What is the average reading level of an adult in the U.S.?
Correct answer: Eighth grade level
Player #73528
Hard to believe that so many americans have such low reading capability. At least, until reading social media posts.
Player #15390792
I wonder if the decline has anything to do with the schools switching from phonics to sight word reading. I taught both my kids to read - one a dyslexic and one who picked up reading easily. I used the same phonics-based program for both. Reading is too painful for a dyslexic without the tools of phonics to unlock the reading "code".
SQinfoNUTS
Player #1195338, I too objected that readers comment. The ability to read, comprehend, and retain information is key to improving your intelligence and your lot in life.
Uninitialized
Player #73528, you just have to ask the average person you meet the last book they read; and, on average how many do they read monthly, yearly.
Player #18923093
I grew up with a speech impediment and began reading very young. When I was attending college I couldn't wait to read for enjoyment during breaks. I couldn't image a life without books.
meldawg
Good grief! This is NOT wonderful news for such an "advanced" and "progressive" country! Absolutely incredible, and not in a good way! Fortunately, I have a much higher reading level than that. My son, who is now 17, had a 3rd year college reading level in 7th grade. I suppose he inherited that trait from me. I'm still shocked though, that our nation's average reading level is so terribly low. It's shameful!
504native
This is hard to believe, I read on average 10 books a month, have checked out 188 books from library since October 2019.
ReactionaryTrail12
WhisperingRover91587, if you don't use it"you will lose it!
Mama Crow
Player #15390792, I agree. I'm an American elementary school teacher, and I have noticed a significant, steady decline in kids' manners, behavior, general knowledge, and academic abilities, across the board, over the past 30 years. It's frustrating and disturbing!
quiltgirlgamer
meldawg, Please be aware all. Our government is causing this dumbing down of society. Easier to control. By making a college education so incredibly expensive, fewer students work toward that level. They are passed along and given the impression that C's and D's are okay.
Callie Rose
A parent need to raise a reader, by reading to babies and continuing to read to children as they grow. My mom (OBM) read to me, I used to love to hear her voice reading a book. She also insisted we read in the bathroom, to not "waste" our time. we always had short subject funny books in the bathroom. When guests would go in, we would often hear them laughing.
Julie
Player #15390792, you are correct. I taught my kids phonics despite what was being taught. They are great readers!
Mars V
IQs are dropping. I try to teach my math students to think independently of me or their textbook or Google…. They don’t like it.
Mars V
I remember when Scout Finch was asked if she loved reading. Her response: “One does not love to breathe.”
Moray
In 2nd grade, a small group in my class required remedial reading instruction. After that year the group had advanced beyond the rest of the class, and promoted to higher levels. By 6th grade this group was speed reading at 500 words per minute. I was in that group. Thank you TEACHER!!!
toe jam
l think most of the contestants on the jeopardy show do alot of reading and memorizing.
Giggle pig
ТАШУНКО САПА, so that he could use them make his money off of their backs.
Maestra
Player Say what!?, CAN I GET AN AMEN? I am a teacher and can tell you that kids’ minds come to me in 9th grade already crippled by the phone. Parents plop their kids down at a very early age and give them a phone- it’s easier than minding them. By the time I get them, their minds have atrophied from the “pretty lights.” They walk the halls at school like Narcissus himself staring into their phones and posing. 🙄
I am Mudd
the education system is set up so that the typical American student is meant to fail. the system gauges on how to take an exam, nor to learn. in response to Urbanm1ke, the immigrants is not always the problem. the language fluency might be lower but I have met many immigrants whose education far exceeds our education system. in their home countries, the kids are reading at the second grade. finishing high school is equivalent to the first 2 years of college. yes, the education has dumbed down the general public.
Bonnie
Uninitialized, Jack & Jill Went Up The Hill?
Kimbo
meldawg, we aren’t as advanced as many countries like we once were.
Waldo Lydeker
this is a dumm question. i can reed better than any eith grader
Urbanm1ke
We have many foreigners coming to our country on a daily basis, where English is there second language. I wonder if this was taken into consideration. Not making excuses, just saying the sample group might have had a lot to do with this. Did they test random adults, or specifically people born here, who grew up in our education system. There are a lot of different factors to consider.
old metal worker
that explains a lot, American people watch to much TV and the real problem is that they believe everything they see.
ТАШУНКО САПА
"I don't want a nation of thinkers, I want a nation of workers..."-John D. Rockefeller
Deirdre
It's just sad.
Donna
Extremely sad that this is a fact about the USA! We should all be ashamed...Americans are better than this OR THEY SHOULD BE!!!
fish
I had no idea! It is slightly sad but as long as they are able to get by in life. I’m actually in 8th grade. I took a test a couple of weeks ago and found out my reading lexile is that of a junior in college.
Player #41536843
I know that Nancy Drew books today are on a much lower reading level than they were originally. Each generation they dumb down a little bit more.
John
I have been a voracious reader all my life. I believe reading and education in general is the key to peace harmony and understanding for all of mankind. Love your neighbor people. No time for hate.
Player Say what!?
A lot of comments are blaming schools and the government. In the last two decades, what has become the prevelant form of communication? Cell phones and computers, both of which auto-correct and predict what you're going to say, thus limiting the need to think about a clever and intelligent paragraph. Grammar and punctuation has gone out the window. Parents are too busy with their own lives to devote quality time. I question the requirements to be a TV anchor as time and again their grammar is deplorable. But, they're still smart people. I don't have an answer.
Guillermo Jr.
thank you NEA!
Player #25910183
Informed consent forms and other forms that are given to patients before enrolling in a clinical trial must be written at an 8th grade level.
Player Leuken
I think that this is directly related to the high school drop-out rate.
Player #28534197
the American system of teaching has been intentionally dumb down so that we will lack the ability to reason for ourselves, thus believing what ever our NEWS outlets want us to believe. look into Horace Mann. he wanted a system for the elite of our nation and a system for everything else.
we were meant to go to factories and labor like dumb brutes for generation after generation. Homeschooling is the answer. if you want your kids to do better than you then they must know how to think! Thinking for yourself is the only way out of the mess our country seems to WANT us to follow.
Laurie
me reed gud! wriet gudder!
Evil Genius
Us adults doesn't read good...
Shellback
In order to advance in enlisted ranks in the U.S. military, written tests are taken. These tests are written at around the grade six level. Food for thought.