The Renaissance STAR Reading test is a computer adaptive exam and part of the STAR assessments taken in grades k-12 mainly in the United States, administered by Renaissance learning. Its main purpose is to measure a student’s overall reading skills and progression throughout each grade, although it is sometimes used as a placement test for gifted and accelerated reader programs.
*What is the STAR Reading test?
*STAR Reading test format
*STAR Reading test sample questions
*STAR Reading test scores
*STAR Reading test preparation
What Is the STAR Reading Test?
Students in grades k–12 are usually required to take at least two Renaissance STAR assessments, one of which is the STAR Reading assessment. The test was developed by Renaissance Learning basing its materials on each grade level of the common core reading standards. These standards ensure that students are only assessed on relevant material that is important in preparing them for the following grade, college, and their future careers.
The test is designed to determine a student's reading skills and weaknesses. It assists educators and schools in tracking students' progress and determining who may require more support and instruction.
The Renaissance STAR Reading assessment comes in two versions: the Enterprise version, which consists of 34 questions, and is administered a few times a year. The second shortened version of the test, consisting of 24 questions and is designed to be distributed more frequently, is also available for progress tracking.
Both versions take about 20-35 minutes to complete. The questions vary from sentences to short passages, all questions have three answer choices, and they are all multiple-choice. While the test is not timed, some questions have a time limit to keep the test moving and for security reasons.
The Test is a computer adaptive test, which means that it adapts to the student’s ability in real-time by selecting different questions from the pool in order to provide a more accurate measure of their ability level.
Renaissance Star Reading Domains & Practice Questions
While reading concepts and skills vary between each grade and require varying degrees of comprehension, some subjects are covered in some way or another in almost all grades:
Word Knowledge and Skills- Covers vocabulary and comprehension skills, as well as the ability to apply those tactics in a variety of situations. Subtopicsinclude the usage of context clues, structuralanalysis, understandingsynonyms, while recognizing andcomprehending homonyms and multi-meaning words. Additionally, you will also have to recognize connotations and denotations, whilemaking sense ofidioms toUnderstand analogies.
STAR Reading assessment Sample Question #1: Word Knowledge and Skills
The word match has several of its meanings listed below. Choose the word meaning that does not go with this word.
Answer & Explanation ▼ | ▲
The correct answer is (C).It is recommended to approach this question by eliminating the incorrect answer choices. Answer choices (A), and (B) are all meanings of the word "match." In order to help you understand the options better, the following sentences are examples of the definitions in the answer choices: Answer choice (A): He won the tennis match against his best friend.Answer choice (B): Your shirt color matches your eyes.The definition in answer (C) is the meaning of the word "prepare" and not of the word "match." Therefore, the correct answer is (C).
Comprehension Strategies and Constructing Meaning- Covers tactics for making predictions based on text whileutilizing text features to draw conclusions on a number of sub topics, including: Highlighting the author’s purpose,recognizing an accurate summary of the text, understanding vocabulary in context, drawing conclusions, and identifying and understandingprimaryideas. Additionally, you will be challenged to extend meaning and form generalizations, identify and differentiate fact and opinion,understand cause and effect,while grasping comparison and contrast, and sequence.
STAR Reading assessment Sample Question #2: Comprehension Strategies and Constructing Meaning
Read the sentences. Philip is one of my most honest friends. If I ask for his opinion about something, he will always tell me the truth. Philip is a credible friend.
What does credible mean?
Answer & Explanation ▼ | ▲
The correct answer is (C).The meaning of the word "credible" can be inferred from the passage. The words "honest" and "truth" show that the best way to describe Philip is as a sincere friend. Therefore, the correct answer is (C). Answers (A) and (B) are incorrect because these characteristics cannot be inferred from the sentences.
Analyzing short Literary Text- Involves examining and understanding features of a literary text, such as the setting,plot, theme, summary, inference and characters, and theme.Other sub-topics include understandingcharacterization, literature key ideas, Identifying the narrator and point of view, detectingfiction, nonfiction, reality, and fantasy, while identifying and understanding the characteristics of genres.
STAR Reading assessment Sample Question #3: Analyzing short Literary Text
Read the passage. Maid [in the doorway]: A lady to see you, ma'am, a stranger. Nora: Ask her to come in. This passage is an example of which type of text?
Answer & Explanation ▼ | ▲
The correct answer is (A).Answer (A) is the correct answer because a play is a form of literature usually consisting of dialogue between characters. It is intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading, which is why there are usually added stage directions and descriptions in brackets. Answers (B) and (C) are incorrect because none of these types of text fit the structure in this passage.
Understanding Author’s Craft- Analyzing the author’s use of language and literary devices, other sub-topics includeUnderstandingfigurative language, connotation,integration andidentifying sensory detail.
STAR Reading assessment Sample Question #4: Understanding Author’s Craft
Read the passage. Sophia stood alone at the corner of the classroom. She looked around as her classmates talked to each other enthusiastically. Although she would have liked to, she was too shy to join the group next to her or the group across the room. She wished someone would come over and start a conversation. What does the author want us to think about Sophia?
Answer & Explanation ▼ | ▲
The correct answer is (C).The author describes Sophia standing alone, hesitating whether or not to join her classmates. She wanted someone from her class to come and talk to her. It can be inferred from this information that Sophia was lonely. Therefore, the correct answer is (C).Answer (A) is incorrect because Sophia clearly showed interest and not boredom when she looked around at her classmates.Answer (B) is incorrect because even though Sophia is interested in some company, she was mostly described as being shy, the opposite of outgoing.
Analyzing Argument and Evaluating Text- Includes recognizingand comprehending argumentative language, persuasive techniques, and claims in non-fiction texts. Other sub-topics include Identifying bias and analyze text for logical fallacies, evaluate reasoning and support and Evaluate credibility(this domain is not applicable at grades 1-3).
STAR Reading assessment Sample Question #5: Analyzing Argument and Evaluating Text
Which is the correct definition of "plagiarism"?
Answer & Explanation ▼ | ▲
The correct answer is (A).Plagiarism occurs when someone takes the work or the ideas of someone else and presents them without mentioning the source they were taken from. Whether you directly quote from someone else's work or take ideas from his or her work and write it in different words – a credit is needed. For example, if you take ideas from a book in order to write a paragraph for a school assignment, you need to mention the name of the author or authors of that book at the beginning or the end of the paragraph.Answer (C) is incorrect as plagiarism is about using others' ideas and not others' physical stuff.
Each Renaissance Star assessments Score report contains fournumerical scores and ranks:
Scaled Score (SS)-The test uses a Scaled Score system between 0 -1400. Scaled scores are useful formonitoring student performance over time and across grades. Scaled scoresare calculated based on the number of correct answersand the difficulty of the questions unrelated to the age group or grade.
Grade Equivalent (GE)-These scores range from 0.0-12.9+. The scores show how a student’s test performance compares with that of other students in the same grade. For example, a third-grade student with a GE of 4.3 performed as well on the Star Reading as an average 4th-grader after the third month of the academic year.
Percentile Rank (PR)-The Percentile Rank scale ranges from 1-99 and compares student performance to other students in the same grade level. For Example, A student with a PR of 40 performed better on the Star Reading test than 40% of students in the same grade in the 4th month of the academic year nationally.
Domain Scores- Like the PR scores the Domain Scores RANGE from 0–100. these scores evaluate a student’s proficiency ineach domain ofhis grade level.The scores are divided into threecategories: Beginning 0-59, Developing 60-79 and Secure 80-100.For example, a domain score of 60 for a fifth-grader in the “Word knowledge and skills” domain means the student would most likely be able to answer correctly about 60 percent of the fifth-grade question in that domain.
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How to prepare for the STAR Reading Test?
Here are four tips to ace the STAR Reading assessments:
Vocabulary. Each day, try to teach your child a few new words. Instead of memorizing them, ask your child to use them in sentences throughout the day. Increasing your child's vocabulary improves theirreading, which will serve well on test day and in general.
Read.The best way to broaden a student's vocabulary and improve his or her reading skills is to introduce him or her to books that are both interesting and challenging. Collect reading material for your child from a variety of sources andhighlight new words and learn their definitions. Try also to ask questions about the plot, the setting, and the author's intent.
Read the questions first. This may appear unusual at first, but it makes perfect sense. A lot of questions in the test contain passages, so to get a better grasp of what to look for in the passage so firstread the questions. Thenhighlight key words and pay attention to where you need to look for information.
Know the difference between a main idea, point of view, theme, setting, and mood of a story. A lot of questions on Star Reading Test contain literary devices, so make sure you practice by recognizing each one. It may help reviewing various literary definitionsevery now and then.
Online STAR Reading Practice Test
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Our packs will allow your child to become familiar with the test structure and provide him or her with the confidencetheyneed to ace the test!