What is the reading level called when a student is unable to pronounce many words or comprehend the material satisfactorily?

The reading level described when a student struggles to pronounce many words or understand the material adequately is termed the frustration level. At this level, the text is too difficult for the student, leading to high errors in word recognition and comprehension that can hinder effective reading. This level reflects a lack of readiness to tackle the material independently, often resulting in feelings of frustration as the student attempts to engage with the text without sufficient skill or understanding.

In contrast, fluency refers to the ability to read smoothly and accurately, independent reading level denotes texts that a student can read comfortably on their own, and instructional reading level consists of texts that can be tackled with some assistance and support from a teacher or peers. Each of these levels serves a different purpose in assessing a student's reading capabilities.