What is the minimum level of word reading accuracy needed for a student to comprehend their reading?

For a student to effectively comprehend what they are reading, a minimum level of word reading accuracy of about 95% is generally considered necessary. This level allows them to recognize and process the vast majority of words without significant difficulty, which is crucial for understanding text. When a student reads with 95% accuracy, they can focus on making meaning of the text rather than spending too much time decoding individual words.

If a student reads at a lower accuracy rate, they may find it challenging to grasp overall comprehension, as the frequent decoding errors can create confusion and detract from understanding the main ideas and details within the text. This threshold ensures that students have a solid foundation of word recognition, which supports smoother reading fluency and engagement with content.