Third Edition (DSTR)

Thomas D. Gnagey / Patricia A. Gnagey

Grades:  1 through Junior College

Administration: Individual; 5 to 10 minutes

   The DSTR is a quick, valid method for estimating practical data about a student’s reading skills. Designed to assist teachers, psychologists and counselors in quickly obtaining diagnostic information which can be translated into helpful classroom learning activities as appropriate to each student’s individual needs.  

   An initial pool of 3,221 reading words were obtained by having 71 teachers, Grades 1 through 12, submit lists of up to 100 words typically taught for the first time at their grade level. Seven years of word-sample use helped verify the 84-word range content of the DSTR, yielding four major scores.

Percentile ranks, T-scores, and grade equivalent scores are available for each form (Form A and Form B) and for the two forms combined (Form A + Form B). These scores are also presented for the phonics and sight subtests for each form. Since the sample of 95 students, each in Grades 2 through 8 (average level reading comprehenders), scored essentially identical in reading and listening comprehension, the same norms are used for both (r = .94). Reliability and validity are both quite high for such a short, wide ranging power test.

Diagnostic Screening Test: Reading

Other Subtests (Word Attack Rules):

Sight: Words that do not follow strict laws of 

pronunciation must be recognized on sight.

c-vow/c: A vowel usually has the long sound when it comes at the end of a word or accented syllable.

vow/r: In syllables where an “r” follows a single vowel, the vowel sound is usually determined by that “r” sound.

vow/l: In syllables where an “l” follows a single vowel, the vowel sound is usually determined by that “l” sound.

vow-vow: When two vowels come together in a syllable, the first is usually long after the second is silent.

  In addition to these basic scales, eight other diagnostic scores reflect skills in phonics, word attack proficiency and sight vocabulary. If mastered, the child would be allowed to attack a vast majority of english reading words.

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1. Word Reading Comfort Level: the level at which the 

    student knows almost all of the words and can read each 

    without any assistance.

2. Word Reading Instructional Level: the level at which the 

    student knows 85% to 90% of the words and reads easily 

    enough to gradually acquire the new vocabulary and 

    associated skills.

3. Word Reading Frustration Level: the level at which the 

    student is unable to read so many words and therefore 

    misses the essence of passage and finds the task of 

    reading uncomfortable or unpleasant..

4. Comprehension of Passage Levels: the level at which 

    the student is able to understand and remember the facts 

    and subtleties of passages (Both Reading and Listening 

    Comprehension are tested).

Summary of the Four Major Scores:

c-vow-c: In syllables having one vowel, it is usually short if not at the end.

Silent e: In syllables having two vowels,

where the final one is “e”, the first is long and

the “e” is silent.

Mix: Assorted Combinations of phonics and word attack rules (Taps overall skill level).

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