The six bands
Grouped by reading. Advanced by evidence.
A band describes how a reader reads today — not their age, their grade, or where they ought to be. The same story exists at up to six bands, so moving up is a step inside a story the reader already knows.
- Purple band189 ready now
Pre-readers and first readers · about 4 to 5
Read with an adult. Short sections, a picture for every part of the story, and a colouring page. The adult reads first; the child reads along and retells.
About 350 words in five short sections, 18-point type, four pictures and a colouring page. Read by the adult first.
- Yellow band179 ready now
Emerging readers · about 6 to 8
Read together, then alone. Simple sentences, four pictures, pause questions along the way, and Words to Know at the end.
About 550 words, 16-point type, four pictures, pause questions. Read together, then alone.
- Green band35 ready now
Independent readers, early · about 8 to 10
Read alone with a check-in. Longer sections, fuller sentences, three pictures, and questions that ask why as well as what.
About 800 words, 14-point type, three pictures. Questions ask why as well as what.
- Blue band32 ready now
Independent readers, confident · about 10 to 12
Read alone. A thousand words of real prose, two pictures, vocabulary in context, and discussion that asks for evidence.
About 1,000 words, two pictures, vocabulary in context. Discussion asks for evidence from the text.
- Red band2 ready now
Complex language and analysis · teens
The original voice, lightly cut. Period language kept where it carries the story, with a note on the era. Questions of judgment.
Longer, in the original voice, lightly cut; period language kept with a note on the era. Questions of judgment.
- Silver band1 ready now
Adult and advanced · adults
The text as an adult reads it, with the About page as a companion. For the parent at the same table, and for anyone reading literature again.
The text as an adult reads it, with the About page as companion. For the parent at the same table.
Ages are a guide, not a rule. The reading profile places each reader from what you observe; the Quick Checks tell you when to move.