What Parents Often Feel and What to Do Next
Recently, a parent called the Centre very upset after receiving her child’s comprehension results. The score was much lower than expected. She was frustrated, disappointed, and blamed herself. At the same time, she was anxious unsure of what the result actually meant and what steps to take next.
If you have ever found yourself in a similar situation, you are not alone.
A low comprehension score can feel overwhelming, but it is important to pause before jumping to conclusions.
First: this is not just about one test
Comprehension is not a single skill. It depends on several underlying abilities working together, including:
- Reading accuracy (can the child decode the words?)
- Vocabulary knowledge (do they understand the meaning of the words?)
- Working memory (can they hold information while reading?)
- Attention and focus
- Background knowledge of the topic
When a child scores low, it does not automatically mean they are “not good at reading.” It simply tells us that something in this chain needs support.
The emotional reaction is understandable
Parents often react in three ways at once:
- Self-blame: “I should have done more.”
- Frustration: “They are capable, why is this happening?”
- Fear: “Is my child falling behind permanently?”
These feelings are real, but they are not the full picture of what is happening academically.
A test result is information not a judgment.
What may actually be going on
In many cases, we see that children with low comprehension scores are struggling with one or more of the following:
- They can read the words, but do not understand what they are reading.
- They read slowly and forget what they read at the beginning of a passage.
- They struggle with vocabulary used in textbooks.
- They guess answers based on parts of the passage rather than full understanding.
- They become tired quickly when reading longer texts.
Sometimes the issue is decoding. Sometimes it is language comprehension. Often, it is a combination of both.
What you can do next
If your child receives a low comprehension score, here are practical next steps:
- Stay calm and avoid immediate punishment or pressure.
Your child is likely already aware that reading is difficult. - Ask for clarification from the school.
Find out whether the difficulty is in reading accuracy, understanding, or both. - Observe at home.
Does your child understand stories when you read aloud to them? Do they remember what was read? - Support reading in small, low-pressure ways.
Short reading sessions are more effective than long, stressful ones. - Consider a full literacy assessment if concerns persist.
This helps identify the specific area of difficulty so support can be targeted.
A message for parents
It is easy to interpret a low score as a reflection of parenting. In reality, learning differences such as dyslexia or language based difficulties are not caused by lack of effort at home.
What matters most is not the score itself, but what is done after the score.
With the right understanding and support, children can make meaningful progress even if they start from a very low point.
From our assessment room
We often meet children who are described as “careless” or “not trying,” but once we begin working with them, a different picture emerges. Many are trying extremely hard far harder than anyone realizes but are using strategies that are not effective for their specific learning profile.
When they are given targeted support, parents are often surprised by how quickly things begin to change.
The first step is not panic. It is understanding.