Once you know how a learner reads, you will know the type of reading strategies to use and how best to instruct the learner. For example, CARA can tell you how learners decode unfamiliar words.

When doing any assessment, it is important to make the learner feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible. Tell the learner that it is not a pass/fail test, but a test to see how they read. Explain the assessment, why you are doing the assessment and what you will do with the results. There are simple things that an assessor can do when administering CARA that can make a big difference in the comfort level of the learner, such as:

• Maintaining an easygoing style and appearing relaxed.
• Doing simple things, such as getting the learner a coffee before they start the assessment.
• Doing an informal and brief interview for background information.
• Outlining clearly and precisely what the purpose of the assessment is.

When the assessment is completed, the assessor shares the results with the learner. Grade scores do not have to be given, but show the learner their strengths and what they need to work on.