Mathematics Assessment

The mathematics framework defines five broad content areas, three levels of complexity, and specifies the number of questions in each content area by grade. The framework also outlines what mathematics knowledge and skills students should have to reach Basic, Proficient, and Advanced achievement. The mathematics framework was updated in 2005 and again in 2009. Survey questionnaires, administered to students, teachers, and school administrators who participate in a mathematics assessment, are used to collect and report contextual information about students’ learning experience in and out of the classroom.

• Mathematics Assessment Framework

  Read the mathematics framework.

• Mathematics Content Areas

  Learn what the mathematics assessment measures.

• Mathematics Sample Questions

  Explore sample questions from the mathematics assessment, scorer comments, and percentage of students nationwide who answered each question correctly.

• Survey Questionnaires

  See questionnaires given to students, teachers, and school administrators. Questionnaires collect information about students' experiences in and out of the classroom.

• History of Framework Changes

  See a history of changes to the mathematics framework.

• State Profiles

  Use the State Profiles tool to find key data about your state and see tables and maps that compare the results of states/jurisdictions.

• District Profiles

  Results for districts that participate in the Trial Urban District Assessment are available in the District Profiles tool.

Student performance on the NAEP mathematics assessments is presented in two ways: scale scores and achievement levels.

• Scale scores represent how students performed on the mathematics assessment. Scores are aggregated and reported at the student group level for the nation, states, and districts.
• Achievement levels are performance standards that describe what students should know and be able to do. Results are reported as percentages of students performing at or above three achievement levels (Basic, Proficient, and Advanced). Students performing at or above the Proficient level on NAEP assessments demonstrate solid academic performance and competency over challenging subject matter. It should be noted that the NAEP Proficient achievement level does not represent grade level proficiency as determined by other assessment standards (e.g., state or district assessments).
  

Item maps illustrate how specific mathematics knowledge and skills correspond to different NAEP achievement levels. Item maps answer the question, "What does it mean for students to be at Basic, Proficient, or Advanced in terms of what they know and can do?"

• Scale Scores

  Read about the mathematics scale.

• Achievement Levels

  See more information about what students should know and be able to do to perform at the Basic, Proficient, and Advanced achievement levels.

• Item Map

  Use the NAEP Item Maps tool to see how specific mathematics knowledge and skills correspond to different achievement levels.