Journal Article

Test Review: Torgesen, J. K., Wagner, R. K., and Rashotte, C. A. (2012), \Test of Word Reading Efficiency-Second Edition\ (TOWRE-2). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed

Dickens, Rachel H, Meisinger, Elizabeth B, Tarar, Jessica M

2015

Overview

The TOWRE-2 was developed to provide an efficient measure of two essential wordlevel reading skills, sight word reading and phonetic decoding skills. The Sight Word Efficiency (SWE) subtest assesses the number of real words that an individual can read from a vertical list within 45 s. This subtest is designed to measure the size of an individual's sight word vocabulary, or words that can be processed as single orthographic units such that they are recognized quickly and with little effort. In contrast, the Phonemic Decoding Efficiency (PDE) subtest requires examinees to utilize their graphophonetic knowledge to sound out unknown words. The PDE subtest measures the number of nonwords presented in vertical lists that an individual can accurately decode within 45 s. Deficits in one or both these areas are particularly diagnostic of reading problems and represent important areas of assessment. These two subtests combine to yield a Total Word Reading Efficiency (TWRE) index. Its predecessor provided two alternate forms (A and B) for each subtest, but this recent edition has four alternate forms (Forms A, B, C, and D). These additional forms allow the TOWRE-2 to be used as an outcome measure for monitoring students' response to the reading instruction that they are currently receiving.

• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Subject: Accuracy / Decoding (Reading) / Phonetics / Reading Diagnosis / Reading Skills / Reading Tests / Sight Method / Test Construction / Test Reliability / Test Reviews / Test Validity / Testing / Testing Problems / Testing Programs / Word Lists / Word Study Skills