What does CLOZE reading assess?

CLOZE reading assessments primarily focus on a student's comprehension of a text. This method involves providing a passage with certain words removed, requiring the student to fill in the blanks. While doing so, the student must rely on their understanding of the context, content, and meaning of the text to determine the appropriate words to complete the passage. This process inherently requires an evaluation of the student’s ability to grasp the overall message and details of the reading material.

While decoding words and vocabulary knowledge may be indirectly involved in the process, the central aim of CLOZE reading is to see how well students can understand and interpret the text as a whole, rather than focusing solely on isolated skills or specific grammar rules.