TEXES Science of Teaching Reading Practice Test

What is the relationship between phonemic awareness and reading proficiency?

1. Directly proportional

2. Weak correlation

3. No correlation

4. Independently disconnected

The correct answer is: Directly proportional

Phonemic awareness is a critical foundational skill for reading proficiency. It refers to the ability to recognize and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. This skill is essential because it helps learners understand that words are made up of discrete sounds, which they can blend, segment, and manipulate to decode written text effectively. When students develop strong phonemic awareness, they are better equipped to connect sounds to their corresponding letters or groups of letters (graphemes), which is fundamental for learning to read. This relationship is observed through various studies that have shown that students with strong phonemic awareness perform better in reading tasks and have higher reading achievement scores than those who do not have solid phonemic awareness skills. The positive correlation implies that as phonemic awareness increases, reading proficiency tends to increase as well, highlighting the importance of teaching these skills early in literacy instruction. This direct relationship reinforces the need for educators to focus on enhancing phonemic awareness when developing reading programs, as it can have a profound impact on a child's overall reading development.