Which level of reading assessment is considered too difficult for a student?

The frustration level of reading assessment is characterized as being too difficult for a student to handle effectively. When reading material is at this level, students struggle significantly with comprehension and decoding, often resulting in frustration and disengagement from the reading process.

At the frustration level, the text typically contains vocabulary and sentence structures that are far beyond the student's capabilities, leading to frequent errors and a lack of understanding. When students attempt to read at this level, they may not only find it challenging to decode words, but they also struggle to understand and retain the meaning of the text. This can hinder their overall reading development and confidence.

In contrast, the independent level consists of texts that students can read comfortably on their own, while the instructional level contains material that is appropriately challenging but still manageable with support from a teacher or peer. The comprehension level is often an assessment of understanding rather than a descriptor of text difficulty. Thus, recognizing the frustration level is crucial for educators to ensure materials are developmentally appropriate and to foster a positive reading experience.