Wide Range Achievement Sentence Comprehension Subtest Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The WRAT-5 Sentence Comprehension subtest primarily measures an individual's ability to:
- Read a list of words aloud with correct pronunciation.
- Define vocabulary words out of context.
- Use context to understand word meanings and sentence structure. (Correct answer)
- Read a passage quickly and answer detailed questions about its content.
Correct answer: Use context to understand word meanings and sentence structure.
The Sentence Comprehension subtest on the WRAT-5 utilizes a modified cloze procedure, where the examinee reads a sentence with a missing word and must provide the word that best completes it. This directly assesses their ability to use the surrounding context to comprehend the sentence's meaning and structure.
Question 2: An examiner is administering the WRAT-5 to an 11-year-old student. For the Sentence Comprehension subtest, the student provides an ungrammatical but contextually appropriate answer. According to the administration guidelines, how should the examiner score this response?
- Score the item as incorrect because the response was ungrammatical.
- Ask the student to rephrase their answer in a grammatically correct way.
- Score the item as correct, as the subtest focuses on comprehension, not grammar. (Correct answer)
- Discontinue the subtest and note the student's difficulty with grammar.
Correct answer: Score the item as correct, as the subtest focuses on comprehension, not grammar.
The WRAT-5 manual provides specific guidance that for the Sentence Comprehension subtest, ungrammatical but contextually correct responses should be scored as correct. The primary focus is on understanding the meaning of the sentence, not on grammatical precision.
Question 3: Which of the following is a key feature of the Sentence Comprehension subtest's administration procedure in the WRAT-5?
- A strict time limit for each sentence.
- The use of a modified cloze technique. (Correct answer)
- The requirement for the examinee to write down all answers.
- A starting point determined by the examinee's performance on the Word Reading subtest.
Correct answer: The use of a modified cloze technique.
The Sentence Comprehension subtest uses a modified cloze procedure, requiring the examinee to read a sentence with a missing word and supply the appropriate word. This format is central to how the subtest measures comprehension. The WRAT-5 removed the routing from the Word Reading subtest that was present in previous editions.
Question 4: A school psychologist is creating a reading assessment battery. The psychologist combines the standard scores from the Word Reading and Sentence Comprehension subtests of the WRAT-5. What composite score is generated from this combination?
- Total Achievement Composite
- Verbal Comprehension Index
- Reading Fluency Score
- Reading Composite Score (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Reading Composite Score
The WRAT-5 manual specifies that the standard scores from the Word Reading and Sentence Comprehension subtests can be combined to form the Reading Composite score, providing a broader measure of an individual's reading abilities.
Question 5: When administering the Sentence Comprehension subtest of the WRAT-5, what is the appropriate discontinue rule?
- After 3 consecutive errors.
- After 10 total errors.
- After 5 consecutive errors. (Correct answer)
- After the examinee fails to respond within 30 seconds.
Correct answer: After 5 consecutive errors.
The WRAT-5 standardized administration includes a discontinue rule, also known as a ceiling, for the Sentence Comprehension subtest. Testing is stopped after the examinee makes 5 consecutive errors.
Question 6: An examiner is preparing to administer the WRAT-5 Sentence Comprehension subtest. Which of the following materials is specific and necessary for this particular subtest, in addition to the record form?
- A stopwatch for timing responses.
- A separate Sentence Comprehension Card Set. (Correct answer)
- An audio recorder for verbal responses.
- A list of spelling words for dictation.
Correct answer: A separate Sentence Comprehension Card Set.
The WRAT-5 kit includes a specific set of stimulus cards for the Sentence Comprehension subtest. The examinee reads the sentences from these cards. The other options are not required for this subtest; it is untimed, and while responses are recorded on the form, an audio recorder is not standard procedure.
The WRAT-5 Sentence Comprehension subtest primarily measures an individual's ability to: