# Reading Detective® A1 (Free)

> Critical thinking app for reading comprehension, analysis, and vocabulary for grades 5-6. (iPhone/iPad app by The Critical Thinking Company.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-detective-a1-free/id978177109 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [The Critical Thinking Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/882929408)
- Category: Education, Games
- Price: Free
- Rating: 2.50/5 from 2 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 7.0 · 30 MB
- Languages: English, German
- Released: 2015-06-12
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-detective-a1-free/id978177109/reviews.md

## What is Reading Detective® A1 (Free)?

Using Higher-Order Thinking to Improve Reading Comprehension

Teaches a depth of analysis that guarantees superior reading comprehension, top grades, and higher test scores! 

The standards-based critical thinking activities of Reading Detective® develop the analysis, synthesis, and vocabulary skills students need for exceptional reading comprehension. The activities are especially effective at helping students understand more challenging reading concepts such as drawing inferences, making conclusions, determining cause-and-effect, and using context clues to define vocabulary.

Students read and analyze short literature passages and stories that include fiction and nonfiction genres. Then they answer multiple-choice questions, citing sentence evidence to support their answers.

The Grades 5–6 (A1) level includes mixed-skills throughout and provides an introductory lesson for each skill.

Reading and literary analysis skills are based on grade-level standards.

Features
     - 51 activities; 350 questions (when upgrade to paid app)
     - Question hints
     - Explanations of answers
     - Detailed help
     - Detailed student statistics
     - Progress/award certificates
     - Ad-free

This app won the following awards: Cathy Duffy 101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum, Creative Child Magazine Media of the Year Award, Informal Education Products Product of the Year, Learning® Magazine Teacher's Choice Award, Mensa Recommended Materials for the Gifted, The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

Authors: Cheryl Block, Carrie Beckwith, Margaret Hockett, and David White
Subject: Language Arts
Grades: 5-6

Reading Detective® guarantees top performance on assessment tests, including:

Stanford Achievement Test™ (SAT/10)
California Achievement Tests (CAT/6)
Iowa Tests of Basic Skills® (ITBS®)
Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT)
Florida State Assessment (FSA)
Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP)
Palmetto Assessment Challenge Test (PACT)
New York State English Language Arts (ELA) Test
Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP)
State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) 
Ohio Proficiency Test
Kansas State Assessments
North Carolina End of Grade Tests
North Carolina Competency Tests
Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS)
Indiana Statewide Test for Educational Progress (ISTEP)
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS)
Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL)
Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT)
Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA)
California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR)
and many more!

## Key features

- Higher-order thinking activities
- Reading comprehension improvement
- Vocabulary skill development
- Analysis of literature passages
- Evidence-based question answering
- Progress tracking and certificates


## Frequently asked questions about Reading Detective® A1 (Free)

### What is Reading Detective A1?

Reading Detective A1 is a free educational app designed to improve reading comprehension and analytical skills for students in grades 5-6. It uses critical thinking activities based on standards to help students understand complex reading concepts.

### What skills does Reading Detective A1 teach?

Reading Detective A1 focuses on developing skills such as drawing inferences, making conclusions, determining cause-and-effect, and using context clues to define vocabulary. It also enhances analysis, synthesis, and vocabulary for superior reading comprehension.

### How does Reading Detective A1 help with test scores?

By improving reading comprehension and analytical abilities, Reading Detective A1 aims to boost performance on standardized assessment tests. It covers skills relevant to many state and national English Language Arts tests.

### What is the content of Reading Detective A1?

The app features short literature passages and stories from fiction and nonfiction genres. Students then answer multiple-choice questions, requiring them to cite sentence evidence to support their responses.

### Does Reading Detective A1 have ads?

No, Reading Detective A1 is ad-free. This ensures an uninterrupted learning experience for students.

### What are the supported devices for Reading Detective A1?

Currently, Reading Detective A1 is supported on iPads. Information regarding broader device compatibility may be updated by the developer.

### How often is Reading Detective A1 updated?

The app was last updated on August 4, 2015, with version 0.0.2. Further updates may be released by the developer to enhance features or compatibility.

### What awards has Reading Detective A1 received?

Reading Detective A1 has won several prestigious awards, including Cathy Duffy 101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum and the Creative Child Magazine Media of the Year Award, among others.

## Version history (last 2 releases)

### 0.0.2 — 2015-08-04

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

updates to general functionality issues
minor data updates
game-winning changes

### 0.0.1 — 2015-06-12

No release notes.

## Apps similar to Reading Detective® A1 (Free)

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [ChatterBooks](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chatterbooks/id1550863039) | — | $2.99 | Education |
| [Reading Comprehension -Grade 3](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-comprehension-grade-3/id1052285034) | 5.0 (2) | $4.99 | Education |
| [Brainy Skills Doesn't Belong](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainy-skills-doesnt-belong/id1471152833) | 5.0 (1) | $1.99 | Education |
| [The Key to R](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-key-to-r/id1229496267) | — | $1.99 | Education |
| [VowelViz Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vowelviz-pro/id835534002) | 2.8 (9) | $49.99 | Education |
| [Pearson TELL](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pearson-tell/id991402030) | 4.7 (3) | Free | Education |

## More apps by The Critical Thinking Company

- [Riddle Rabbit™ K-1](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/riddle-rabbit-k-1/id884173987)
- [Math Analogies™ Beginning](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/math-analogies-beginning/id886297291)
- [Math Analogies™ Level 1](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/math-analogies-level-1/id886329731)
- [Alphabet Song Game™ (Free) - Letter Names and Shapes](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alphabet-song-game-free-letter-names-and-shapes/id906538996)
- [Balance Benders™ Beginning](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balance-benders-beginning/id923491136)
- [Balance Benders™ Level 1](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balance-benders-level-1/id923536945)

All apps by The Critical Thinking Company: https://appshunter.io/developer/882929408

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*