Functional Literacy Assessment Tool (FLAT)

Hello my name is _____________________ and I am working as Brigada Pagbasa

Program Learning Facilitator working to do a short fun assessment about reading.
This information will help the program team to better understand children’s
experiences with reading in this area. I will not be writing down your name and this
will not affect your school grades, if you are in school – it’s not a test. It will take
about 10 minutes to do. Would you like to try it?

Consent given
If no, thank the child and move onto the next child

Talk to the child and build rapport. Take your time. Tell the child some things about yourself (number
of children and their ages, what animals / sports / hobbies you like). Ask the child something about
themselves, e.g. what do you like doing when you are not in school? Do you have brothers and sisters?

Ask the child the relevant questions to complete the form

 How old are you?
 Are you sponsored by World Vision? (Validate by asking for RC # or country of sponsor)
 Are you enrolled in school?
 When was the last time you attended? (ascertain if currently attending)
 If yes:
o What grade are you in?
o What kind of school do you go to? Is it a government school, private school,
religious school, community managed school...etc?
o
START – give the child the first card with the paragraphs and story. Say: “Now I am going
to give you something to read for me. Can you choose one of these two paragraphs
and read it aloud for me?”

Mark mistakes with a slash (/). If the child reads a word or letter incorrectly but then self-corrects, circle
the slashed word, so it is counted as correct. Use a clean form for every child or erase prior marks well!

Give the child more than one chance to read the text. Progress up or down depending on the
child’s abilities to find the highest level of reading the child can comfortably do.
FLAT Rating Scale
Can read nothing Fewer than 4 out of 5 letters
Can read letters 4 out of 5
Can read common words 4 out of 5
Can read a paragraph of 4 simple sentences No more than 3 mistakes
Can read a story No more than 3 mistakes
Can read and understand a story No more than 3 mistakes. Plus 2 out of 3
questions must be answered correctly
Can read and understand local material 2 out of 3 questions must be answered correctly

FLAT Tool Enumerator front page introduction and scoring guide

School Name:________________Community: _________________Date:___________Enumerator’s Name: ____________________

Functional Literacy Assessment Tool (FLAT)

General Information Structured learning environment Literacy level

Information
# School Class Age Sex WV Currently Grade Type Reading level
Name Name or # Years M=1 Sponsorship attending 1= govt. 0= nothing
F=2 Y=1 N=0 Y=1 N=0 2=private 1= letter
‘Currently’ means 3=religious 2=words
was at school on 4=community 3=paragraph
most recent school
day school open. 5=other 4=story
5 = story + 2 comprehension
6= local material + comprehension
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
TOTAL

F
 Reading Assessment (1)
Paragraph

START HERE. Ask child to choose one paragraph to read. If the child CAN read either paragraph
with less than 3 mistakes, then ask the
Paragraph
child to read the story
This is a big monkey. Story

He lives on a tree. A big tree stood in a

He likes to jump. garden. It was alone
He also likes bananas. and lonely. One day a
bird came and sat on
it. The bird held a seed
Paragraph
in its beak. It dropped
Peter is six years old. the seed near the tree.
He loves to study. A small plant grew
there. Soon there were
He also likes to play.
many more trees. The
Peter goes to school. big tree was happy.

FLAT Enumerator Tool 3

 Reading Assessment (2)

If the child CANNOT read either If the child CANNOT read at least 4 out
paragraph with less than 3 mistakes, then of 5 words, then ask the child to read
ask the child to read any 5 words any 5 letters

Words Letters

both step m t z
cup
out rope f k
dog hat
key o a r
wish doll
v p
FLAT Enumerator Tool 4
 Comprehension Questions

Story comprehension questions: If the child can read the STORY with
less than 3 mistakes, then read the story
1. Why was the tree sad? comprehension questions out loud to
a. it lost its friend the child and ask the child to answer
b. it was alone and lonely
c. there was no sun
d. don’t know

2. What did the bird drop near the tree?

a. a tree branch
b. a piece of bread
c. a seed
d. don’t know

3. Why was the tree happy at the end of the story?

a. it was not alone/many trees
b. the sun came out
c. it rained
d. don’t know

FLAT Enumerator Tool 5

 Reading Assessment (3)

If the child can answer at least two of the three story comprehension questions correctly, then
ask the child to read the local material out loud and answer the comprehension questions.

Insert local material here, such as a passage from an informational leaflet, newspaper article, or other local language material.

Insert three comprehension questions about the local material.

FLAT Enumerator Tool 6