Iowa Reading Content Standard: Students can comprehend what they read in a variety of literary and informational texts.	NAEP Grade 12 Reading Format: Contains both selected response and constructed response items (NAGB, not dated)	ITED: Reading Comprehension, Level 17/18 (Form A reviewed) Format: Contains selected response items only (ITP, 2003)	ICAM: Four modules Format: Contains both selected response and constructed response items (ICAM, 2001)	ITED Constructed Response Supplement, Level 17/18 Format: Contains constructed response items only (ITP, not dated)
Students can:	A) Reading for literary experience B) Reading for information C) Reading to perform a task	Contains literary and information articles	Comprehending literature (module 1) Comprehending academic texts (module 2) Comprehending functional texts (module 3) Literary Elements and Techniques (module 4) Each module has 19 total points.	Thinking about Reading: Contains one article of extended length
1. Understand stated information they have read. 2. Determine the literal meaning of specific words. 7. Determine the main idea, topic, or theme and make generalizations.	1) Forming a general understanding 2) Developing interpretation (focus of specific parts of the text) (together 1 and 2 are approximately 50% of the test)	Factual understanding (30%) Understand stated information; determine the literal meaning of specific words or phases (13 questions)	Understands themes, main ideas, and supporting details in texts (0 to 3 points) Uses context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words or phrases (0 to 1 points) Summarizes and paraphrases content in texts, including the relationships among concepts and details (0 to 9 points)	Factual meaning (4 points)
3. Draw conclusions, make inferences, and deduce meaning. 4. Infer traits, feelings, and motives of characters or individuals. 5. Make predictions based on stated information. 6. Interpret nonliteral language used in a text. 9. Distinguish among facts, opinions, and assumptions.	3) Making reader/text connections (think beyond the text) (15%)	Inference and Interpretation (36%) Draw conclusions or deduce meanings not explicitly stated in the text; infer relationship; infer the traits, feelings, and motives of characters or individuals; make predictions; apply information; interpret nonliteral language (16 questions)	Makes inferences and predictions, and draws conclusions about story elements and uses textual evidence to support interpretations (0 to 6 points)	Inferential meaning (6 points)
8. Identify the author’s views or purposes. 10. Recognize aspects of a passage’s style and structure and can recognize literary techniques.	4) Examining content and structure (35%)	Analysis and Generalization (34%) Determine the main idea, topic, or theme of a passage or portion of a passage; identify major points; make generalizations; identify the author’s or speaker’s purpose or viewpoint; distinguish among opinions, facts, assumptions, observations, conclusions; recognize aspects of a passage’s style, structure, mood, or tone; recognize literary or argumentative techniques (15 questions)	Understands author’s purpose, intent, or viewpoint and connects the author’s purpose, form, and style to the content and/or organization of the text (2-9 points) The Literary Elements and Techniques module also measures: Identifies specific literary and poetic devices (2-3 points); Understands elements of plot/events; theme/main idea/recurring themes; time/setting; characterization; and dramatic, poetic, and rhetorical devices (11-12 points); Knows defining characteristics of a variety of literary forms and genres (2 points); and describes or compares and contrasts the qualities and/or motives of characters (1 point)	Evaluative meaning (6 points)