Reading grade level word

Many language learners are eager to read English books in their original language but they find it too difficult as most often the language in books they choose is way beyond their level. If learners start with graded readers they won’t have to stop and look up lots of unknown words in the dictionary and reading a book will become an enjoyable part of language learning.

What are Graded Readers?

Graded Readers are books of various genres, from a range of prestigious authors from around the world. They are specially simplified for learners of foreign languages of all levels from beginners through to advanced. The language is graded for vocabulary, the complexity of grammar structures and also by the number of words. Graded Readers can be great resources for extensive reading. 

Where can I find the right Graded Reader? 

Choosing the right book depends on what your students enjoy reading. Do they enjoy classics, detectives, thrillers? Students can also choose a book depending on how long the book is and the level (it should be slightly higher than their most comfortable level. This will ensure that they understand the text, but also challenge them to learn new words and phrases).

There is a number of websites which help to choose the right reader:

1. Pearson English Graded Readers

Here learners can take a placement test if they are not sure of their level and then choose the right book. 

Readers for Teens and Adults are divided into Pearson English Readers (7 levels) and Active Readers (5 levels) and include stories, classic novels and plays, modern popular fiction and non-fiction titles. Most English Readers and Active Readers come with an interactive CD-ROM with complete audio recordings and downloadable resources for teachers. Use Advanced search to find the right book to students’ levels and interests. 

2. Macmillan readers  

The Macmillan Graded Readers series is published at six levels – Starter, Beginner, Elementary, Pre-intermediate, Intermediate and Upper Intermediate. On the website, you can find a short summary of the book, the level, the number of pages, the sample pages and you can also order the shipping to your address. 

3. Oxford Graded Readers

Oxford’s library has a huge collection of graded readers. There are six CEFR levels with nine sub-levels (e.g. Intermediate Plus, Pre-Primary), six media types (paperback, ebook, iOS app etc.), three types of English and 11 genres. To find the right book, use the search tool.

4. Collins English readers

On the website, you can check the level of English and find two collections of ELT Readers: Agatha Cristie and Amazing People. You can filter the books according to the format (paper, audio or ebook), the price and sort A-Z, price low to high and new to old. 

Recommended books

A1: A Tale of Two Cities

The action in the book takes before and during the French Revolution. Jarvis Lorry is travelling to Paris to reunite Dr Manette with his long-lost daughter Lucie. … When Darnay returns to Paris to save a former servant, he is arrested by the revolutionaries and sentenced to death.

Anna and the Fighter 

Anna is making her first trip alone by train, to visit her aunt. she is nervous and excited. The journey is long and tiring and she falls asleep. She wakes up to find that she has missed her station and that she is sharing the train compartment with a dangerous- looking man.

A2: The Secret Garden 

Mary Lennox goes to live with her uncle in a big old house in the country. There are many gardens around the house. One day Mary finds a garden that has high walls and no door. What is the secret of the garden?

Sherlock Holmes: More Short Stories

Sherlock Holmes is famous around the world. When the police cannot solve a crime, they turn to Holmes. He never misses a clue, and when he looks carefully at a person, he can understand everything about them. These are two of the best Sherlock Holmes stories. In ‘The Dead Coachman’, Holmes investigates a burglary and a murder while he is staying in the countryside with his friend Doctor Watson. In ‘The Last Mystery’, Holmes is in danger from the evil Professor Moriarty, who is as clever as the detective himself. They are both ready to fight to the death. But who will win?

B1: As the Inspector Said and Other Stories 

The murder plan seems so neat, so clever. How can it possibly fail? Murder plans that go wrong, a burglar who makes a bad mistake, a famous jewel thief who meets a very unusual detective…

About a Boy Book

Will Freeman wants an easy life with no responsibilities. But then he meets Marcus – an unusual twelve-year-old boy with serious problems. About a Boy is a modern classic — a very funny story about a very serious subject: love. It’s also a popular movie starring Hugh Grant.

B2: Not Without You

It is 2088, and life in the city where Sala lives is hard: it’s overcrowded, there are no jobs, and no one can leave, because the world outside is contaminated. Sala is lucky, because she has Cham, and they love each other. But when Cham gets the chance for a new future, and Sala begins to make some extraordinary discoveries, will they agree about how to move forwards and what to do with their lives? 

Emma

Emma Woodhouse, beautiful, clever and rich, has no wish to marry, but she enjoys making matches for those around her. It was Emma who found the perfect husband for her governess Miss Taylor. So when her dear friend Mr Knightley tells her that she should let people choose their own husbands and wives, she will not listen. But does Emma really understand people as well as she thinks? And is she even right about her own feelings, when she says that she will never fall in love?

Graded readers are an incredible way for students to do the best outside the classroom to improve their skills. Find out more about motivating to read in this article

What books do you think should be read by students of different levels? 

Reading at “Just Right” Levels

Providing new readers with books that are at a level that provides just enough challenge and not too much frustration is key to developing a long lasting interest in reading. VocabularySpellingCity lists three popular reading level measurement systems for each book on the 1st grade literature list. Knowing the reading levels of the books will help you match word lists to your grade one curriculum. In first grade, the lists for independent reading are words that the students know and understand but are still learning to read. Audio supports such as reading and spelling each word from the list and audible sentence cues help beginning readers learn their words quickly.

Spelling is an integral part of learning how to read, students benefit greatly from incorporating spelling into beginning reading instruction. Easily incorporate spelling into your reading instruction by importing your word lists or pairing a ready-made first grade spelling list with over 35 learning games and activities.

Independent Reading and Read-Aloud Books

VocabularySpellingCity provides word lists for read-aloud chapter books to help students expand their vocabulary and their exposure to literature. When used in conjunction with simpler, beginning reader books, students can continue to build their aural vocabulary as they build a reading vocabulary. Using the seven read-aloud texts on the 1st grade list with VocabularySpellingCity’s games and activities will help your first graders expand their aural vocabulary.

Common Core State Standards for Literature

VocabularySpellingCity literature word lists for first grade include six books and four poems from the Common Core State Standards literature list. Arnold Lobel’s classic, Frog and Toad, can help students build their vocabulary to meet Language Requirement 1.6: “Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including using frequently occurring conjunctions to signal simple relationships (e.g., because).” The same book provides a good opportunity to practice Reading Literature 1.4: “Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.” VocabularySpellingCity can help your students practice reading and memorize new grade 1 vocabulary words while having fun.

Is your writing smarter than a fifth grader’s? Your report, manual, or any other kind of document should match the reading level of your intended audience. You don’t want to compose an article for graduate students that is written at an elementary school level. In a couple of clicks, you can find the readability score in Microsoft Word  and make sure the reading level is on point.

Microsoft Word can display the readability score for both the Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaide Grade Level formulas, two of the most commonly used and accurate measures of readability. The higher the Flesch Reading Ease score, the easier it is for most people to understand the document. The Flesch-Kincaide Grade Level score represents the number of years of education generally required to understand the text.

To quickly see the reading level of your Word document or selection of text:

1. Go to File > Options.

2. In the Proofing tab, check the following options:

• Check grammar with spelling
• Show readability statistics

3. Click OK.

4. Click to Review > Spelling & Grammar to check your document for spelling or grammatical errors and also see the readability level of your document.

With these settings changes, you’ll see more readability statistics for your Word document every time you check the document’s spelling and grammar.

Microsoft Word Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Show Formatting Marks in Microsoft Word
• See All of Microsoft Word’s Keyboard Shortcuts
• Select All Text with Similar Formatting in Microsoft Word
• Create Table Templates in Microsoft Word
• Use Microsoft Office’s Lorem Ipsum (Random Text) Generator
• Add a Table of Contents in Word
• Co-Edit a Document in Word
• Add or Remove Page Breaks in Word
• Put Microsoft Office into Touch-Friendly Mode
• Compare Docs Side-by-Side
• Configure Spell Check and Autocorrect
• Remove Double Spaces After a Period
• Compare and Combine Two Docs
• Copy and Paste Text from Multiple Locations

We suggest printing out these word lists, posting them on your fridge (or somewhere you and your child will see them easily and often), and making a point of using one or two at a time in everyday conversation with your child. Feeling creative? Make learning these new words into a game! The more fun you and your child have learning what these vocabulary words mean and practicing using them in conversation (even silly conversation), the better.

Do you want to improve your reading skills and become a better reader? Many English learners have this goal in mind. This guide to reading can help you.

In this guide you will learn about:

• reading and why it matters
• reading materials for English language learners
• typical tasks found in English-language reading tests
• general reading tips to become a stronger reader
• where you can find reading materials
• reading strategies for better comprehension
• common reading categories to choose from

You can also look below at the reading glossary for any words about reading that you don’t understand.

Why Read?

You probably know that even in your own language reading is regarded as important because it can be entertaining and educational, can open up new worlds and enrich your life, and can improve hand-eye co-ordination and enhance social skills.

But for learning a foreign language, in this case English, reading in that language has additional important benefits that can help you learn the language faster and more completely.

Reading is an essential skill for language learners. When your reading skills improve, your listening, speaking and writing skills improve too. Here are some of the specific reasons why English learners are encouraged to read in English:

• The constant repetition of words and patterns in reading helps you learn and remember vocabulary and grammar structures.
• Reading helps you become familiar with the rhythm of English. Over time it will start to feel natural and you will notice when a sentence or phrase doesn’t seem right.
• Unlike conversation, reading is something you can do on your own.
• Reading is not expensive, often free.
• Good reading skills can improve your other language skills. You need to learn to read before you can write.
• Reading is the best way to learn and remember the proper spelling of words.
• Listening as you read aloud can help you improve your pronunciation skills.

If you want to improve your English, learn to love reading in English. The best readers often get the best grades, jobs and opportunities.

What to Read

Are you overwhelmed by the reading materials that are available? Without spending a penny, you can read printed texts (books, magazines, newspapers at the library), online materials (websites and blogs), and ebooks (on your mobile devices).

Think about what you like to read in your native language. Can you find these written materials in English?

Here are some types of reading material to try:

• books (including children’s books and graded readers)
• newspapers
• online news articles (try EC’s easy news)
• online blogs about topics that interest you (search for «top 10 blog» lists by topic)
• letters (personal and commercial)
• transcripts (of some online videos) and sub-titles on films
• short stories (try these on EnglishClub)
• poetry
• proverbs
• cartoons and jokes
• recipes for cooking
• advertisements and brochures

10 Reading Tips

1. Read at a level slightly lower than what you understand. You should not have to look up a lot of words. It’s okay to look up a few words.
2. Make reading a ritual. Choose a time and place to read every day or week. Commit to this reading time as if it were a job.
3. Read what interests you.
4. Understand what you’ll be tested on. If you’re working on your reading skills for a particular test, make sure to learn about the test. There may be specific formats such as advertisements that you’ll have to read in the test.
5. Find free reading materials. Project Gutenberg is an excellent source, but be careful with public domain books that are written in outdated English. Some words and expressions are no longer in use.
6. Visualize what you are reading. Some people try to imagine they are reading a movie or a how-to video.
7. Listen and read. Find podcasts or videos that have transcripts and read along silently. You can also read out loud with the recording.
8. Relate what you read to your own life. How does the reading apply to you?
9. Think about the author or journalist.  How would the reading differ if you were the author?
10. Check your eyesight. If you haven’t had your eyesight checked in the last few years, make an appointment.

Reading Strategies

Here are some strategies for improving your comprehension skills.

• Skim: read for the brief idea or overview.
• Scan: read for specific details or a specific reason.
• KWL: determine what you Know about the topic, what you Want to know, and what you Learned.
• Skip: if you don’t understand a word or section, keep reading ahead. Come back to the section or word again and try to figure out the meaning. Use a dictionary if necessary.
• Look for headings, subtitles and keywords.
• Read out loud: children read out loud when they first start reading. You can too. Get comfortable hearing your English voice.
• Create timelines or charts: reorganize what you read in a different format.
• Rewrite in a different tense.
• Rewrite in a different format: for example, rewrite an article in letter or list form.
• Illustrate: if you think you’re a visual learner, sketch images or an infographic related to what you read.
• Write the questions: as you read, think about which questions you might find on a test or quiz. Write them down and answer them, or quiz a friend.
• Summarize or retell: you can do this by writing a letter to a friend, writing a blog post, making a web cam video, or just starting a conversation on this topic.
• Learn affixes: knowing prefixes and suffixes will increase your word recognition.
• Keep a vocabulary journal.
• Get a vocabulary partner.
• Use a pen or ruler: some people find it is easier to read with a pacer. A pen, ruler or fingertip can help you keep your place and prevent your eyes from wandering off. This may not be suitable if you are reading on a computer or mobile device. Adjust the screen to a larger size if necessary.

Reading Levels

It is important to read texts that are at the right level for you — not too easy, not too difficult.

You need to know what your personal reading level is. (Note that your reading level may not be the same as your overall level in English. For example, your reading level is normally higher than your writing level, and higher than your overall level.)

Ask your teacher to help you determine your reading level. If you don’t have a teacher, try reading a few texts from different levels. If you have to look up a lot of words in a dictionary, the text is too difficult for you. If you don’t have to look up any words, the text is too easy for you. Try something at a lower or higher level. A teacher, librarian or bookstore clerk can help you find something easier or more difficult.

You can also try our reading test to help determine your reading level.

Designate a place and time for reading every day. Your reading level will increase with time.

What Are Graded Readers?
Graded readers (also sometimes called «readers») are books that have been written for English learners at a specific level. Different publishers may use different ways of describing level, but essentially they range from Beginner to Advanced. The language in graded readers is graded by vocabulary and grammatical structure. Beginner graded readers typically use only easy grammatical forms (e.g. basic tenses) and a limited number of words (e.g. 300 headwords). Advanced graded readers may use the full range of grammatical structures and many more words (e.g. 3,000 headwords). Most publishers of English language learning materials publish a range of graded readers on a variety of subjects covering fiction and non-fiction.

Reading Tests

If you are taking a standardized English test or attending English language classes, you will probably be tested on your reading skills. Here are some things that you may be asked to do in a reading test or assignment:

• Find the gist or main idea. Write (or say) one sentence that explains what the reading is about.
• Summarize. Describe a few of the main points that are presented.
• Locate details. Find specific information that is provided in a piece of text.
• Understand inferences. Make assumptions based on information you are given in a text. You may be asked to make inferences about the author.
• Make predictions. Guess what a reading will be about. Guess what will happen next.
• Identify genre and style. Name the type or category of writing that you read.
• Sort information. Organize details in a systematic or chart form, such as creating a chronological timeline or labeling a map.
• Match information. For example, match dialogue to a character.
• Paraphrase. Rewrite the text in your own words.
• Identify parts of speech.
• Compare and Contrast.
• Identify keywords.
• Match paragraphs to headings.
• Write an opinion.
• Draw conclusions.
• Write comprehension questions.
• Decide whether something is True, False or Not Mentioned in a text.

Did you know you can increase your score by understanding the format of the reading and questions on a standardized test? Stress stems from not knowing what to expect. Learn as much as you can about the types of questions and the rules for the test before you take it. This will help you to feel more relaxed on test day. Also, be sure to note how long you will have to read and answer the questions. Do some timed reading practice before test day.

Reading Categories

Read what interests you. Here are some categories that can help you find what you are looking for in a library, bookstore or online search. Other categories such as poetry and drama may also interest you.

Fiction

Writing that describes imaginary events and people (such as short stories and novels):

• classics
• crime and mystery
• fantasy
• horror
• literary fiction
• popular fiction
• romance
• science fiction
• short stories
• women’s fiction
• young adult fiction

Non-fiction

Writing about facts, real events and real people (such as history or biography):

• arts and crafts
• autobiography
• biography
• cooking
• gardening
• history
• how to
• memoir
• science
• self-help
• technology
• travel

Reading terms

A glossary of words and terms that we use to talk about reading

autobiography (noun): story of a person’s life written by that same person
brochure (noun): booklet or small magazine with information and images about a product, place or service
comprehension (noun): action of understanding what you are reading; ability to understand what you are reading
dialogue (noun): conversation between two or more people that is written in a text
ebook (noun): electronic book; book that you can download and read on a computer or mobile device
fiction (noun): writing that is about imaginary events and people
genre (noun): category based on content, style or form
gist (noun): central idea of a text; the essence of a text
grade (noun): mark or percentage that indicates the quality of your work (test, assignment etc)
graded readers (noun): books written at different levels specially for English learners
heading (noun): title of a section or division in a text, such as a chapter heading
headword (noun): (in a dictionary) first and main word of each entry; the word that is being defined (for example, dog is a headword but the plural dogs is not a headword; and run is a headword but the past tense ran is not a headword)
inference (noun): conclusion that one comes to based on logic and information provided
infographic (noun): visual representation of text or information, with minimal text used
keyword (noun): important word in a text; word that holds the «key» to meaning
literature (noun): written materials, especially when considered to be of great artistic merit
memoir (noun): personal account of an aspect of one’s life, written from one’s own memory
non-fiction (noun): writing that is about facts, real events and real people
paragraph (noun): distinct section of a text, containing one main idea or scene, and usually indicated by a new line
paraphrase (verb): to rewrite (or describe) a text in one’s own words
proverb (noun): short saying about a general truth or belief
read aloud | read out loud (verb): to read audibly, not silently, so that other people, if present, could hear
reading level (noun): grade that defines one’s reading ability (levels may be shown, for example, as: beginner to advanced; low to high; numerically 1 to 5)
scan (verb): to read a text quickly looking for specific details
skill (noun): ability to do something well (the four main skills that we need in language are listening, speaking, reading and writing)
skim (verb): to read a text quickly to get a general idea or overview
skip (verb): to pass a word or section (and possibly go back later)
subtitle (noun): additional, more detailed heading that comes under a main heading
summary (noun): brief account of the main points of a text
text (noun): written work; the written words that you read
transcript (noun): written version of spoken words (for example, transcript of a film or podcast)