Nelson-Denny Reading Test Reading Overall Test Structure 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Who originally developed the Nelson-Denny Reading Test?
- M. J. Nelson and E. C. Denny (Correct answer)
- J. I. Brown and V. V. Fishco
- E. F. Lindquist and R. L. Thorndike
- A. S. Otis and T. L. Kelley
Correct answer: M. J. Nelson and E. C. Denny
The test was originally created by M. J. Nelson and E. C. Denny, whose names form the title of the assessment.
Question 2: Which publisher currently distributes the Nelson-Denny Reading Test?
- Pearson Education
- Riverside Publishing (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) (Correct answer)
- Educational Testing Service (ETS)
- McGraw-Hill
Correct answer: Riverside Publishing (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Riverside Publishing, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, publishes and distributes the Nelson-Denny Reading Test.
Question 3: In the context of the Nelson-Denny, what does a student's 'Reading Rate' score represent?
- The total number of passages read during the test
- The estimated words per minute read during the comprehension section, based on the Part Mark (Correct answer)
- The percentage of comprehension questions answered correctly
- The ratio of vocabulary score to comprehension score
Correct answer: The estimated words per minute read during the comprehension section, based on the Part Mark
Reading Rate is calculated from the Part Mark location—the point reached after one minute of reading—and expressed in words per minute.
Question 4: How many answer choices does each question on the Nelson-Denny Reading Test offer?
- 3
- 4
- 5 (Correct answer)
- 6
Correct answer: 5
Every question on the Nelson-Denny presents five answer options (A through E) for the test-taker to choose from.
Question 5: What type of score does the Nelson-Denny produce that allows comparison across different grade levels?
- Raw score only
- Grade equivalent score (Correct answer)
- Z-score
- Lexile score
Correct answer: Grade equivalent score
The Nelson-Denny reports grade equivalent scores, allowing examiners to compare a student's performance to typical performance at a specific grade level.
Question 6: Which two constructs does the Nelson-Denny Reading Test primarily measure?
- Fluency and phonics
- Vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension (Correct answer)
- Writing mechanics and reading speed
- Decoding skills and spelling
Correct answer: Vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension
The Nelson-Denny is designed to assess vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension as its two core constructs.
Question 7: What is the standard time allotted for the Vocabulary section of the Nelson-Denny Reading Test?
- 10 minutes
- 15 minutes (Correct answer)
- 20 minutes
- 25 minutes
Correct answer: 15 minutes
Test-takers are given 15 minutes to complete the 80-item Vocabulary section under standard conditions.
Nelson-Denny Reading Test Reading Overall Test Structure 3
Who originally developed the Nelson-Denny Reading Test?