NAEP Geography Press Release Presentation: Slide 21
Grade 12 Sample Question: Extended Constructed-Response

Students were given a map that showed the changes in the population center of the United States over a 200-year period of time. They were asked to identify and explain some important factors that contributed to the changes in the population center shown on the map.

Major Findings

• Five percent of eighth-graders and 16 percent of twelfth-graders gave responses that were rated "Complete." The following is an example of a Complete response:
  "An important factor is with the invention of better transportation they were able to move west. The land was new to the west and people wanted to go there and explore. Another important factor is the population was growing so people had to spread out in order to have enough room."

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2001 Geography Assessment.