Average writing scale scores, by gender, grades 4, 8, and 12: 1998 and 2002

* Significantly different from 2002.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 1998 and 2002 Writing Assessments.

Major Findings

• The average scores of male and female fourth-graders and eighth-graders increased between 1998 and 2002.
• The average scores of twelfth-grade male students declined in 2002, but no change was detected in the average scores of twelfth-grade female students.

Find out about trends in score gaps between males and females.

See national writing achievement level results for males and females at grades 4, 8, and 12.

Return to national subgroup results page.

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Last updated 10 July 2003 (JBJ)