When administering the placement assessment, you present the student card and simply ask the student to read the words (or say the sounds the letters stand for in the first section). You might indicate which words are sound-out and which are high-frequency words, but beyond that give minimal support and refrain from indicating whether the student has made an error. You might use language such as:
“I am going to ask you to read some words. This will help me put you into a reading group.”
"Say the sounds these letters stand for."
"Please, read these words."
“These are high-frequency words. Read across the row.”