Official FA-2 Tool-2 TaRL (Teaching at the Right Level) Testing Guidelines for 2026-27, issued by SCERT Andhra Pradesh along with the FA-2 proceedings (Rc.No.3426774/FA-2/SCERT/2026). These guidelines explain how the TaRL baseline assessment for Telugu, Mathematics and English is integrated with Formative Assessment-2 for Classes III, IV and V, including the exact level-by-level testing process, the Telugu and English reading levels (Beginner to Comprehension), the Mathematics operation levels (No Operations to Word Problem), and the common instructions School Complex Headmasters, MEOs and CRPs must follow while administering the FA Tool-2 / OMR Sheet assessment in Andhra Pradesh schools.
Quick overview:
- Applies to Classes III, IV and V only, as part of FA-2 / Self-Assessment Model Paper-II.
- Covers three subjects: Telugu, Mathematics and English.
- The assessment is conducted individually, in a friendly and stress-free environment.
- Only the highest level achieved by the child is recorded — in the OMR Sheet (Tool-2) and the School Learning Progress Sheet.
- Telugu and English follow the same 6-level reading progression (Beginner → Comprehension); Mathematics follows a 6-level operations progression (No Operations → Word Problem).
A. TaRL Telugu Testing Process
The TaRL baseline assessment is integrated into the FA-2 examinations. The Assessment Booklet/Tool-2 includes the relevant testing components. The writing component, where applicable, is administered to the child but its marks are not entered in the OMR sheet.
TaRL Telugu Levels
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | Beginner Level |
| 1 | Letter Level |
| 2 | Word Level |
| 3 | Paragraph Level |
| 4 | Story Level |
| 5 | Comprehension Level |
- Start from Paragraph Level. Begin testing at Paragraph Level (Level 3). Show the child the paragraph and ask the child to read.
- Paragraph Level. If the child reads the paragraph fluently and without major difficulty, proceed to Story Level. If the child makes more than 3 errors, reads word-by-word, or is not fluent, move down to Word Level (Level 2).
- Word Level. Show the 10 words and ask the child to read any 5 words. If the child cannot choose, use the first 5 words. If at least 4 out of 5 are read correctly, record Word Level (Level 2). Otherwise proceed to Letter Level.
- Letter Level. Show the 10 letters and ask the child to read any 5 letters. If the child cannot choose, use the first 5 letters. If at least 4 out of 5 are read correctly, record Letter Level (Level 1). Otherwise record Beginner Level (Level 0).
- Story Level. If the child reads the paragraph fluently, show the Story section and ask the child to read it aloud. If the child reads the story fluently, proceed to Comprehension Level. If the child is not fluent or makes more than 3 errors, record Paragraph Level (Level 3).
- Comprehension Level. After the child reads the story, ask the prescribed two comprehension questions. If the child answers BOTH questions correctly, record Comprehension Level (Level 5). If not, do not record Level 5; record the highest level otherwise achieved (Story Level, Level 4).
Key rule: Story reading alone is not sufficient for Level 5. The child must answer both comprehension questions correctly.
B. TaRL Mathematics Testing Process
Mathematics testing includes Number Operations and Word Problems. Number recognition is used for teacher awareness and is recorded in the School Learning Progress Sheet; the final TaRL level is determined from the arithmetic operations and word-problem performance.
TaRL Mathematics Levels
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | No Operations (Beginner) |
| 1 | Addition |
| 2 | Subtraction |
| 3 | Multiplication |
| 4 | Division |
| 5 | Word Problem |
- Arithmetic Operations: Test the operations in this order: Addition → Subtraction → Multiplication → Division. At each operation, the child must solve at least 2 out of 2 questions correctly to proceed to the next operation.
- Division Level: If the child successfully reaches Division Level, assess the prescribed division problems. The child must solve BOTH division problems correctly to demonstrate the Division Level and proceed to Word Problems.
- Word Problem Level: After successful completion of the required Division assessment, administer the two prescribed Word Problems. The child must solve BOTH word problems correctly to be recorded at Word Problem Level (Level 5).
Key rule: Solving only one of the two word problems is not sufficient for Level 5. Both word problems must be solved correctly.
C. TaRL English Testing Process
The English assessment follows the same level structure and progression logic as the Telugu reading assessment.
TaRL English Levels
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | Beginner Level |
| 1 | Letter Level |
| 2 | Word Level |
| 3 | Paragraph Level |
| 4 | Story Level |
| 5 | Comprehension Level |
- Start from Paragraph Level. Begin testing at Paragraph Level (Level 3). Show the child the paragraph and ask the child to read.
- Paragraph Level. If the child reads the paragraph fluently and without major difficulty, proceed to Story Level. If the child makes more than 3 errors, reads word-by-word, or is not fluent, move down to Word Level (Level 2).
- Word Level. Show the 10 words and ask the child to read any 5 words. If the child cannot choose, use the first 5 words. If at least 4 out of 5 are read correctly, record Word Level (Level 2). Otherwise proceed to Letter Level.
- Letter Level. Show the 10 English letters and ask the child to read any 5 letters. If the child cannot choose, use the first 5 letters. If at least 4 out of 5 are read correctly, record Letter Level (Level 1). Otherwise record Beginner Level (Level 0).
- Story Level. If the child reads the paragraph fluently, show the Story section and ask the child to read it aloud. If the child reads the story fluently, proceed to Comprehension Level. If the child is not fluent or makes more than 3 errors, record Paragraph Level (Level 3).
- Comprehension Level. After the child reads the story, ask the prescribed two comprehension questions. If the child answers BOTH questions correctly, record Comprehension Level (Level 5). If not, do not record Level 5; record the highest level otherwise achieved (Story Level, Level 4).
Key rule: English follows the same comprehension rule as Telugu — both prescribed questions must be answered correctly for Level 5.
D. Common Instructions
- Record only the highest level successfully achieved by the child.
- Conduct the assessment individually and maintain a friendly, encouraging and stress-free environment.
- Show only the relevant section of the Testing Tool by folding the sheet as required.
- At Paragraph/Story level, repeated mistakes on the same word should be counted as one error only.
- Use the prescribed sample rotation for the assessment cycle.
- The highest achieved level should be recorded in the OMR Sheet (Tool-2) and the School Learning Progress Sheet, as applicable.
Level Summary
| Subject | Level Progression |
|---|---|
| Telugu / English | 0 Beginner → 1 Letter → 2 Word → 3 Paragraph → 4 Story → 5 Comprehension |
| Mathematics | 0 No Operations → 1 Addition → 2 Subtraction → 3 Multiplication → 4 Division → 5 Word Problem |
