Functional Literacy Assessment Tool
The FLAT assesses the highest level of reading of children can perform
comfortably. The FLAT is used to measure The Child Well-being Target on
functional literacy with children nearing end of primary school, Grade 6 or
equivalent.
The reading level considered as ‘functional’ if a child can read through the
story or local material and answer at least two fact retrieval questions
about the story or local material correctly.
WHAT IS FLAT?
Grade
1
1
2
Ages
6-8
6-8
7-9
3
8-10
4-6
11-13
Reading Test Competencies
Able to read at least 4 letters
Able to read at least 4 common words
Able to read one of the paragraphs Grade 2 text
Able to read a short story - Grade 3 text
Able to respond to two fact retrieval
questions
Able to read a passage of local authentic
text
Able to respond to two fact retrieval
questions
What is functional literacy?
The reading level considered as ‘functional’ is if a
child can read through the FLAT to the story or
to the local material and answer at least two
fact retrieval questions about the story or local
material correctly. This will show whether
children can read material needed to function in
everyday life. The highest level of functional
literacy is reading and comprehension of the
local material. While this measure is very
important and useful, both this and reading and
comprehension of the story are classified as
functional literacy and reaching either level is
the desired outcome for literacy Target.
Next: LETTERS
Ask the child to read
any 5 letters from the
letters list. Let the child
choose the letters. If he
or she does not choose,
then point out letters.
NEXT
Is the child at Letters Level?
NO
• If the child cannot recognize
4 out of 5 letters chosen
• Mark the child at ‘Nothing
Level’
• The assessment is finished
YES
• If the child correctly
recognizes at least 4 out of
5 letters with ease.
• Ask the child to try reading the
words again and then follow the
instructions for word level
testing. If he or she can read 4
out of 5 letters but cannot
comfortably read words, then
mark the child at ‘Letter Level’.
Next: WORDS
• Ask the child to read
any 5 words from the
word list.
• Let the child choose
the words. If he or
she does not choose,
then point out 5
words to read.
NEXT
Is the child at Word Level?
NO
• If the child cannot read at
least 4 out of the 5 words
with ease.
YES
• If the child reads at least 4
out of the 5 words with
ease
More than one chance
Give the child more than one
chance to read the text. Usually if
a child is told to read again
carefully and she can read, she
will not repeat the same mistake.
Practice and familiarity with a
task improves the child’s
performance.
Ask the child to try to read the paragraph
again to confirm. Follow the instructions
for paragraph level testing.
If he or she can correctly and comfortably read
words but is still struggling with the paragraph,
then mark the child at ‘Word Level’.
Start Here: Paragraph
• Ask the child to read
either of the 2 paragraphs
aloud. Let the child
choose the paragraph. If
the child does not
choose, point to one
paragraph to read. Ask
the child to read it. Listen
carefully to how he or she
reads.
NEXT
Is the child at Paragraph level?
NO
• Reads the text like a string
of words, rather than a
sentence.
• Reads the text haltingly and
stops very often.
OR
• Reads the text fluently but
with more than 3 mistakes
YES
• Reads the text like she is
reading a sentence, rather
than a string of words.
• Reads the text fluently and
with ease, even if she is
reading slowly.
• Reads the text with not
more than 3 mistakes.
Next: Story
Ask the child to read
the story aloud.
NEXT
Is the child at Story Reading Level?
NO
• If child reads story with
more than 3 mistakes
• Mark the child at
“Paragraph Level”.
YES
• Reads story with not more
than 3 mistakes.
Next: Story Comprehension
Read the questions
out loud to the child
and then let the child
answer out loud.
NEXT
Is the child at Story Comprehension
Level?
NO
• If the child cannot answer at
least 2 comprehension
questions
• Mark the child at ‘Story
Reading Level’.
YES
• If the child can answer 2
comprehension questions
Next: Local Material
• Ask the child to read
the local material aloud
• Then read the
questions out loud to
the child and then let
the child answer aloud.
NEXT
Is the child at Local Material Level?
NO
• If the child cannot read the
text without more than 3
mistakes or answer at least
2 questions
• Mark the child at ‘Story
Comprehension Level’
YES
• Can read the text without
more than 3 mistakes and
correctly answer at least 2
questions about it.
Functionally Literate
Children who reach Story
Comprehension Level or Local Material
Level are counted as functionally
literate for the literacy Target.
REMEMBER!
FLAT Rating Scale
Thank You!
The assessment is now finished.
Don’t forget to thank the child for
participating! Appreciate and
understand the attempt that the child
is making!
The end