An AR (Accelerated Reader) grade level indicates the reading difficulty of a book, corresponding roughly to U.S. grade levels. It provides a score representing the grade for which the book is most appropriate.
Understanding AR Grade Levels
AR grade levels are expressed as decimal numbers. The whole number represents the grade, and the decimal represents the month of that grade. For example:
- 3.5 indicates a book appropriate for the fifth month of third grade.
AR Grade Level Examples:
Here's a breakdown of AR grade levels correlating to school grades:
- Kindergarten: 0.1 - 0.9
- 1st Grade: 1.0 - 1.9
- 2nd Grade: 2.0 - 2.9
- 3rd Grade: 3.0 - 3.9
- 4th Grade: 4.0 - 4.9
And so on. A book with an AR grade level of 5.2 would be suitable for a student in the second month of the fifth grade.
How AR Grade Levels are Determined
AR grade levels are determined using a formula that considers factors such as:
- Sentence length
- Word difficulty
- Overall text complexity
This formula helps place a book within a specific grade level range, assisting educators and librarians in recommending appropriate reading material. Keep in mind that AR levels serve as guidelines; individual student reading abilities may vary.
