For grown-ups
The Reading Level Check is for a grown-up to run with a child. To open it, hold the lock at the top right for 3 seconds and answer the sum.
Reading Level Check
A short reading check you do together, about 5 to 10 minutes. Your child reads letters and words out loud, and you tap Got it or Not yet. At the end you'll see which reading skills your child has, the grade level they line up with, and what to practice next.
A quick check, not a diagnosis. This is not a standardized test, and it doesn't compare your child with other children. It lines up with published grade-level standards only. If you are worried about your child's reading, talk with their teacher or pediatrician.
How it works
- Sit side by side where your child can see the screen. Pick their age or school year and tap Start.
- Your child reads what's on the screen out loud: a letter's name, a letter's sound, or a word. The voice can say the instruction; it never says the answer.
- Tap Got it if they read it right within a few seconds, sounding out included. Tap Not yet if they didn't, guessed, or you helped. Tapped the wrong one? Tap Undo.
- Each part is 8 items. A part stops early after 3 "Not yet" taps, so it never drags on. Up to 5 parts in all.
- The result is saved on this device with today's date, so you can check again in a few months and see the growth.
What it checks, and the grade it lines up with
The parts follow the order children usually learn to read, from the Common Core State Standards for reading (Foundational Skills) and the Dolch sight word lists.
| Part | Lines up with | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Letter names | Kindergarten | RF.K.1d |
| Letter sounds | Kindergarten | RF.K.3a, RF.K.3b |
| First sight words | Pre-K and early kindergarten (Dolch pre-primer) | RF.K.3c |
| Short words like cat | Kindergarten into first grade | RF.K.3b, RF.1.3b |
| Kindergarten sight words | Kindergarten (Dolch primer) | RF.K.3c |
| Blends and sh, ch, th | First grade | RF.1.3a, RF.1.3b |
| First-grade sight words | First grade (Dolch first grade) | RF.1.3g |
| Second-grade sight words | Second grade (Dolch second grade) | RF.2.3f |
| Third-grade sight words | Third grade (Dolch third grade) | RF.3.3d |
The standards say what children learn by the end of each school year. Partway through a year, a child still working on that year's skills is right where the standards expect.
Private by design
Results are kept only on this device, in this browser. Nothing is sent anywhere: no account, no sign-in, no analytics. We save the date, the name you typed (if any), the age you picked and how each part went, never the answers or a recording. Your child is never recorded. Delete all saved checks under Saved checks removes everything. Clearing the browser's site data removes it too.
Questions parents ask
How do I know my child's reading level?
Sit with your child and run this check: your child reads letters and words out loud and you tap Got it or Not yet. It moves up when things go well and down when they don't, and ends by saying which grade-level skills your child has, using the Common Core reading standards and the Dolch sight word lists. Your child's teacher can give a fuller picture.
Is this a test or a diagnosis?
No. It is a quick check at home, not a standardized test and not a diagnosis. It shows which skills your child has and what to practice next. If you are worried about your child's reading, talk with their teacher or pediatrician.
Does it compare my child to other children?
No. We have no data on other children, so we don't give percentiles or averages. The result lines up your child's skills with what the published grade-level standards expect by the end of each school year.
Where are the results kept?
Only on this phone, tablet or computer, in the browser. Nothing is sent anywhere and there is no account. The name is optional, and Delete all saved checks removes everything.
How often should we check?
Every few months is plenty. The standards describe what children learn over a whole school year, so look for steady growth from one check to the next, not a jump every week.
Practice: ABC Mailbox · Spell the Picture · Phonics games · Sight words · How we build calm games
Updated October 2026.
Part done
All done!
The check stopped after 5 parts while still going up. Next time, pick an older age or later school year to start higher.
Each part
Practice next
Grown-up:
A quick check, not a diagnosis or a standardized test. Saved only on this device. If you are worried about your child's reading, talk with their teacher or pediatrician.
Saved checks
Kept only on this device. Check again every few months to see growth.