​​NAEP Technical DocumentationContent of the Subject Area Scales

Item Response Theory (IRT) scales are available for each subject assessed beginning with the 1984 assessment. Content of the subject area scales is specified in the subject area frameworks, which have been developed by the National Assessment Governing Board.

Arts Scales

The 2016 arts assessment, which was administered only at grade 8, has two areas – music and visual arts – as described in the arts framework. Each area has a univariate scale. Results were reported independently for each area; no combined “arts” result was reported.

Civics Scales

For grades 4, 8, and 12, a univariate scale, based on three components described in the civics framework, has been used in all civics assessments since 1998.

Economics Scales

For grade 12, three subscales, as defined by the economics framework, were established in 2006. A composite scale was formed by taking a weighted sum of the economics subscales:

• Market Economy;
  
• National Economy; and
• International Economy.
  

Geography Scales

For grades 4, 8, and 12, three subscales, as defined by the geography framework, were established in 1994. A composite scale was formed at each grade by taking a weighted sum of the geography subscales:

• Space and Place;
  
• Environment and Society; and
• Spatial Dynamics and Connections.

Mathematics Scales

For grades 4, 8, and 12, five subscales, as defined by the mathematics framework, were established in 1990. A composite scale was formed at each grade by taking a weighted sum of the mathematics subscales:

• Number Properties and Operations (formerly Number Sense, Properties, and Operations);
• Measurement;
• Geometry (formerly Geometry and Spatial Sense);
• Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability; and
• Algebra (formerly Algebra and Functions).

Starting in 2005, the names of some subscales were revised. While there were no other changes at grades 4 and 8, four subscales were defined for the grade 12 mathematics assessment; measurement and geometry were combined to create a single subscale. A composite scale was formed by taking a weighted sum of the four mathematics subscales:

• Number Properties and Operations;
• Measurement and Geometry;
• Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability; and
• Algebra.
  

Reading Scales

For grade 4, two subscales, as defined in the reading framework, were established in 1992. At that time, three subscales were established for grades 8 and 12. A composite scale was formed at each grade by taking a weighted sum of the subscales:

• Reading for Literary Experience;
  
• Reading for Information; and
• Reading to Perform a Task (for grades 8 and 12 only).

Starting in 2009, two subscales were used at grades 4, 8, and 12 for reading. A composite scale was formed at each grade by taking a weighted average of the two subscales:

• Reading for Literary Experience; and
  
• Reading for Information.
  

Reading Meaning Vocabulary

As described in the reading framework, beginning in 2009 NAEP integrated a measure of students’ understanding of word meaning with the measurement of passage comprehension in the NAEP reading assessment. Since that time, a univariate scale for meaning vocabulary has been used in all assessments at grades 4, 8, and 12.

Science Scales

For grades 4, 8, and 12, three subscales were established in 1996 as defined in the science framework. A composite scale was formed at each grade by taking a weighted sum of these subscales:

• Earth Science;
  
• Physical Science; and
• Life Science.
  

Starting in 2009, a univariate scale and three science content area scales were used: 

• Earth and Space Sciences;
  
• Physical Science; and
• Life Science.
  

No composite scale was established.

Technology and Engineering Literacy (TEL) Scales

For grades 4, 8, and 12, three TEL content area scales, as defined in the technology and engineering literacy framework, were established in 2014:   

• Technology and Society;
  
• Design and Systems; and
• Information and Communication Technology.
  

In addition, a univariate scale and three TEL practice scales were also established. 

• Understanding Technological Principles;
  
• Developing Solutions and Achieving Goals; and
• Communicating and Collaborating.
  

U.S. History Scales

For grades 4, 8, and 12, four subscales, as defined in the U.S. history framework, were established in 1994. A composite scale was formed at each grade by taking a weighted sum of the subscales:

• Change and Continuity in American Democracy: Ideas, Institutions, Events, Key Figures, and Controversies;
• The Gathering and Interactions of Peoples, Cultures, and Ideas;
• Economic and Technological Changes and Their Relationship to Society, Ideas, and the Environment; and
• The Changing Role of America in the World.
  

Writing Scales

For grades 4, 8, and 12, a univariate scale for writing, based on three purposes of writing, as described in the writing framework, has been used in all writing assessments since 1998.

Long-Term Trend Assessment Scales

Bridge studies for ages 9, 13, and 17 were conducted in 2004 to track trends for mathematics since 1973 and for reading since 1971. For each long-term trend subject (i.e., mathematics and reading), a univariate scale is used in assessing each age group.

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