Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

What does a "sight word" primarily refer to?

1. A word that can be spelled phonetically

2. A word that is commonly recognized and understood

3. A word that students must memorize without decoding

4. A word only used in academic writing

The correct answer is: A word that students must memorize without decoding

A sight word primarily refers to a word that students must memorize without decoding. This concept is vital in early literacy instruction, as many sight words do not follow standard phonetic rules or patterns, making them difficult to sound out reliably. By mastering sight words, students can read more fluently and focus on comprehension rather than trying to decode every single word. While recognizing that sight words are often high-frequency words that appear frequently in text, the core idea behind the term "sight word" emphasizes the need for instant recognition, which significantly aids in developing reading fluency. Words such as “the,” “was,” and “said” are prime examples of sight words. The other options do not fully capture the essence of what sight words are. Although some sight words can indeed be spelled phonetically, many cannot, and thus, phonetic spelling does not define them. Sight words are frequently recognized and understood, but this recognition comes from memorization rather than straightforward understanding. Finally, sight words are not limited to academic writing; they appear across various types of text.