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October 22, 2004
My (barely) passing grade on the 7th grade reading level test
I’ve been wondering lately whether communicators are writing for the appropriate level of our employee readers. My initial conclusion is that most internal communication is written at too high a level. It’s not that our employees are illiterate (although illiteracy can be a real problem); they’re busy, distracted, and reluctant to read complicated prose.
To explore the issue further, I decided to do some research and began to wander around the Internet, seeing what educators and others had to say about reading levels. In the course of my travels, I came across a website (www.brainchild.com) that allows visitors to take free online tests based on state standards for competency in reading and math.
A few clicks of the mouse and I was taking the New Jersey seventh grade reading test. The test consisted of two passages—one about a place in North Carolina called Blowing Rock and the other about the blizzard of 1888—each followed by six multiple choice questions. Piece of cake, right? I skimmed through the passages, clicked on my answers, and waited for my score.
See a related article on writing for employees' reading levels in the current issue of Smart Tips, our electronic newsletter.
Which was (drum roll, please): 67%. That’s right, boys and girls, yours truly—Ms. English major, avid reader, terrific speller—barely passed the test.
Of course, my first reaction was, “There must be some mistake.” Nope. I checked: I got three questions wrong, and forgot to answer another one. Because the way the test was weighted, 67% was indeed my embarrassing grade.
Then I began making excuses. “Well, I did the whole thing in under five minutes,” I said to myself. And: “I got interrupted in the middle.” And: “I don’t care about these topics, anyway, so it’s no wonder I didn’t really pay attention.”
And then the light dawned. The way I read those boring passages was the way most employees read the stuff we send them. Sometimes they’re a little interested in the topic; other times, they’re merely indifferent. But they’re always rushing, thinking about other things, skimming to find the most relevant parts, skipping other sections and getting interrupted in the middle.
When it comes to how we read, we’ve become a society of people with attention-deficit disorder. Anyway, that’s my excuse.
I welcome your viewpoints (on my literacy challenges or on the overall issue). Thanks!
Posted by Alison Davis at October 22, 2004 12:57 PM
Comments
After scoring 83% on the same test, I arose triumphantly from my desk and cheered! After a moment of reflection, I multiplied 7 (for 7th grader) times 83% and realize I'm about as smart as a bright 5th grader! Great article, and now I realize I have a lot to learn.
Posted by: Matt Davis at October 25, 2004 02:12 PM