Which assessment is typically used to identify specific instructional needs after a screening identifies at-risk readers?

• A. Diagnostic assessment
• B. End-of-year test
• C. Spelling quiz
• D. Reading fluency measure

Answer: (A)

When a screening flags a reader as at risk, you need a tool that reveals exactly where the gaps are in reading skills. A diagnostic assessment is designed for this purpose: it breaks reading into specific components—such as decoding, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension—and provides detailed results that show which areas need instruction and at what level. This information lets you tailor instruction precisely to the student’s needs and monitor progress over time.

End-of-year tests are summative; they measure overall achievement after instruction, not the precise areas to target. A spelling quiz focuses mainly on spelling knowledge and doesn’t diagnose broader reading skill gaps. A reading fluency measure tells you how fast and accurately a student reads, but it doesn’t consistently identify all the specific instructional needs across decoding, comprehension, and vocabulary.