The two reading purposes and four comprehension processes form the basis for assessing PIRLS as well as ePIRLS online reading. Exhibit 2 presents the reading purposes and processes assessed by PIRLS and the percentages of the assessment devoted to each.
Exhibit 2: Percentages of the PIRLS and ePIRLS Reading Assessments Devoted to Each Reading Purpose and Comprehension Process
| PIRLS | ePIRLS | |
| Purposes for Reading | ||
| Literary Experience | 50% | 0% |
| Acquire and Use Information | 50% | 100% |
| Processes of Comprehension | ||
| Focus on and Retrieve Explicitly Stated Information | 20% | 20% |
| Make Straightforward Inferences | 30% | 30% |
| Interpret and Integrate Ideas and Information | 30% | 30% |
| Evaluate and Critique Content and Textual Elements | 20% | 20% |