North Carolina Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What does an ORF assessment measure?

1. Reading comprehension levels

2. Word recognition in sentences

3. Oral Reading Fluency

4. Phonemic awareness

The correct answer is: Oral Reading Fluency

An ORF assessment, or Oral Reading Fluency assessment, specifically measures a student's ability to read aloud with fluency and accuracy. This type of assessment evaluates several key components of reading: the rate at which a student reads, their ability to pronounce words correctly, and the smoothness of their reading. High oral reading fluency indicates that a student can read text accurately and at an appropriate speed, which is critical for supporting overall reading comprehension. While reading comprehension levels, word recognition, and phonemic awareness are important aspects of literacy development, they are not the primary focus of an ORF assessment. Reading comprehension looks at understanding the text, word recognition pertains to identifying words in isolation or in context, and phonemic awareness focuses on the ability to hear and manipulate sounds in words. Therefore, the focus of an ORF assessment is distinct, emphasizing the fluency aspect of oral reading.