Which term describes the level of understanding a reader achieves after reading?

The term that describes the level of understanding a reader achieves after reading is comprehension. Comprehension refers to the ability to grasp the meaning of the text, including understanding the main ideas, details, inferences, and overall message. It is a critical skill for readers, as it determines how well they can process and interpret the information found in written material.

Fluency, while important, relates more to the ability to read smoothly and accurately rather than the understanding of the text. Metacognition involves awareness and control over one's own reading processes, which aids comprehension but is not a direct measure of understanding itself. Syntactic awareness pertains to understanding the grammatical structures of sentences, which supports reading but does not encompass the broader concept of understanding the meaning of a text as a whole. Thus, comprehension is the most accurate choice in this context.