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NAEP Analysis and Scaling → Estimation of NAEP Score Scales → NAEP Scales → Definition of Composite Scales

NAEP Technical DocumentationDefinition of Composite Scales

When there are several content-related subscales defined for a subject area, the subscales are combined into a composite scale used to describe the overall attainment of students in that subject area for many NAEP assessments. The weight of each subscale in the composite reflects the relative importance of the scale as specified in the framework developed by the National Assessment Governing Board. The weights are approximately proportional to the number of items in each scale at a given grade level.

The tables below present the weighting of the subscales to create the composite scales for the NAEP economics assessment, geography assessment, mathematics assessment, reading assessment, science assessment, and U.S. history assessment. For more information, see Content of the Subject Area Scales.

The NAEP arts assessment, civics assessment, vocabulary assessment, writing assessment, and all long-term trend assessments use a univariate scale at each grade or age level. A univariate scale is an overall subject-area scale that is used to summarize the performance for the subject-area assessment. Contrary to the composite scale, it is not based on the weighted average of the subscales, but rather on a single scale that corresponds to the overall subject-area framework. Starting in 2009, a univariate science scale and three science content area scales were used, while no composite scale was established. In 2014, a univariate technology and engineering literacy (TEL) scale, three TEL content area scales, and three TEL practice scales were established, while no composite scale was established.

Economics

Weighting of the subscales to create the composite scale, economics national assessment, by grade: 2006 and 2012
Subscale	Grade 12
NOTE: The NAEP economics assessment was administered in 2006 and 2012. In 2006 and 2012, grades 4 and 8 were not assessed. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2006 and 2012 Economics Assessments.
Market economy	.45
National economy	.40
International economy	.15

Geography

Weighting of the subscales to create the composite scale, geography national assessment, by grade: Various years, 1994‒2018
Subscale	Grade 4	Grade 8	Grade 12
NOTE: The NAEP geography assessment was administered in 1994, 2001, 2010, 2014, and 2018. In 2014 and 2018, grades 4 and 12 were not assessed. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), various years, 1994‒2018 Geography Assessments.
Space and place	.40	.40	.40
Environment and society	.30	.30	.30
Spatial dynamics and connections	.30	.30	.30

Mathematics

Weighting of the subscales to create the composite scale, mathematics national and state assessment, by grade: Various years, 2005‒2017
Subscale	Grade 4	Grade 8	Grade 12
Number properties and operations	.40	.20	.10
Measurement	.20	.15	.30
Geometry	.15	.20	.30
Data analysis, statistics, and probability	.10	.15	.25
Algebra	.15	.30	.35
NOTE: The NAEP mathematics assessment was administered in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. In 2007, 2011, and 2017, grade 12 was not assessed. Since 2005, the measurement and geometry scales are combined at grade 12. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), various years, 2005‒2017 Mathematics Assessments.

Weighting of the subscales to create the composite scale, mathematics national and state assessment, by grade: Various years, 1990‒2003
Subscale	Grade 4	Grade 8	Grade 12
Number sense, properties, and operations	.40	.25	.20
Measurement	.20	.15	.15
Geometry and spatial sense	.15	.20	.20
Data analysis, statistics, and probability	.10	.15	.20
Algebra and functions	.15	.25	.25
NOTE: The NAEP mathematics assessment was administered in 1990, 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2003. In 2003, grade 12 was not assessed. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), various years, 1990‒2003 Mathematics Assessments.

Reading

Weighting of the subscales to create the composite scale, reading national and state assessment, by grade: Various years, 2009‒2017
Subscale	Grade 4	Grade 8	Grade 12
NOTE: The NAEP reading assessment was administered in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. In 2011 and 2017, grade 12 was not assessed. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), various years, 2009‒2017 Reading Assessments.
Reading for literary experience	.50	.45	.30
Reading for information	.50	.55	.70

Weighting of the subscales to create the composite scale, reading national and state assessment, by grade: Various years, 1992‒2007
Subscale	Grade 4	Grade 8	Grade 12
Reading for literary experience	.55	.40	.35
Reading for information	.45	.40	.45
Reading to perform a task	†	.20	.20
† Not applicable. According to the NAEP reading framework, the Reading to Perform a Task scale is never assessed at grade 4 in NAEP. NOTE: The NAEP reading assessment was administered in 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2007. In 2000, grades 8 and 12 were not assessed. In 2003 and 2007, grade 12 was not assessed. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), various years, 1992‒2007 Reading Assessments.

Science

Weighting of the subscales to create the composite scale, science national and state assessment, by grade: 1996, 2000, and 2005
Subscale	Grade 4	Grade 8	Grade 12
Earth science	.33	.30	.33
Physical science	.33	.30	.33
Life science	.33	.40	.33
NOTE: The NAEP science assessment was administered in 1996, 2000, and 2005. Starting in 2009, a univariate science scale and three science content area scales were used, while no composite scale was established. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 1996, 2000, and 2005 Science Assessments.

U.S. History

Weighting of the subscales to create the composite scale, U.S. history national assessment, by grade: Various years, 1994‒2018
Subscale	Grade 4	Grade 8	Grade 12
Change and continuity in American democracy	.25	.30	.25
Gathering and interactions of peoples, cultures, and ideas	.35	.30	.25
Economic and technological changes and their relation to society, ideas, and the environment	.25	.20	.25
The changing role of America in the world	.15	.20	.25
NOTE: The NAEP U.S. history assessment was administered in 1994, 2001, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018. In 2014 and 2018, grades 4 and 12 were not assessed. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), various years, 1994‒2018 U.S. History Assessments.

Last updated 02 November 2022 (SK)

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