What is a characteristic of texts at the frustrational reading level?

Texts at the frustrational reading level are characterized by presenting significant challenges for the reader. This level indicates that the text is difficult for the reader to understand, often due to complex vocabulary, sentence structures, or concepts that exceed the reader's current abilities. When a reader encounters text that is frustrational, they typically struggle to make meaning and may often feel overwhelmed or discouraged.

In contrast, texts that are easily understood or consist solely of sight words are more aligned with independent or instructional reading levels, where comprehension is more achievable. Additionally, texts that are deemed appropriate for a reader's age group may not inherently reflect the reading difficulty; they might still fall within a range that the reader can comfortably manage, unlike those at the frustrational level, which disrupt fluency and understanding.