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CHAPTER 2:
Find Your Level
Acceptable comprehension occurs when 95% of words in a text are known. (Hu & Nation, 2000; Laufer, 1989; Laufer, 2013; Schmitt et al., 2011)
But in order to be optimal researchers suggest a comprehension level closer to 98%.
98 Is The Magic Number
At 98% comprehension the experience of reading or listening should feel quite comfortable. This allows you to focus on the message instead of the language. At this level you can often understand new words just from the context of the text, making a dictionary optional.
You don’t have to understand every word, because each time you come across a new word in a meaningful context a small part of it is acquired. With enough reading and listening eventually all, or nearly all of the meaning and form is acquired.
Gradual increases in difficulty allow you to maintain this level of comfort as your level continues to improve.
Of the four principles of optimal input this is the one that learners get wrong most often. In fact, problems with motivation can often be traced back to this factor.
98% In Context
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Alternatively you could use the Five Finger Rule, which shoots for something closer to 99%.
Experience with both types of input will help you decide how many new words are too many or too few for you.
3 Ways To Test Your Level
Since the number of words we know is one of the most reliable and accurate ways to gauge our level in a language, this is the measure we will use to establish our starting point.
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Graded reader levels are also organised by number of known words, so it makes sense to start here.
OPTION 1: Try graded readers of different levels
This is the most direct option and allows you to get an instant feel for how difficult a text may be. Some publishers offer free samples of their readers so you can try before you buy.
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You can also try some of the free options in the reading resources from chapter 3.
Note for Advanced Learners
It’s suprising how often my advanced students struggle with reading tests for graded readers.
Unless you can answer all of the questions with no hesitation, then it could be argued that you haven’t fully acquired that piece of language yet.
This is why I often recommend even advanced learners spend a bit of time in the beginning with graded readers, for two main reasons:
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To speed up acquisition of vocab and sentence patterns that graded readers use with higher frequency than native-level texts.
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To gain some momentum in developing a reading habit.
OPTION 2: Vocabulary Test
Another option is to directly test the size of your vocabulary with an online vocabulary test.
OPTION 3: Reading Test
Macmillan English and Oxford Bookworms have made level tests for their series of graded readers.
Once you’ve completed a test you will be given your level which corresponds to MacMillan or Oxford's level system (e.g. Starter, Elementary, Beginner, Pre-Intermediate, etc.) as well as the corresponding range of known words (known as headwords). E.g. 1500-2000.
When choosing graded readers from other publishers use this headword range to help you find the relevant level.