Spelling Ability Test [SAT-60]

Description

The Spelling Ability Test (SAT-60) consists of 60 orally presented words that the participant is asked to write correctly. The words are drawn from primary-school reading materials and were selected according to morphological complexity, frequency of occurrence, and educational relevance. They are organized into six equivalent lists of ten words.

Purpose

The test assesses spelling proficiency and the ability to retain and accurately reproduce orthographic patterns, particularly in primary-school students.

Scoring

Each correctly spelled word receives 1 point, with a maximum total score of 60. Accentuation errors are not counted, and administration is discontinued after six consecutive errors.

Validity and Reliability

The SAT-60 shows moderate correlations with the TORP (0.45–0.53). Internal consistency is very high (Cronbach’s α = 0.94), while test-retest reliability between alternative forms reaches 0.91.

Use

The test is mainly used to identify spelling difficulties, detect students at increased risk for specific learning disorders, and monitor progress in written-language development. It may be administered either individually or in groups.

Reference

Padeliadu, S., & Sideridis, G. D. (2000). Discriminant validation of the Test of Reading Performance (TORP) for identification of children with reading difficulties. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 16, 139–146.