What the National Assessment MeasuresSubject Area AchievementNational NAEP has measured and continues to measure the knowledge of fourth-, eighth-, and/or twelfth-grade students in nine subject areas: The long-term trend assessments in mathematics and reading (given every four years) are constructed using test specifications that are different from those of the main NAEP subjects listed above. Assessment frameworks, specifications, and background variables are currently being developed for other NAEP subject assessments, including the foreign language and world history assessments, both for grade 12 at the national level only. They are scheduled for 2012. The NAEP subject assessments are based on frameworks that provide the theoretical basis for the assessment, and specific direction from the National Assessment Governing Board as to what kinds of knowledge and skills should be assessed, how the exercises should be designed, and how student responses should be scored. The frameworks are the result of a comprehensive national process in which teachers, curriculum experts, policymakers, and members of the general public worked to create a unified vision of how a particular subject ought to be assessed. This vision is based on current educational research on achievement and its measurement, as well as good educational practices. For each subject, a standing committee and subject-matter and measurement specialists work to create the assessment questions and scoring criteria according to the framework specifications. Teachers, measurement experts, subject-area researchers, and state officials review all exercises and scoring criteria to ensure that the assessment meets the requirements of the framework. Explore NAEP Questions to learn more about the kinds of questions NAEP asks, including the scoring guides for constructed-response questions, student responses and more, in the NAEP Questions Tool. Download a demonstration booklet for a description of the assessment administration, the student background questions, and sample subject-area questions. In addition to the subject-specific assessments, NAEP collects background information about participating students, teachers, and schools in order to fulfill legislated reporting requirements and provide a context for results. Go to the NAEP Data Explorer for in-depth data on student performance.
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