Illinois Vision Certification Practice Test

If a child skips a column on the BRL test, what might they be doing?

1. Guessing

2. Suppressing

3. Overestimating

4. Underperforming

The correct answer is: Suppressing

When a child skips a column on the BRL (Braille Readiness Level) test, they may be engaging in suppressing, which involves intentionally avoiding the visual intake of certain information. This behavior can stem from various factors, such as visual difficulties, prior learning experiences, or strategies developed to cope with reading challenges. Suppressing reflects a conscious or subconscious choice made by the child to ignore parts of the test, possibly because they feel overwhelmed or are attempting to focus on aspects they find manageable. In the context of a test designed to assess reading readiness, if a child is suppressing certain columns, it indicates they might be strategically limiting their responses based on their comfort level or apprehension. This distinction is crucial for educators and specialists as understanding the child's cognitive and emotional approach to the test can help tailor interventions or support to improve their reading skills.