The Development of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Malay Language Related Word Reading Text Test / Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

ABSTRACT

A Malay Language Related Reading Text Test was developed to assess reading performance among primary school children. One hundred and twenty normally sighted primary school children were randomly selected from year 2 and 3 (mean age 8.5 ± 0.5 years) and year 4 and 5 (mean age 10.5 ± 0.5 years). Subjects were asked to read all fi ve reading text aloud, correctly and according to their usual reading speed in random order. Time to complete each reading paragraph was recorded and any error or guessing was noted. Reading speed and reading rate were measure as word per minute (wpm). The mean reading speed for grade 1 was 88.81 ± 1.95 (SE) wpm and the reading rate was 87.20 ± 1.98 (SE) wpm. For grade 2, reading speed was 108.12 ± 1.66 (SE) wpm while reading rate was 107.22± 1.67 (SE) wpm. Reading speed and reading rate among subjects were not signifi cantly different (p > 0.05) either for grade 1 or 2 with p value 0.91 and 0.57 respectively. Comparison between each text also showed that there was no signifi cant different (p > 0.05). All texts that were developed were statistically homogenous indicating that the reading texts test can be use in random order and will not affect the reading assessment in primary school children.