NAEP Scale Scores

NAEP assessment results are reported as average scores on a 0-500 or 0-300 scale. These scale scores, derived from student responses to assessment questions, summarize the overall level of performance attained by that student. Scale scores for individual students are not reported, but summary statistics describing scale scores for groups of students (demographic, gender, race/ethnicity, etc.) are reported. Scale scores can be used for comparisons between the nation, states, and selected districts, as well as among selected student groups (e.g., Black/White, Hispanic/White). Because NAEP scores are developed independently for each subject, results cannot be compared across subjects or grades.

Score Ranges by Subject

SUBJECT	SCORE RANGE
Arts	0–300
Civics	0–300
Economics	0–300
Geography	0–500
Mathematics Grades 4 & 8	0–500
Mathematics Grade 12	0–300
Reading	0–500
Science	0–300
Technology & Engineering Literacy	0–300
U.S. History	0–500
Writing	0–300