Assessing your Child's Spelling Competence

This program is designed for children 9 years old and up.

There are three levels of the Excellence in Spelling program:

• Level A (primary)
• Level B (intermediate)
• Level C (highest)

By giving your child one or more of the three spelling tests attached, you can determine at which level he/she should begin.

Do not allow your child to see or study the test before you give it, as it would interfere with the accuracy of the placement.

When you administer the test to the children, do not repeat the words in sentences or definitions unless absolutely necessary. Interestingly, research shows that using spelling words in sentences actually lowers a child's score.

(For a child in grades 3-5, give Test I. For students grade 6 and higher, begin with Test II.)

Spelling Placement Test I –for children in Grades 3, 4 & 5 - Level A

Scoring:

• Missed 0-6: give test III.
• Missed 8-16: give test II.
• Missed 17 or more: begin with the Phonetic Zoo Level A.

Spelling Placement Test II – for children in Grades 6 and up - Level B

Scoring:

• Missed 0-6: begin with the Phonetic Zoo Level C.
• Missed 7-32: begin with the Phonetic Zoo Level B.
• Missed 33 or more: begin with the Phonetic Zoo Level A.

Spelling Placement Test III - High School and beyond - Level C

Scoring:

• Missed 33 or more: begin with the Phonetic Zoo Level B.
• Missed less than 32: begin with the Phonetic Zoo Level C