top of page
Writer's pictureJenny Lee-Noble

Leading Indicies: A Summary

Updated: Nov 12, 2023

Commonly referred to leading indicies: CEFR, AR, Lexile, IL, BL


CEFR Levels


The CEFR (Common European Framework Reference for Languages) is a framework developed by the Council of Europe that describes the levels of language proficiency of a learner of a foreign language. The CEFR has six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2. A1 is the lowest level and C2 is the highest level.


Here are some examples of tasks that a learner at each CEFR level should be able to do:

  • A1: Understand and use familiar, everyday expressions and very simple sentences, which relate to the satisfaction of concrete needs.

  • A2: Understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).

  • B1: Understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.

  • B2: Understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialization.

  • C1: Understand a wide range of challenging, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning.

  • C2: Understand with ease virtually everything heard or read.


How to use CEFR levels as a student learning English as a second language:


Students can use the CEFR levels to set goals for their learning and to track their progress over time. For example, a student at the B1 level might set a goal of reaching the B2 level within a year. The student can then use their AR or Lexile levels to identify books and other materials that are at the right level for them to read and understand.


A student at the B1 CEFR level could use AR to find books and articles that are at the right level for them to read and understand. The student could then take quizzes on the books and articles to track their comprehension.



AR (Accelerated Reader)


AR is a reading comprehension program that uses quizzes to assess a student's reading level and comprehension. AR quizzes are available for a wide range of books, and students can earn points for taking and passing quizzes. AR points can be used to redeem rewards, such as prizes or free books.


AR levels range from 1.0 to 12.9. The higher the AR level, the more difficult the book. AR levels are based on a number of factors, including the number of words in the book, the sentence length, and the vocabulary.


Here is an example of how AR levels are used:


  • A student in the third grade might be reading at a 3.0 AR level. This means that the student is able to read and understand books that are written at a third-grade level.

  • A student in the ninth grade might be reading at a 9.0 AR level. This means that the student is able to read and understand books that are written at a ninth-grade level.


How to use AR as a student learning English as a second language:


AR can be used to motivate students to read and to help them track their comprehension. Students can earn points for taking and passing quizzes, which can be redeemed for rewards. AR can also be used to identify students who are struggling with reading comprehension and to provide them with additional support.


Searching for books with a corresponding Renaissance Accelerated Reader 360® quiz is easy with Accelerated Reader Bookfinder.



Lexile Levels


Lexile Levels are a measure of text complexity. Lexile Levels are based on the number of words in a text, the average sentence length, and the word frequency. Lexile Levels range from 0L to 2000L. The higher the Lexile Level, the more difficult the text.


Here is an example of how Lexile Levels are used:

  • A student in the second grade might be reading at a 600L Lexile Level. This means that the student is able to read and understand books that are written at a 600L Lexile Level.

  • A student in the tenth grade might be reading at a 1200L Lexile Level. This means that the student is able to read and understand books that are written at a 1200L Lexile Level.


How to use Lexile as a student learning English as a second language:

A student who is struggling with reading comprehension could use Lexile Levels to identify books and other materials that are at the right level for them to read and understand. The student could then read these materials and ask their teacher for help if they need it.



IL (Interest Level)


IL stands for Interest Level. IL is a measure of a book's appeal to a particular age group. IL levels are typically assigned by publishers or librarians. IL levels range from PreK to Adult.


Here is an example of how IL levels are used:


  • A student in the first grade might be interested in books with an IL level of PreK-K.

  • A student in the fifth grade might be interested in books with an IL level of 3-5.

  • A student in the twelfth grade might be interested in books with an IL level of YA-Adult.

How to use IL as a student learning English as a second language:


A student who is interested in reading about science fiction could use IL to find science fiction books that are at the right level for them to read and understand.



BL (Book Level - Reading Difficulty Level)


BL stands for Book Level - Reading Difficulty Level. BL is a measure of a book's reading difficulty. BL levels are typically assigned by publishers or librarians. BL levels range from 1 to 12. The higher the BL level, the more difficult the book.


Here is an example of how BL levels are used:

  • A student in the first grade might be able to read a book with a BL level of 2.

  • A student in the fifth grade might be able to read a book with a BL level of 5.

  • A student in the twelfth grade might be able to read a book with a BL level of 12.

BL can be used to help students select books that are at the right level for them to read and understand. Reading books that are too difficult can be frustrating and discouraging for students. Reading books that are too easy can be boring and unchallenging.



How to use BL as a student learning English as a second language:


A student who is not sure which book to read could use BL to select a book that is at the right level for them to read and understand.

2 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comentarios


bottom of page