Assesses oral reading, spelling, and writing abilities.

The Gates-McKillop-Horowitz Reading Diagnostic Tests are individually administered reading skills test that assess the oral reading, spelling, and writing abilities of children in grades one to six. It is generally used for group placement in classes and can also identify reading difficulties in older students. The 11-part test covers the following areas: oral reading; recognition of isolated words; knowledge of word parts; recognizing and blending common word parts; reading words; giving letter sounds; naming letters; identifying vowel sounds; auditory blending and discrimination; and writing (by means of an informal writing sample). Not all parts of the test are used with all students. The test is untimed but usually takes about an hour.

For Further Study

Books

McCullough, Virginia. Testing and Your Child: What You Should Know About 150 of the Most Common Medical, Educational, and Psychological Tests. New York: Plume, 1992.