Updated November 2026 · free, works in your browser
Formula
Progress (%) = skills ticked ÷ total skills in the grade band × 100, rounded to a whole number. Stages: under 25% just starting, 25–49% building, 50–74% developing, 75–99% nearly there, 100% fully covered.
An information literacy skills checklist shows which research and source-evaluation skills your students have already been taught and which are still missing. Pick a grade band, tick the skills you have covered, and the tool shows a progress percentage with the remaining gaps listed.
How to use the checklist
- Choose a grade band: K–2, 3–5, 6–8 or 9–12.
- Tick each skill your class or school has already taught. A few boxes are pre-ticked as an example, so use Clear to start from zero or Tick all to start from full.
- Read the progress percentage, the number of skills covered and the stage shown under the bar.
- Check the list of gaps. These are the unticked skills, so they make a natural shortlist for your next lessons.
- Switch to another grade band to review it separately. Each band keeps its own ticks, and the link button saves everything in one address you can share with colleagues.
How it is calculated
Progress is a simple share: the number of skills ticked divided by the total number of skills in the selected band, multiplied by 100 and rounded to a whole number.
Progress (%) = ticked skills ÷ total skills × 100
- Ticked skills: the skills you marked as taught in that band.
- Total skills: the eight skills listed for the band.
The skill lists are a general-purpose checklist built around common research habits: asking questions, searching, judging sources, using information responsibly and giving credit. They are not a copy of any official standard, so match them against the framework your school or district follows.
| Progress | Stage shown | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–24% | Just starting | Most skills still need introducing. |
| 25–49% | Building | Foundations are in place; plan the next units. |
| 50–74% | Developing | About half or more is covered; focus on the gaps. |
| 75–99% | Nearly there | Only a few skills remain. |
| 100% | Fully covered | Every listed skill has been taught; consider revisiting for depth. |
Frequently asked questions
What is information literacy?
It is the ability to recognise when information is needed, find it, judge how reliable it is, use it well and credit its source.
Does a ticked box mean students have mastered the skill?
No. A tick records that the skill has been taught. Mastery needs separate assessment such as work samples, observation or short quizzes.
Which grade band should I choose for mixed-age groups?
Start with the band that matches most of the group. You can then open the band below or above it to see where individual students may need support or a challenge.
Can I use this as a school-wide benchmark?
You can use it as a rough planning aid and conversation starter. For formal reporting, use the benchmarks your school or education authority has adopted.
Is my data stored anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser. If you want to keep a result, copy the link, which stores the ticks in the address itself.
From planning to the road
Many teachers and librarians take what they learn from a checklist like this to workshops, conferences and training days in other cities. If you are heading to one, it helps to choose accommodation near the venue with a quiet desk, reliable internet and an easy commute, so the evenings can go to reviewing notes and planning how to fill the gaps back in your own school.
Other tools
- School Library Program Self-Assessment ChecklistRate 16 statements about your school library program and get a score per area plus an action list.
- Reading Level CalculatorPaste a text and see its Flesch-Kincaid grade level, reading ease score, and word, sentence and syllable counts.
- Citation GeneratorTurn book or website details into a formatted APA, MLA or Chicago reference and in-text citation.
This is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with Washington Library Media Association.