Test of Word Reading Efficiency 2 (TOWRE 2)

Age range: 6 years to 24 years 11 months

Qualification level: B

Year: 2012

Administration time: 10 minutes

Administration type: Individual

The Test of Word Reading Efficiency–Second Edition (TOWRE 2) is a measure of an individual’s ability to pronounce printed words (Sight Word Efficiency) and phonemically regular non-words (Phonemic Decoding Efficiency) accurately and fluently. The TOWRE 2 provides an efficient means of monitoring the growth of two kinds of word reading skill that are critical in the development of overall reading ability.

The Sight Word Efficiency (SWE) subtest assesses the number of real words printed in vertical lists that an individual can accurately identify within 45 seconds.

The Phonemic Decoding Efficiency (PDE) subtest measures the number of pronounceable non-words presented in vertical lists that an individual can accurately decode within 45 seconds. The four forms of each subtest are of equivalent difficulty, and any of the forms of each subtest may be given depending on the purposes of the assessment. If only one form of each test is used, the test can be administered in approximately 5 minutes, including time for directions and practice items.

Uses for the TOWRE 2

1. Early identification - The TOWRE 2 can be used in identifying children in the early elementary grades who will require more intensive or explicit instruction in word reading skills in order to make adequate progress in learning to read.
2. Diagnosis of reading disabilities - The test is also being widely used as part of a battery of tests for diagnosis of specific reading disabilities in older children and adults. The TOWRE 2 can be used either as a replacement for or as a supplement to standard diagnostic tests of context-free word reading ability currently in use.
3. Research - Since its publication in 1999, the TOWRE has been widely used in research as a quick and reliable assessment of word-level reading skills in both large and small research populations.