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Running Record Accuracy Levels
How to read 95%, 92% or 88% on a running record, and what to do next with the child and the book.
The three accuracy levels
Running record accuracy is the percentage of words read correctly. Text read at 95% to 100% accuracy is at the child's independent level, 90% to 94% is instructional level, and below 90% is frustration level.
Accuracy % = (running words − errors) ÷ running words × 100
| Accuracy | Level | What to do with this text |
|---|---|---|
| 95 to 100% | Independent | Use for independent reading and fluency practice. Try a harder level for teaching. |
| 90 to 94% | Instructional | Use for guided reading with your support. |
| Below 90% | Frustration | Read it aloud to the child instead, and drop a level for instruction. |
These bands follow the scoring guidance from Reading A-Z. Some published assessment systems raise the bar at higher text levels, so check your program's own chart.
Worked example
A first grader reads a 150-word book and makes 9 errors.
- Words correct: 150 − 9 = 141
- Accuracy: 141 ÷ 150 × 100 = 94%
- Level: instructional, a good book for a guided reading group.
Error rate to accuracy chart
Some teachers record an error rate first (one error for every so many words). This chart converts the most common rates.
| Error rate | Accuracy | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 1:200 | 99.5% | Independent |
| 1:100 | 99.0% | Independent |
| 1:50 | 98.0% | Independent |
| 1:35 | 97.1% | Independent |
| 1:25 | 96.0% | Independent |
| 1:20 | 95.0% | Independent |
| 1:17 | 94.1% | Instructional |
| 1:14 | 92.9% | Instructional |
| 1:12.5 | 92.0% | Instructional |
| 1:11 | 90.9% | Instructional |
| 1:10 | 90.0% | Instructional |
| 1:9 | 88.9% | Frustration |
| 1:8 | 87.5% | Frustration |
| 1:7 | 85.7% | Frustration |
| 1:5 | 80.0% | Frustration |
| 1:3 | 66.7% | Frustration |
What counts as an error on a running record
- Errors: substitutions, omissions, insertions, and words you tell the child after a pause.
- Not errors: self-corrections, repetitions, and consistent pronunciation differences from accent or dialect.
- Skipped lines: many teachers count a whole omitted line as one error rather than one per word. Decide on a rule and use it every time.
Accuracy is only one part of the record
Two children can both score 93% and need very different teaching. After you calculate accuracy, look at three more things.
- Comprehension. Ask for a retell or a few questions. Accuracy without understanding is word calling.
- Error analysis. For each error, ask whether the child was using meaning, sentence structure or the look of the word. Patterns tell you what to prompt for.
- Self-correction. The self-correction ratio shows whether the child is noticing their own errors.
When to move a child up a level
Move up when a child reads several books at the current level with 95% accuracy or better, retells them well, and reads with phrasing rather than word by word. One strong record is a good sign; a pattern across two or three books is a decision.
Frequently asked questions
What accuracy is instructional level on a running record?
Instructional level is 90% to 94% accuracy. The text is challenging enough to teach from with support, but not so hard that meaning breaks down.
What accuracy is independent level?
Independent level is 95% to 100% accuracy. The child can read the text on their own with little or no help.
What accuracy is frustration level?
Below 90% accuracy is usually called frustration level. The child is making too many errors to keep track of the meaning.
How do I convert an error rate to accuracy?
Divide 1 by the second number of the error rate, subtract the result from 1 and multiply by 100. An error rate of 1:20 gives 95% accuracy.
Is accuracy enough to choose a book level?
No. Check comprehension and listen to the reading as well. A child at 96% who cannot retell the story is not ready to read that level independently.
More guides
- How to Calculate WCPM Step-by-step scoring for a timed fluency read, with error rules and grade-level norms.
- Self-Correction Ratio Explained How to work out the SC ratio, what a good ratio looks like, and prompts that build self-monitoring.
- Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Explained Where the formula comes from, how to calculate it by hand, and what it cannot tell you.
- Average Reading Speed by Grade and Age Oral reading fluency norms for Grades 1 to 6 and adult reading speeds, in one place.