Development and Validation of Urdu Reading Comprehension Test (URCT) for 3rd Grade Students

Abstract

Reading comprehension is one of the most desired skills for today's generation to succeed academically and professionally. It is how we comprehend the written words that we read. It is the reason why reading is important, why we teach it, and why we value it. Additionally, it is necessary for effective text-based learning. Reading comprehension helps students to excel in learning and writing. The foremost objective of this study was to develop and validate a test to measure Reading comprehension of 3rd grade students. Urdu Reading Comprehension Test (URCT) with three sub-levels of comprehension: Literal, Re-organization and Inferential. This study was done in five (5) steps (development and validation of test, findings, conclusion and recommendations). Initially, the test was comprised of 8 passages and 40 items are inductive and every passage contained 5 items. Validity and reliability was ensured by using MS Excel 2021. The results of the test affirmed that it is a valid and reliable; reduced to Thirty-four (34) items out of which twelve (12) items retained for the literal level, fourteen (14) items for re-organization level and eight (08) items retained for inference level. The results consequently provided evidence to use Urdu Reading Comprehension Test (URCT) to identify and measure reading comprehension among 3rd grade students.