Is the ARB an assessment tool?

No, the Alberta Reading Benchmarks is a list of descriptors for reading organized into 7 levels. It does not evaluate learners’ skills or abilities. However, it can be used as the basis for developing formal and informal applications for assessment. It can be used for other purposes such as guiding reading instruction, informing learning plans, discussing learning goals and progress with learners, developing self-assessment tools, providing meaningful feedback to funders, to mention only a few.