Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

What is a cloze assessment used for?

1. To evaluate vocabulary understanding

2. To assess a student's independent reading level

3. To analyze writing proficiency

4. To measure classroom behavior

The correct answer is: To assess a student's independent reading level

A cloze assessment is primarily used to evaluate a student's ability to comprehend text through context clues, which can indirectly reveal their understanding of vocabulary and reading level. It involves presenting a passage with missing words that students must fill in, effectively demonstrating their grasp of the content, syntax, and semantics of the language used. When students engage in cloze assessments, their responses provide insight into their independent reading level, as it reflects their ability to interpret and make sense of written material without assistance. This method allows educators to assess how well students can read and understand text on their own, which is critical for monitoring literacy development. While evaluating vocabulary, writing proficiency, or classroom behavior are important components of literacy and student assessment, cloze assessments specifically focus on reading comprehension rather than solely on these other aspects.