A student reads passages that are challenging but not frustrating, with strong comprehension and classroom support. This reading level is called?

• A. Frustration level
• B. Informal reading inventory
• C. Instructional level
• D. Independent level

Answer: (C)

The situation describes reading that is tough enough to require some guidance but still understood well with support. That is the instructional level: texts that are challenging enough to benefit from teacher scaffolding and guided practice, yet within the student’s range to comprehend with help. If the material were at the independent level, the student would read it easily and understand it without assistance. If it were at the frustration level, the text would be too difficult to understand and could cause frustration, even with help. The informal reading inventory is a method for estimating reading level, not the level itself.