What task involves the most advanced phonological awareness skill?

The task that involves the most advanced phonological awareness skill is the one that requires both segmenting and manipulating sounds within words, specifically substituting one phoneme for another. In the example of segmenting the phonemes in "chimp" and then substituting /ŏ/ for /ĭ/ to form "chomp," a learner must first break down the word into its individual phonemes. This requires a deep understanding of how sounds function within words.

Substituting a phoneme calls for a higher level of cognitive processing compared to simply identifying or blending sounds. The ability to manipulate phonemes represents a robust understanding of phonemic structures, which is a critical skill for developing reading proficiency. This task not only demands awareness of the sounds but also involves actively changing them to create new words, illustrating a comprehensive mastery of phonological concepts.