How does the AR program determine a student's reading level?

The correct answer is determined by the use of a diagnostic test that assesses both vocabulary and comprehension. This approach provides a comprehensive view of a student's reading skills by measuring their understanding of language and their ability to interpret texts. The diagnostic test typically evaluates how well students grasp the meanings of words and their ability to analyze and draw conclusions from what they read. This information is crucial as it helps educators identify the appropriate reading level for each student, ensuring they are assigned books that match their comprehension abilities and can help them grow as readers.

Other options, such as evaluating attendance or assessing student behavior, do not directly relate to reading proficiency and therefore would not effectively gauge a student's reading level. Likewise, self-assessment questionnaires might provide subjective insights into a student’s perception of their abilities, but they lack the objective measurement that a diagnostic test provides.