Extensive Reading

Reading comprehension level

According to James H. Berry (2005) that level mean different depths of understanding, different analysis of what is meant. These three level of comprehension can be called the literal level, the interpretive level and the applied level. 

·         Literal level (what is actually stated)

The literal level for the sake of wording because it is the most simple.  At this level the reader or student can attempt to answer the question:   Question:   What did the author say?

At this level, the readers would not have to understand the true meaning of a paragraph, however, the readers could memorize the information.

·         Interpretive level (what is implied or meant, rather than what is actually stated)

At the interpretive level the reader or student can attempt to answer this question:   Question: What was meant by what was said?

At this level, the readers are attempting to understand what the author meant by what s/he said in the story, paragraph or textbook.

·         Applied level

At this level the reader or student can attempt to answer this question:   Question:  How would the author’s message apply to other situations given what you memorized and understood at the other two levels?

At this level, the readers are attempting to elevate or raise readers thinking one more “notch” or level to a more critical, analyzing level.  This presumes that the readers have already reached the previous two levels. 

It can be concluded that reading comprehension level divided into three, there are :  literal level, what is actually stated. Memorization and Surface understanding only. In this category are objective tests. So, interpretive level (what is implied or meant, rather than what is actually stated), making conclusion what the readers understand from the text. In this category are subjective tests. And the last, applied level. In this level we are analyzing or synthesizing information and applying it to other information.

Adopted from:                                                                                                 

Berry, James H. 2005. Levels of reading comprehension. Retrieved from: (www.sc4.edu)