In a formal reading assessment, what ability does measuring a student's quick and accurate reading of nonsense words assess?

Measuring a student's quick and accurate reading of nonsense words primarily assesses phonics skills. This is because nonsense words are specifically designed to evaluate a student's ability to decode words based on their understanding of sound-symbol relationships, without the influence of memorized vocabulary. By reading these invented words, students demonstrate their ability to apply phonetic rules and their knowledge of phonemic awareness in reading. This skill is essential for developing overall reading competence, as it lays the foundation for decoding real words and contributes to later reading fluency and comprehension.

In contrast, fluency skills typically involve the ability to read smoothly and at an appropriate pace with expression, often using meaningful texts rather than nonsense words. Vocabulary comprehension focuses on understanding the meanings of words, while reading comprehension pertains to understanding and interpreting the meaning of texts as a whole. Thus, evaluating nonsense word reading is a targeted method to assess the specific phonics skills necessary for successful reading.