Describe the IALS Levels using the information below and the poster on the next page. You might want to put the poster on an overhead transparency to make it easier for everyone to see or provide it as a handout.

Level 1

Individuals have great difficulty reading.
They are generally aware that they have a problem.

Level 2

Individuals are reading, but not well.
They can deal with material that is simple and
clearly laid out.
They often do not recognize their limitations.

Level 3

This is considered by many countries a basic skills
level, but some occupations require higher skills.
Individuals read well, but have some problems
with more complex tasks.

Level 4/5

Individuals have a high level of literacy.
They can meet most reading demands.

See “Highlights from the Second Report of the
International Adult Literacy Survey: Literacy
Skills for the Knowledge Society” for chart
showing literacy levels by country.