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# Still in stages 1 or 2. When students keep making errors in Stages 1 & 2, can teachers still progress them on?

| Yes, students can often progress, even if they are still making some errors in Stages 1 or 2. While many teachers hold firmly to the 80 - 85% accuracy rule, both PLD and the Science of Reading support a more flexible, responsive approach based on student data and instructional pace.

The percentage converter in the PLD mammals outlines acceptable error margins:

* **Stage 1:** Students are permitted to make up to ***two errors per target***. The converter provides cut-off scores such as 60% (Targets 2 & 3), 71% (Target 2), and 77% (Target 4). These do ***not*** suggest a student needs to be held at that level for a full term - typically, a week or two of consolidation is sufficient before progressing.

* **Stages 2 - 6:** Students are permitted to make up to ***four errors per stage***. A score of around 75% indicates that a student may be ready to progress after a short period of review.

From a Science of Reading perspective, students benefit from working within their zone of proximal development. If a student is still showing some Stage 1 errors, for example scoring 66% or 77%, but is already achieving 40% or more in Stage 2, this indicates they may be ready to move forward. Holding them back too long can hinder growth and engagement.

A common oversight is failing to “look right” on the tracking sheet - teachers may focus on where a student dips below 80% without noticing stronger performance in later stages. This often leads to students being placed at levels below where they are actually capable of working. 

![The % Converter located in the Screening Manuals: https://pld-literacy.org/pld-catalogue-request/](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/6/7/a/e/67ae980d1c7d2000/faq-for-crisp-google-docs-06-2_k1k6kr.png)
For the most accurate guidance, we recommend booking a Support Session and sharing your Tracking Sheets and sample work, so our consultants can provide tailored advice.

![Book support sessions through the home page: Zoom, Teams, phone call or emailed support](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/6/7/a/e/67ae980d1c7d2000/faq-for-crisp-google-docs-06-2_9wiy61.png)



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