Analysis
Evaluate key decoding and structural analysis skills, including:

Consonant sounds and blends

Short vowel sounds

Rule of silent e

Vowel digraphs and diphthongs

Vowels with r

Two-syllable and polysyllabic words

Oral Reading Accuracy and Fluency

Listen to a student read aloud

Identify specific decoding errors

Evaluate level of fluency

Silent Reading Comprehension

Observe a student reading independently

Review a student's answers to comprehension questions

Evaluate a student's oral retelling of a text read silently

Determine comprehension strengths and key areas for improvement

Spelling

Dictate spelling words using a familiar classroom format

Assess a student's spelling skills and knowledge of letter-sound correspondence

Word Meaning

Learn about a student's knowledge of word meanings

Review the results to estimate a student's language abilities