ELA Baseline Screener
ELA Diagnostic Screener
Student Baseline Assessment Booklet
Confidential
Student Name
Date
Teacher / Room
Period / Time
Assessment Sections
Sec 1 Decoding
Sec 2 Vocab
Sec 3 Reading
Sec 4 Writing
Section 1: Phonics & Multisyllable Decoding
Part A: Phonics Patterns. Read each word aloud. Teacher checks accuracy.
1. splint
2. stride
3. gleam
4. scorch
5. sprout
6. crumble
7. glance
8. shriek
Part B: Multisyllable Words. Read each word aloud. Teacher checks accuracy.
1. magnify
2. transport
3. continent
4. investigate
5. ecosystem
6. distribute
7. accomplish
8. fluctuation
9. biodiversity
10. hypothesis
11. unprecedented
12. archaeology
Part C: Nonsense Words (Make-Believe Words). Read each made-up word using phonics rules.
1. drap
2. flimpt
3. vost
4. thraze
5. blount
6. quarp
7. splender
8. rembist
Part D: Syllable Breakdown. Draw slashes ( / ) between each syllable.
1. Two Syllables m u s h r o o m
2. Three Syllables c o n n e c t i o n
3. Three Syllables s u b m a r i n e
4. Four Syllables e n e r g e t i c
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Section 2: Vocabulary & Word Study
Greek & Latin Roots, Academic Vocabulary & Context Clues
Word Meaning
Part A: Greek & Latin Roots. Match each root word on the left to its correct meaning on the right by writing the letter on the blank.
1. struct (construct, structure) ___
A. to carry or move
2. port (transport, portable) ___
B. to build or form
3. vis / vid (visible, video) ___
C. to break or burst
4. tract (attract, distract) ___
D. to see or look
5. rupt (erupt, disrupt) ___
E. to hear or listen
6. aud (audience, audio) ___
F. to pull or drag
Part B: Academic Vocabulary. Choose the word closest in meaning to the bold word.
1. Which word means the same as essential?
A) necessary & required
B) extra or optional
2. Which word means the same as clarify?
A) make confusing
B) explain clearly
3. Which word means the same as diverse?
A) varied & different
B) identical & same
4. Which word means the same as consequence?
A) a result or effect
B) a starting plan
Part C: Context Clues. Circle the correct meaning of the bold underlined word based on sentence clues.
- Even though the heavy storm caused severe flooding, the bridge was sturdy and remained standing.
A) slippery B) strong & firm C) invisible D) broken
- The detective had to scrutinize the muddy footprint carefully to identify the tread pattern.
A) examine closely B) quickly erase C) ignore D) step over
- Jordan was reluctant to audition for the solo because he felt nervous in front of crowds.
A) hesitant / unsure B) extremely eager C) proud D) amused
- During the spring harvest, apples were abundant in the orchard, filling dozens of large crates.
A) plentiful in supply B) rotten & spoiled C) extremely rare D) hard to find
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Section 3: Reading Comprehension (Part 1)
Read each passage and answer the questions below.
Reading Passage 1
The Deep Sea Glow
Deep in the ocean where sunlight cannot reach, it is completely dark. Many sea animals make their own light. This special glowing power is called bioluminescence. Some fish glow to scare away hungry predators. Other creatures, like the anglerfish, use a glowing tip on their head to attract small fish for dinner. Glow-in-the-dark light helps animals survive in the dark sea.
1. What is the main idea of the passage?
A) The ocean is completely filled with bright sunlight.
B) Deep sea animals create light to help them survive.
C) Anglerfish only swim near the top of the water.
D) All ocean fish are afraid of the dark.
2. How does the anglerfish catch food?
A) By hiding under sand on the beach
B) By swimming fast to the ocean surface
C) By using a glowing light to attract prey
D) By scaring other fish with loud sounds
Reading Passage 2
The Whispering Forest
Trees in a forest may look quiet, but scientists discovered they communicate through an underground network. Beneath the soil, tiny mushroom threads called mycelium connect the root systems of different trees. When an insect attacks one tree, that tree sends chemical warning signals through the fungal network to neighboring trees. The alerted trees quickly produce bitter chemicals in their leaves to protect themselves from pests.
1. What can you infer about the relationship between trees and fungi?
A) Fungi destroy trees by eating their leaf buds.
B) Trees and fungi work together to share information.
C) Fungi prevent trees from absorbing rainwater.
D) Trees survive better when they grow completely alone.
2. What does the word alerted mean in the passage?
A) Warned of incoming danger
B) Damaged by severe weather
C) Cut down by foresters
D) Fast asleep during winter
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Section 3: Reading Comprehension (Part 2)
Read each passage and answer the questions below.
Reading Passage 3
The Secret Codebreakers
During World War II, military intelligence relied heavily on secret coded messages. In Britain, a dedicated team of mathematicians, linguists, and chess champions assembled at a mansion named Bletchley Park. Among them was Alan Turing, who designed an electro-mechanical machine to decipher the intricate German Enigma cipher. By intercepting and translating enemy plans, these analysts helped shorten the war significantly, saving millions of lives through rigorous problem solving.
1. Which detail shows that deciphering codes required diverse skills?
A) Military commanders sent short letters to families.
B) The team included mathematicians, linguists, and chess players.
C) Soldiers built large ships along the English coast.
D) The messages were sent during stormy nighttime weather.
2. What is the author's primary purpose in this text?
A) To convince readers to play competitive chess tournaments
B) To explain how Bletchley Park codebreakers influenced the war
C) To criticize early mechanical computers for breaking down
D) To describe the architectural layout of British mansions
Reading Passage 4
The Urban Heat Island Effect
Dense metropolitan cities often experience temperatures several degrees higher than surrounding rural suburbs, a phenomenon known as the Urban Heat Island effect. Massive expanses of asphalt, concrete buildings, and dark rooftops absorb solar radiation during the day and continuously radiate thermal heat at night. Furthermore, the scarcity of vegetation reduces natural shade and moisture evaporation. To mitigate this escalating challenge, urban planners are now implementing green roofs, planting canopy trees, and applying reflective coatings to roadways.
1. Based on the text, what is a primary cause of higher city temperatures?
A) Concrete and asphalt surfaces absorb and re-emit heat.
B) Cities have higher amounts of natural tree canopies.
C) Rural areas use more reflective roadway paint.
D) Cities receive significantly more hours of direct daylight.
2. What does the word mitigate most likely mean?
A) To make something much more severe or dangerous
B) To reduce or make less harmful
C) To document in a written historical record
D) To calculate using advanced mathematical formulas
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Section 4: Sentence & Paragraph Writing
Grammar, Sentence Construction & Written Expression
Diagnostic Part 4
Part A: Mechanics & Editing. Rewrite the sentence below with correct capitalization and punctuation.
Error Sentence: "after school on tuesday marcus and i walked to central park because the weather was warm"
Write Corrected Sentence:
Part B: Sentence Combining. Combine the two simple sentences into one compound or complex sentence using a linking word (because, although, while, so, but).
Sentences: "Maya practiced her flute every evening." / "She performed flawlessly at the concert."
Combined Sentence:
Part C: Diagnostic Paragraph Response
Goal: 4–6 Complete Sentences
Writing Prompt:
Think about a time you had to learn a difficult skill or solve a tough problem. Explain what made the task challenging and describe the steps you took to accomplish it.
Topic Sentence
2+ Supporting Details
Concluding Sentence
Capitals & Periods
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