How Results Are Reported

Subject-matter achievement is reported in two ways--scale scores and achievement levels--so that student performance can be more easily understood.

Because NAEP scales are developed independently for each subject, scale score and achievement level results cannot be compared across subjects. However, these reporting metrics greatly facilitate performance comparisons within a subject from year to year and from one group of students to another in the same grade.

After the assessment, results are reported to the public in a number of forms. Results from individual states are reported only if minimum participation requirements are met. Our state profiles allow users to access relevant information pertaining to their state assessment and assessment results.

• Data associated with the particular assessment are available on the Web with our NAEP Data Tool.
• Highlights reports present the major results to readers in a condensed document. For an example, see the NAEP 2001 Geography Report Card: Highlights for the Nation and States.
• Subject-area report cards present a more comprehensive picture of the assessment results. For an example, see the 2001 U.S. History Report Card.
• Policy reports focus on instructional contexts that influence student performance. For an example, see Estimation Skills, Mathematics-in-Context, and Advanced Skills in Mathematics.
• Released questions from the assessment are available online in the NAEP Questions Tool.

Read more about how to interpret NAEP results.

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Last updated 10 October 2002 (DSS)