French Youth Facing Reading: New Methodological Areas for the Massive Evaluation of Cognitive Performances

Every year, reading performance of about 700.000 young people is assessed in the framework of a day (JAPD, Journee d'Appel de Preparation a la Defense) organised by the French ministry of army. These tests changed recently due to some constraints of test administration & the taking into account of the results of the previous version of the test. Based on the results collected over the years 2004-2008, this paper presents the methodological design of this large span evaluation of reading. This study is an occasion to moderate the binary oppositions between literate & illiterate, & to show that various more or less efficient ways of reading, characterize this activity. For some young people, the switch from schooling to active professional life implies a new relation with written language. The school, which is the main location of reading & writing solicitation, will be replaced by economical activities. For some young people, the relation with writing will be definitively distended. Adapted from the source document