"One purpose for assessment is to determine the level of text that will challenge student"

- Rubin, Assessment

This article gives a great insight to the three most popular types of assessment:

1. Cloze Test

                                  Recommended for readers struggling in comprehension and vocabulary

2. Running Record

A student is to read a passage (never seen before) and the instructor is to provide critical feedback and scoring

3. Informal Reading Inventories

Evaluate comprehension through post-reading questions and usually report growth

To gain more perspective, I looked at the articles "Pause and Ponder" section. One question asked "What are different ways I can assess reading in my classroom"

I personally believe that there needs to be a collection of base-line data. This data includes comprehension level, vocabulary level, how they learn, and who they are as a student. After the baseline data has been collected, teachers should mediate course work with individual work, partners, and group study time. This will help determine what level the student lies on.  

Organizing assessment data is divided into three sections: independent, instructional, and frustration.

A teacher needs to be aware of what category their student follow, and be prepared for assessment and reassessment. If a teacher understands the reading level of their students, their scores will progress. Allowing students to read below their grade level isn't a bad thing. For example, I am currently in an ESL class. Some students are in 5th but read in a 1st grade level. Yes, that may look bad, but ESL (or L1) learn differently than we do. Their improvement curve will also slop very slowly. 

How can I recognize reading scores that are unreliable?

I believe its by paying attention to your student's needs and levels. What do you think?