Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

Which stage of readers requires most of their mental energy to decode words?

1. Advanced readers

2. Early fluent readers

3. Beginning readers

4. Preliterate readers

The correct answer is: Beginning readers

Beginning readers require most of their mental energy to decode words as they are still mastering the foundational skills necessary for reading. At this stage, learners are typically just starting to understand the relationships between letters and sounds, which involves a significant cognitive load. As beginning readers encounter new words, they spend a lot of time sounding out letters and blending those sounds to form words, which can be taxing and requires substantial concentration. This decoding process is essential for building fluency and eventually leads to comprehension. In contrast, advanced and early fluent readers possess more developed reading skills, allowing them to read with greater ease and focus more on understanding the text rather than laboriously decoding each word. Preliterate readers are not yet at the decoding stage but are developing awareness of print and language in a more exploratory manner. Thus, beginning readers stand out as the group that needs the most mental energy dedicated to decoding words.