AASA Grade 3 Oral Reading Fluency Test Reminders
The AASA Grade 3 ELA Oral Reading Fluency test unit is an operational test unit this spring. It will be included in each Grade 3 student's ELA score and in the Move on When Reading (MOWR) indicator.
Computer-based testing schools must complete the Oral Reading Fluency test administration by April 11, 2025. Paper-based testing schools must complete the Oral Reading Fluency test administration by April 9, 2025. The ELA Writing test unit should continue to be administered first in both computer-based and paper-based testing schools.
All Grade 3 students should be provided multiple opportunities to practice with the AASA Grade 3 ELA Oral Reading Fluency sample test to be comfortable with the testing style; how to operate the platform, including starting their own recording and not stopping it too soon; and to be comfortable with wearing the headset to make a clear and concise recording of their reading samples. To access the AASA Sample Tests and Student Readiness Tool, go to the TestNav Sign In screen (https://home.testnav.com/), select Arizona, then select Mic Check & Sample Tests. A username and password are not needed to access the Sample Tests.
Before taking the Oral Reading Fluency test unit, each student will first complete a microphone check, followed by a short practice passage. Test Administrators may assist students and answer questions while students are recording the practice passage. The practice passage will not be included in their score. After the practice passage, each student will read three short passages, with a time limit of one minute per passage. Two of the timed passages will be operational and one will be a field test item. The student will not know which item is the field test item.
The scoring for the Oral Reading Fluency test unit is based on words correct per minute. Students are not penalized for articulation errors, and Pearson's scoring system is able to accept variations in pronunciation, accent, and dialect. Students must have a recorded response for at least one of the timed passages in the test (not the practice passage) to receive an Oral Reading Fluency score, and therefore, an ELA score.
