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NAEP Technical DocumentationRanges for the Final Subject Area Score Scales
Close examination of the
two-parameter logistic,
three-parameter logistic, and
generalized partial credit models indicates that the models have a linear indeterminacy of the score scale. For the purposes of reporting item parameter estimates and other intermediary estimates, the linear indeterminacies may be resolved by an arbitrary choice of the origin and unit size in a given scale. In most cases, a provisional scale standardizing the score scale distribution to have a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1 is employed. Final results for each subject area are transformed from a score on the normal distribution (with a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1) to a score on a 0–500 scale or a 0–300 scale as indicated below. For more information on the ranges for final subject area score scales, see NAEP frameworks for each subject area.
| Subject | Score scale range |
|---|---|
| Arts: Music/Visual arts | 0–300 |
| Civics | 0–300 |
| Economics | 0–300 |
| Geography | 0–500 |
| Mathematics, grades 4 and 8 | 0–500 |
| Mathematics, grade 12 | 0–300 |
| Reading | 0–500 |
| Science | 0–300 |
| Technology and engineering literacy (TEL) | 0–300 |
| U.S. history | 0–500 |
| Vocabulary | 0–500 |
| Writing | 0–300 |
|
NOTE: The score scales in the table are for current assessments. In 2005, a new reporting scale was established for grade 12 mathematics; the mean was set at 150 with a standard deviation of 34 on a scale of 0–300. Prior to 2005, the score scale range for grade 12 was 0–500 with a mean of 250 and a standard deviation of 50. In NAEP, vocabulary, reading vocabulary, and meaning vocabulary refer to the same reporting scale. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). | |
Last updated 30 November 2023 (ML)
