Standardized reading tests and associated issues involved in the teaching of reading skills are discussed, with illustrative examples of reading tests commonly used in Australia. The nature of standardized reading tests is analyzed, and the circumstances under which such tests should be used are outlined. Interpretation of scores from standardized reading tests and guidelines for judging the usefulness of the tests are discussed. Tests used in the Australian community include the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) Primary Reading Survey, the ACER Word Identification Test, the Cooperative Reading Comprehension Test, the GAP and GAPADOL Reading Comprehension Tests, Neale Analysis of Reading Ability, Progressive Achievement Tests, Schonell Reading Tests, and Standard Reading Tests. The tests are analyzed according to the appropriateness of their items to the stated purpose of the tests, item quality, reliability and validity, norms, and convenience. For some of the instruments, passage dependence is analyzed. (TJH)