Lexiles

The Lexile Framework for Reading is a scientific approach to measuring both text difficulty and reading ability on a scale that was developed by MetaMetrics.  Each student who takes the WESTEST 2 will receive a Lexile score with his/her test results. The score will be represented as a number with an L after it, such as 750L. 

There are two Lexile measures:  the Lexile reader measure and the Lexile text measure.  The Lexile reader measure represents the student's reading ability and the Lexile text measure represents the difficulty of the text.  When used together, they can help a reader select reading material that is at an appropriate difficulty level.  The Lexile reader measure can be used to monitor growth in reading ability over time. 

A reader's Lexile range is from 50L above to 100L below the reader's Lexile score. If a student attempts reading material above his/her Lexile range the challenge may be too great for the student to master independently.  In a classroom setting where textbooks are used as the main reading material, the texts may not be well-matched to all students.  West Virginia is now asking that all textbooks on the state adoption list have a Lexile score.

It is important to note that the Lexile measure of a book refers only to the difficulty of its text.  A Lexile measure does not address the content or quality of a book.  The Lexile measure is based on two very accurate predictors of how difficult a text is to comprehend:  word frequency and sentence length.  Lexile measures should not be directly linked to grade levels.

The Lexile Framework for Reading Website

WV Lexile Map with Letter to Educators

WV Lexile Map with Letter to Parents

Lexile Presentation from March 20, 2009

Lexile Online Scavenger Hunt

 

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