New Group Reading Test (NGRT)
The New Group Reading Test (NGRT) is a standardised assessment measure of reading, comprehension and mathematics.
Age range
Ages 5–16.
Who can use it?
Teachers.
How is it used?
The NGRT is a termly test using three equivalent forms designed to drill down into pupil’s reading and comprehension skills, including phonics where necessary. The test is made up of two parts: sentence completion (which measures decoding with some element of comprehension); and passage comprehension (which measures a range of comprehension skills of increasing difficulty).
The digital version is adaptive, so it responds to the level of the child as they take the test. Results for digital tests are generated automatically on completion while the paper-based versions are supported by GL Assessment’s scoring and reporting service. The digital version takes 30 minutes to complete, while the paper version takes 45–50 minutes.
What can it tell us?
The NGRT allows teachers to compare decoding skills and sentence completion against passage comprehension, helping to identify, for example, competent decoders with weak comprehension skills.
Pros
- It is well standardised and re-verified every year.
- Children receive a standard age score (SAS).
- Can be used together with other summative tests.
- Clear, informative charts produced.
Cons
- Digital users benefit from instant reporting. Paper users will need to sign up for the Scoring and Reporting Service at extra cost.
- It is a group test so often used by schools for screening.
- Expensive for small numbers of children.
Is there a cost?
Yes.