Functional Literacy Assessment

Tool
(FLAT)
ZORAYDA S. PAGUYO, EdD
EPS-Filipino
 Functional Literacy Assessment
Tool
FLAT Enumerator Decision Tree
The FLAT assesses the highest level of reading of children can perform
comfortably. The FLAT is used to measure The Child Well-being Target on
functional literacy with children nearing end of primary school, Grade 6 or
equivalent.

The reading level considered as ‘functional’ if a child can read through the
story or local material and answer at least two fact retrieval questions about
the story or local material correctly.
 WHAT IS FLAT?

Grade Ages Reading Test Competencies

1 6-8 Able to read at least 4 letters
1 6-8 Able to read at least 4 common words
2 7-9 Able to read one of the paragraphs -
Grade 2 text
3 8-10 Able to read a short story - Grade 3 text
Able to respond to two fact retrieval
questions
4-6 11-13 Able to read a passage of local authentic
text
Able to respond to two fact retrieval
questions
 What is functional literacy?
The reading level considered as ‘functional’ is
if a child can read through the FLAT to the
story or to the local material and answer at least
two fact retrieval questions about the story or
local material correctly. This will show
whether children can read material needed to
function in everyday life. The highest level of
functional literacy is reading and
comprehension of the local material. While
this measure is very important and useful, both
this and reading and comprehension of the
story are classified as functional literacy and
reaching either level is the desired outcome for
literacy Target.
Next: LETTERS

Ask the child to read

any 5 letters from the
letters list. Let the child
choose the letters. If he
or she does not choose,
then point out letters.

NEXT
 Is the child at Letters Level?
NO
• If the child cannot recognize
4 out of 5 letters chosen
• Mark the child at ‘Nothing
Level’
• The assessment is finished
YES
• If the child correctly
recognizes at least 4 out of
5 letters with ease.
• Ask the child to try reading the
words again and then follow the
instructions for word level
testing. If he or she can read 4
out of 5 letters but cannot
comfortably read words, then
mark the child at ‘Letter Level’.
Next: WORDS
• Ask the child to read
any 5 words from the
word list.
• Let the child choose the
words. If he or she
does not choose, then
point out 5 words to
read.

NEXT
 Is the child at Word Level?
NO YES
• If the child cannot read at • If the child reads at least 4
least 4 out of the 5 words out of the 5 words with
with ease. ease
 More than one chance
Give the child more than one
chance to read the text. Usually if
a child is told to read again
carefully and she can read, she
will not repeat the same mistake.
Practice and familiarity with a
task improves the child’s
performance.

Ask the child to try to read the If he or she can correctly and comfortably read
paragraph again to confirm. Follow the words but is still struggling with the
instructions for paragraph level testing. paragraph, then mark the child at ‘Word
Level’.
Start Here: Paragraph

• Ask the child to read

either of the 2 paragraphs
aloud. Let the child
choose the paragraph. If
the child does not
choose, point to one
paragraph to read. Ask
the child to read it. Listen
carefully to how he or she
reads.

NEXT
 Is the child at Paragraph level?
NO
• Reads the text like a string
of words, rather than a
sentence.
• Reads the text haltingly and
stops very often.
OR
• Reads the text fluently but
with more than 3 mistakes
YES
• Reads the text like she is
reading a sentence, rather
than a string of words.
• Reads the text fluently and
with ease, even if she is
reading slowly.
• Reads the text with not
more than 3 mistakes.
Next: Story

Ask the child to read

the story aloud.

NEXT
Is the child at Story Reading Level?
NO YES
• If child reads story with • Reads story with not more
more than 3 mistakes than 3 mistakes.
• Mark the child at
“Paragraph Level”.
Next: Story Comprehension

Read the questions

out loud to the child
and then let the child
answer out loud.

NEXT
 Is the child at Story Comprehension
Level?
NO YES
• If the child cannot answer • If the child can answer 2
at least 2 comprehension comprehension questions
questions
• Mark the child at ‘Story
Reading Level’.
Next: Local Material

• Ask the child to read

the local material aloud
• Then read the
questions out loud to
the child and then let
the child answer aloud.

NEXT
Is the child at Local Material Level?
NO YES
• If the child cannot read the • Can read the text without
text without more than 3 more than 3 mistakes and
mistakes or answer at least correctly answer at least 2
2 questions questions about it.
• Mark the child at ‘Story
Comprehension Level’
 Functionally Literate
Children who reach Story
Comprehension Level or Local
Material Level are counted as
functionally literate for the literacy
Target.

REMEMBER!
FLAT Rating Scale
 Functional Literacy
69
Level Overall
Result
%
Level
Sex 0 1 Total

1 531 868 1,399

2 404 1,190 1,594

Total 935 2,058 2,993

Pearson chi2(1) = 55.1607 Pr = 0.000

There is a
significant
relationship
between
gender and
functional
literacy level
 Functional Literacy
by Age

Level
Age 0 1 Total

There is a significant
9 13 11 24
10 155 246 401
11 531 1,328 1,859

relationship between
12 167 393 560
13 52 61 113
14 11 8 19

age and functional 15

16
17
5
1
0
9
1
1
14
2
1

literacy level Total 935 2,058 2,993

Pearson chi2(8) = 41.5406 Pr = 0.000

 Thank You!
The assessment is now finished.
Don’t forget to thank the child for
participating! Appreciate and
understand the attempt that the child is
making!

The end