First comprehensive measure of morphological awareness
Accurately identifies students ages 6 through 17 at risk for learning disabilities in reading and writing
A powerful predictor of reading and language from Deborah K. Reed, the 2024 Floyd G. Hudson award-winner, and Elizabeth A. Allen, author of the TOSWRF-2, TOSCRF-2, and TOC-2

Ages: 6-0 through 17-11
Testing Time: 20 to 30 minutes
Administration: Individual

The Test of Expressive and Receptive Morphology (TERM) is designed to be a psychometrically sound measure of spoken and written knowledge and use of morphology in school-aged students that can be used to identify students at risk for language impairment or a learning disability. The TERM is designed to assess morphological knowledge within the framework of the receptive and expressive processes and the spoken and written systems of language.

Morphological awareness is known to be a significant predictor of children with Specific Language Impairment (e.g., Hendricks et a., 2019; Rice & Wexler, 1996; Rice, Wexler, & Cleave, 1995). Additionally, the field of reading and learning disabilities has focused on the role of morphological awareness in literacy achievement and dyslexia (e.g., Carlisle & Fleming, 2003; Georgiou et al., 2022; Goodwin et al., 2020; Kieffer & Box, 2013; Reed, 2008). Many studies have suggested that morphological awareness predicts literacy, decoding, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and spelling achievement (e.g., Anglin, 1993; Bowers et al., 2010; Carlisle, 1995; Carlisle & Fleming, 2003; Carlisle & Stone, 2005; Marks et al., 2022; Nagy et al., 2006; Reed, 2008). Because morphological awareness encompasses both spoken and written language skills, multiple tasks are needed to determine students’ abilities (Apel et al., 2022).

The TERM measures morphological awareness using four subtests:

Spoken Morphological Comprehension
Spoken Morphological Expression
Written Morphological Comprehension
Written Morphological Expression

These subtests can be combined to create five composite scores: Receptive Morphological Awareness, Expressive Morphological Awareness, Spoken Morphological Awareness, Written Morphological Awareness, and General Morphological Awareness. The test yields standard scores, percentile ranks, and age equivalents for the subtests and the composites.

The test’s norms are based on a representative sample of 1,051 students from 319 different zip codes. Extensive studies of the floors, ceilings, and item gradients for the TERM’s subtests and composites indicate the test is a consistently excellent measure of morphological awareness across all age and ability levels. Studies of reliability and validity indicate that the TERM is a highly reliable and valid measure of morphological awareness. These studies also indicate that the TERM’s internal structure is sound, and its results are valid for a wide variety of subgroups, as well as for the general population.

Online Scoring and Report System

Access to the all-new TERM Online Scoring and Report System is included with the purchase of the TERM Complete Kit and with the purchase of every replacement pack of Examiner Record Booklets. This scoring and reporting system is a quick, efficient tool for (a) entering test session results; (b) converting subtest item scores or total raw scores into scaled scores; (c) generating composite index scores, percentile ranks, and upper and lower confidence intervals; (d) comparing TERM performances to identify significant intraindividual differences; and (e) obtaining a score summary or narrative report. Inclusion of the software eliminates the need to include normative tables in the Examiner’s Manual and ensures accurate calculation of scores.