KS3 Assessment Criteria: Reading
AF1 – use a range of
methods to read for
meaning
AF2 – understand, describe, retrieve
information from texts and quote it
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Level
8
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Level
7
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Level
6
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AF3 – deduce, infer or interpret
information, events or ideas
I am critical in my reading of texts and offer a clear and reasonable interpretation and
insight
When I offer ideas about what I’ve
read I back up these ideas with
precisely chosen references
When I develop an argument about
what a text might mean, I make
comparisons with other texts to win
that point
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I can combine and summarise
information from different places in
the same text
My comments also include quotes
and references which are matched
well to my points
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My comments about texts show that I
can develop my interpretations, make
several connected insights, suggests
what things mean and consider
evidence
I can comment on how a text or part of
a text can suggest more than one
meaning
I can make links between different
points in a text
AF4 – identify and comment on the structure and
organisation of texts
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AF5 – explain and comment on a
writer’s use of language
I know how the language and way a text is put together reflects the writer’s aims
and helps shape the text’s meaning
I can evaluate how a writer’s choices, in
how they put an argument or text
together, might help improve these
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I explore in some detail how a writer
puts his or her text together and how
this helps emphasise an idea
I can comment on the techniques
writers use to construct their texts
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My comments are starting to
show precise and perceptive
analysis of how language is
crafted
I am starting to develop
greater comments on how a
writer’s choice of words can
have an effect on a reader
I can explain in some detail
how language is used in a text
and use the right terms to
describe it
I can comment in a bit of detail
on how word choice affects a
reader
AF6 – Identify and comment on a
writer’s purpose and viewpoint
AF7 – link texts to their social,
cultural and historical background
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My responses to texts show
that I clearly understand
the writer’s purpose and
viewpoint and how he or
she makes this clear
I evaluate what I read
I am starting to analyse and
evaluate the writer’s aims
I begin to analyse and
evaluate how a writer’s
point of view is shown
I am starting to appreciate
how certain techniques
achieve their effects
I can find the exact point in
a text or across a text
where evidence of the
writer’s purpose can be
found
I can easily find the
evidence which tells a
reader the writer’s point of
view
I can also work out how an
effect on a reader has been
created
I can identify the main
purpose of a text
I can briefly explain a
writer’s viewpoint
I am generally aware of
how a text might have an
effect on a reader
I can spot the main purpose
of a text
I show awareness of the
writer’s viewpoint
I make simple comments
about the effect of what
I’ve read on a reader
I can tell what the main
purpose of a text it
I can express my opinion
about what I have read
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I am aware that writers
have points of view in a text
I can say what I like and
dislike in a text and
sometimes give reasons
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Level
5
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Level
4
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Level
3
Level
2
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I use a range of
methods and
mostly read
fluently with
understanding and
expression
I can read a range
of key words
I can read
unfamiliar words
I read with some
fluency and
expression
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I can find the most relevant quotes
to back up my ideas
Most of the time my ideas about
texts are correct
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Some of my ideas about texts are
relevant
I can back up my ideas with some
generally relevant quotes and
references
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I understand most of what I read but
sometimes misunderstand a few
things
I use quotes to back up my ideas and
they are often well chosen
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I can recall some basic information
from texts
I have a clear idea of where to look
for information
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My explanations of what texts mean are
detailed
My comments show that I can read
between the lines and base my
thoughts on what I have read
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I can read between the lines and this is
shown in my comments about texts
My comments about texts are taken
from different parts of a text
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I can read between the lines but usually
only using one example to prove my
point
I can work out some simple things
which a writer does not tell me
straightaway e.g. how a character is
feeling
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I can explain and describe how a text
has been put together
I can tell how texts are put together
using different features
I can make simple comments about the
parts of a text
I can recognise some basic features of a
text e.g. bullet points
I can make a few simple comments
about how a text has been organised
I am aware of how some features are
used to organise a text e.g. the start and
finish of a story
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I can explain the ways writers
have crafted language in their
writing
My comments show that I am
aware of how a writer’s choice
of words can affect a reader
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I can find some of the basic
language techniques in a text
e.g. questions
I make simple comments
about a writer’s choice of
words and techniques
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I can spot some writers’
techniques but do not
comment much on them
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I can spot where a writer has
used a good word or phrase
I can find some common
patterns of words in a text e.g.
first, next , last
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I can write a detailed
analysis and evaluation of
what I read
I analyse how a text reflects
the times in which it was
written
I am starting to analyse how
one text can be influenced
by another
I am starting to analyse how
a text can be understood
differently during different
points in history
I do some exploring of how
the conventions of a text
are used by writers from
different periods
I can discuss in detail how
the historical background to
a text can shape its
meaning
I can find differences and
similarities between texts
I can explain how the
meaning of a text can be
influenced by the time in
which it is written and read
I can identify the kind of
features you often find in
lots of texts e.g. characters
I make simple comments
about the connection
between a text and when it
was written or read
I can spot some of the most
obvious similarities or
differences
I can tell when a story is set
or when a text was written
I know the general features
of a few text types
I have some awareness that
books are set in different
times and places