- Surveys & Programs
- Data & Tools
- Fast Facts
- News & Events
- Publications & Products
- About Us
Reading Assessment
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading assessment is given every two years to students at grades 4 and 8, and approximately every four years at grade 12. The assessment measures reading comprehension by asking students to read selected grade-appropriate materials and answer questions based on what they have read. The results present a broad view of students’ reading knowledge, skills, and performance over time. The most recent reading assessment was given in 2019 to approximately 150,600 grade 4 students, 143,100 grade 8 students, and 26,700 grade 12 students.
Explore 2019 Reading Results
See summary NationExplore national 2019 reading results.
See findings StatesSee 2019 reading results in your state.
Find your state DistrictsExplore 2019 reading results in select urban districts.
See your district Survey QuestionnairesResponses provide additional information about reading performance.
See findings Sample QuestionsSee sample questions from the reading assessment.
Explore questions
2019 Reading Findings
Explore a few highlights from 2019 Reading.
Assessment Content
The reading framework specifies that the assessment use three types of literary texts and three broad categories of informational texts that vary by grade. The framework also outlines what science knowledge and skills students should have to reach NAEP Basic, NAEP Proficient, and NAEP Advanced achievement. The reading framework was updated in 2009 and replaced the framework used for the 1992-2007 reading assessments. Survey questionnaires, administered to students, teachers, and school administrators who participate in a reading assessment, are used to collect and report contextual information about students’ learning experience in and out of the classroom.
State and District Data Tools
How Reading Results Are Reported
Student performance on the NAEP reading assessment is reported in two ways: as scale scores and as achievement levels.
- Scale scores represent how students performed on the reading assessment. Scores are aggregated and reported at the student group level for the nation, states, and districts.
- NAEP 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 NAEP achievement levels (NAEP Basic,
NAEP Proficient, and
NAEP Advanced). Students performing at or above the
NAEP 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 reading knowledge and skills correspond to different NAEP achievement levels. Item maps answer the question, "What does it mean for students to be at NAEP Basic, NAEP Proficient, or NAEP Advanced in terms of what they know and can do?"
How to Interpret Reading Results
Find out how to interpret the results of the reading assessment, including the potential effects of exclusion on assessment results.
Learn MoreExplore Related NAEP Reading Studies
See the results of the 2002 Oral Reading Study that was undertaken to discover how well the nation's fourth-graders can read aloud a typical grade 4 story.
Learn MoreLast updated 04 December 2020 (AA)