Rating Guide *

Step 1    

Identify the task(s) to be considered. In any document, some of the literacy tasks associated with using it are clearly beneath the level where analysis is necessary. Other tasks are more complex and critical to the successful use of the document. The form on the next page (p. 29) can be used as a guide for the rating. Photocopy as many copies of the form as you have tasks to rate.

Step 2    

Decide whether the task has the feature of a Prose, Document use, or Quantitative task. Remember that many quantitative tasks also have a ‘document use’ component. Use your judgement to decide which part of the task adds most to task difficulty.

Step 3    

Rate each complexity factor appropriate to the type of task on the chart provided. The charts and rubrics you will need to complete the ratings can be found on pages 30 to 38. To help you identify which chart is used for which task, the following symbols are used:

Step 4    

Compare the combined ratings for each task with the typical values for each IALS level in the chart on page 39 to arrive at an estimate of complexity. Enter the estimate at the bottom of the rating chart.