How should I administer the Free Reading Assessment?

If your district has chosen to purchase Assessment Series in CommonLit School Essentials PRO or School Essentials PRO Plus, you will not have access to the Free Reading Assessment. Instead, you’ll be able to collect baseline data through the first assessment in the Assessment Series. You’ll also have access to a Mid-Year and a Post-Assessment to help you track students’ reading growth throughout the reading year.

The CommonLit Free Reading Assessment is designed to assess students' general reading aptitude and performance on key skills for their grade level. For test and data validity purposes, it is best for students to complete their assessment in one sitting, within 60 minutes, and with minimal distractions.

Students should not receive any outside help or support from teachers, parents, tutors, peers, or other sources.

For more information, please read the CommonLit Free Reading Assessment Administration Guide.

Interested in getting affordable, rigorous benchmark assessments at your school or district to track student reading progress over the course of the year? Learn more about CommonLit's Assessments here.