Informal Testing Survey

From Swanson, H.L., & Watson, B. (1982). Educational and psychological assessment pf exceptional children. St. Louis: The C.V.
Mosby Co.

Items to Check

1 Special interests and abilities

2 Attitudes toward self and others

3 Communication skills (ability to follow directions)

[ ] Well [ ] Imperfectly [ ] Poorly

4. Reads at these levels: Instructional, Gr. [ ]

Independent, Gr. [ ]

5. Needs help with these skills:

[ ] Alphabet [ ] Consonants in context
[ ] Slight words [ ] Substituting consonants
[ ] Word endings [ ] Vowel sounds
[ ] Compound words [ ] Vowel combinations
[ ] Consonants [ ] Mechanical skills adequate but lack
comprehension
6. Arithmetic:
[ ] Can count by rote to 100
[ ] Can count objects to 20
[ ] Recognizes number groups to 10
[ ] Can count by 2s
[ ] Can write numbers below 100 from dictation
[ ] Recognizes coins
[ ] Can count money to PhP1.00
[ ] Can make change to PhP1.00
[ ] Knows addition combinations to 10
[ ] Knows subtraction combinations to 10

7. Arithmetic: Grade level for textbook [ ]

8. Needs help in these computational skills:

[ ] Addition facts [ ] Addition processes
[ ] Subtraction facts [ ] Subtraction processes
[ ] Multiplication facts [ ] Multiplication processes
[ ] Division facts [ ] Division processes
[ ] Fractions [ ] Decimals

Can do simple problems involving practical needs of children at grade level [ ]

9. Speech before group:
[ ] Clear and comfortable
[ ] Halting or fused
[ ] Extremely shy

10. Speech difficulty

11. Writing and spelling:

[ ] Does not write
[ ] Uses manuscript
[ ] Uses cursive
[ ] Can copy a simple sentence from the board
[ ] Can write a simple sentence from dictation
[ ] Can write one or more original sentences
[ ] Can do regular work in spelling for grade ____

12. Spells successfully at grade level _____

Can write from dictation at level ______

13. Can write original ideas:

[ ] Not at all [ ] In good form
[ ] Simple sentence [ ] Readable but with errors
[ ] Short paragraph [ ] Unreadable
[ ] Fluently

14. Health problems needing special consideration:

[ ] Energy level [ ] Hearing
[ ] Vision [ ] Seizures
[ ] Limited activity [ ] Other ______

READING CHECKLIST

1. Do you know these letters?

b w c r p b e t L S F G M Y W

2. What are the names of these letters?

d p t a w r n j b v A W R T N P J

3. Recites alphabet orally

4. names alphabet letters from visual presentation
5. Writes letters from name dictation
6. Writes letters from sound dictation
7. Can give the sound of each letter
8. Long vowels
9. Short vowels
10. Read these words:
boy call look help
boys called looks helping

11. Can you read these words?

call swim want cry
calls swimming wanted crying
called swims wants cried

12. Can you read these words?

maybe sometimes hilltop
playground wall paper bedtime

13. Do you know these words?

just will this clean small write
please said went under together here
laugh what after never which about
help walk because buy around always

14. Do you know these words?

into someone playground anywhere downhill

15. I am going to say some words. Point to the first letter of each word.
a b s p r f l c n d

16. Do these the same way:

sh bl sp cr cl dr sl

17. I am going to read several words. Point to the first letter or letters of each word.
m s l r b d bl cr pl dr sh ph

18. Digraphs: Gives sounds from written stimuli: sh th ch wh

Pairs with pictures _________________________________________
Isolates digraphs _________________________________________

19. Blends: Gives sounds from written stimuli:

wr squ sk fr tw spr scr fl tr sp sc dr the sp
pr cr sw sn pl cl kn str sm gr br qu st sl gl bl
Pairs with pictures ________________________________________
Isolated blends ___________________________________________

20. Sound blending from nonsense pattern (C-V-C)9 from written stimuli:
dac pg ris tuv lem pab jox vig fuf hef

21. I will read the first word. Can you read the words under it?
send round teach bone
bend pound reach stone
22. Can you read these words?
bake pin tune fund
can pole hot mile

23. Try these:

coal seed fail gown

24. Do you know these words?

all have many where that how
laugh today away never before just

25. Can you read these words?

pen blow road bun hop
pan blew read bin hope

26. Read these words as fast as you can – HURRY! (word and letter reversals)
pal ___ even ___ no ___ saw ___ raw ___
ten ___ tar ____ won ___ pot ___ rats ___
keep ___ naps ___ tops ___ read ___ meat ___
lap ___ never ___

27. Write each word under one of the headings given below. (If the student does not know a
word, tell him)
work apples oranges mittens sing
peaches peas skip smile socks
hat ham coat beans jump
jacket grapes pie talk gloves

Things to wear Things to eat Things to do

28. Number these words so they will be in alphabetical order in each column. (If the student
does not knew a word, tell him.)
______ day ______ girl _______ when
______ been ______ book _______ all
______ all ______ mother _______ they
______ cow ______ people _______ good
______ fat ______ house _______ tree
______ any ______ very _______ window

29. What do these words mean? (pronounce the words for the student.)
uncle __________________________________________________
coward ________________________________________________
sprout _________________________________________________
balance ________________________________________________
whirling ________________________________________________
30. Which word does not belong? (Say the words for the student)
knife, fork, cup, spoon ______
man, woman, army, child ______
fall, June, spring, winter ______

31. Can you read and complete these sentences?

a. Mother said, “It is time to go to b________.”
b. Dick hit his __________ with the hammer.
c. May likes to drink m_________.

32. This story has some words missing. Try to read the story by guessing the missing words.
“Tim,” _______ Mother, “will you go to the store for me?”
“Sure, ______,” said ______. “What shall I get?”
“I need a _______ of butter, a loaf of ______, and a ________ eggs,” said
______. “Hurry!” ______ ran to the _______ and was soon back.
“That’s a good ______,” said _____. Thank ________ very much.”
“You’re welcome, Mom.” said ______. Thank ______ very much.”
“You’re welcome, Mom.’ Said _____, and he ran off to ______ ball with his
______.

33. Can you divide these words and sound them?

cabbage reply
complain shelter
porcupine melody

34. Story sequencing: Have the student read the story and answer the questions following it.
After supper that evening, we found another dead bird. A few days later, my
father brought in the third robin. It was dead.

“The last one is a strong fellow,’ Father said later, “He may try out his wings
soon. But this little one will have a hard job. There is no one to teach him to
fly. Perhaps he is weak from too little food.”

One day we found the little robin rocking on a twig. I so much wanted this bird
to fly. His wings fluttered. He was off the branch. For a second his wings beat
the air. Then he fell to the ground. His legs kicked once, and he was dead.

“Poor little fellow,” father said. “He didn’t have much of a chance, did he?”

Sadly I cried out, “Oh Dad, it’s all my fault! I killed his mother.” “I know, son. I
saw you do it. It was a thing that many boys have done. But I just wanted you
to see that you cannot hurt anything, anybody without hurting others. Perhaps
you may hurt even the ones who loves you. And so often you yourself are the
one who is hurt most.”

The sentences below tell what happened in the story. Write 1 before happened first.
Write 2 before what happened next, and so on.
 ______ Father showed Harry four young birds in a nest.
______ Father gave Harry an air gun.
______ Three baby birds died in a few days.
______ Harry shot a robin.
______ One of the baby birds tried to fly.
______ One baby bird fell to the ground and died.

MATHEMATICS

The purpose of this section is to provide an estimate of starting places from grade 1 to grade 8.
The place of instruction is the level at which the __________ cannot solve the problems.

Arithmetic

5 4 5 7–1=
Level 1
+2 2 -3
+3

5 3 11 17
Level 2 +8 5 - 3 - 10
8
+2
___
Level 3 35 116 42 3\/669
+42 - 81 x 2
___
$6.50 6\/762 25 692
Level 4
+3.25 42 x 6
+37
___
421 61\/3560 6-1/4 4.8
Level 5 x 53 +3___ 5.2
6.7
+4.9

98.7 + 6.4 + 297.5 + 8 =

___
Level 6
729 39\/874 13-1/2
x 405 72-1/4
+6-1/2

125 + 43751 = .76 4.408

Level 7
15% of 60 gallons =
Find the area of a rectangle 26.2 inches long and 14.8 inches wide
Word Problems
Level 3

1. Sam bought a pencil for 5 cents. He gave the man at the store a quarter. How much
change did he get?
2. There are 28 children in the third grade. Only 25 are here today. How many are
absent?
3. Sam has 8 marbles. Jack has 6 marbles. John has 4 marbles. How many marbles do
the boys have all together.

Level 4

1. Mary, Sally, and Jane each pumped up 4 balls. How many balls did they fix?
2. The class is having a cookie sale. The children put 6 cookies in each paper bag. They
have 96 cookies left. How many bags will this make?
3. Ray bought an airplace for 65 cents. He gave the man at the store a $5 bill. How much
change did he get?

Level 5

1. Tom’s mother bought 4 toothbrushes for 39 cents each. She bought 2 tubes of
toothpaste for 63 cents each. How much did she spend?
2. Paul and his father are going to Los Angeles. If they drive at an average speed of 50
miles an hour, how long will it take them to go the 225 miles?
3. Jack bought a $35 bicycle on sale for $27.50. How much did he save?

Level 6

1. A man can earn $12.40 a day picking cotton. He has been offered a job at the railroad
at $1.75 an hour. On which job can he make more money if he works 8 hours a day?
How much more?
2. The class took a 3-minute reading test to measure reading speech. Mary read 720
words and Catherine read 675 words. How many words a minute did Mary read?
3. A used car costs $325 with $35 down and the rest to be paid in 20 monthly installments.
How much will each monthly payment be?

Level 7

1. A $25 coat is offered for sale at 35% off. How much will it cost?
2. At one store canned milk was for sale at 3 cans for 29 cents. At another store the same
brand was priced at 4 cans for 43 cents. Find the difference in price per can.
3. Mike’s father took a trip of 21.36 miles and used 118 gallons of gasoline?
WRITTEN LANGUAGE

The purpose of this section is to informally assess spelling, writing, and expressing ideas.

1. Print or write the following words:

found court squatting
bonus examine purpose
stampede innocent troubled

2. Dictate the following spelling words to the pupil. Stop when he is unable to go further:

Grade levels
Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth

dog spend besides notice decide stranger subscription

play south inch empty signal attractive describe
want middle paid machine natural vacant alcohol
fish climb talked button groceries suggestion permanent
show glass wrong chocolate success delicious poultry
keep pick fresh neighbor growth religion witness

3. Dictate the following sentences to find out approximately how well the pupil spells when
he is writing sentences:

Grade 2 I have a big dog.

Grade 3 We rode to town on the truck.
Grade 4 I drink a glass of milk with each meal.