NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

What average sentence length do children reach in the Later Multiword Stage?

1. One to two words

2. Three to four words

3. Four to six words

4. Seven to eight words

The correct answer is: Four to six words

In the Later Multiword Stage, children typically reach an average sentence length of four to six words. This stage represents a significant advancement in their language development as they begin to combine words more effectively to express complex ideas and thoughts. During this phase, children utilize a variety of grammatical structures and vocabulary, allowing them to create more nuanced sentences compared to earlier stages. Mastery of this sentence length indicates that children are becoming more proficient in their use of language, transitioning from simple associations of words to more connected speech. The other options reflect earlier stages of language development. The one to two words range is characteristic of the early one-word stage, while three to four words suggests an early multiword stage where children may still be forming basic sentences. The seven to eight words range exceeds the expected average for this particular developmental phase, as children usually work towards more complex sentences in subsequent stages. Understanding these developmental milestones is crucial for educators in supporting language acquisition effectively.