Evaluation of the Voluntary National Tests, Year 2: Final Report (1999)
Chapter: Appendix B: Achievement-Level Descriptions for 4th-Grade Reading and 8th-Grade Mathematics
NAEP 4th-GRADE READING ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS
|
Level |
General |
Literary Texts |
Informational Texts |
|
Basic |
• Demonstrate an understanding of the overall meaning of what they read • Make relatively obvious connections between the text and their own experience |
• Tell what the story is generally about • Provide details to support their understanding • Connect aspects of the story to their own experience |
• Tell what the text is generally about or identify the purpose for reading it • Provide details to support their understanding • Connect ideas from the text to their own background knowledge and experiences |
|
Proficient |
• Demonstrate an overall understanding of the text, providing inferential as well as literal information • Extend their ideas by making inferences, drawing conclusions, and making connections to their own experience • The connection between the text and what the student infers should be clear |
• Summarize the story • Draw conclusions about characters or plot • Recognize relationships such as cause and effect |
• Summarize information and identify authors intent or purpose • Draw reasonable conclusions from the text • Recognize relationships such as cause and effect or similarities and differences • Identify the meaning of the selection's key concepts |
|
Advanced |
• Generalize about topics in the reading selection • Demonstrate an awareness of how authors compose and use literary devices • Judge texts critically • Give answers that indicate careful thought |
• Make generalizations about the point of the story and extend its meaning by integrating personal experiences and other readings with the ideas suggested by the text • Identify literary devices such as figurative language |
• Explain the author's intent by using supporting material from the text • Make critical judgments of the form and content of the text • Explain their judgments clearly |
NAEP 8th-GRADE MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS
|
Level |
General |
Specifics |
|
Basic |
• Conceptual and procedural understanding of the five NAEP content strands • Understanding of arithmetic operations—including estimation—on whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and percents |
• Complete problems correctly with the help of structural prompts such as diagrams, charts and graphs • Solve problems in all NAEP content strands through the appropriate selection and use of strategies and technological tools-including calculators, computers, and geometric shapes • Use fundamental algebraic and geometric concepts in problem solving • As they approach the proficient level, students should be able to determine which of the available data are necessary and sufficient for correct solutions and use them in problem solving. • However, these 8th graders show limited skill in communicating mathematically |
|
Proficient |
• Apply mathematical concepts and procedures consistently to complex problems in the five NAEP content strands |
• Conjecture, defend their ideas, and give supporting examples • Understand the connections between fractions, percents, decimals, and other mathematical topics such as algebra and functions • Have a thorough understanding of basic-level arithmetic operations-an understanding sufficient for problem solving in practical situations • Quantity and spatial relationships in problem solving and reasoning should be familiar • Convey underlying reasoning skills beyond the level of arithmetic • Compare and contrast mathematical ideas and generate their own examples. • Make inferences from data and graphs • Apply properties of informal geometry • Accurately use the tools of technology • Understand the process of gathering and organizing data • Be able to calculate, evaluate, and communicate results within the domain of statistics and probability |
|
Advanced |
• Reach beyond the recognition, identification, and application of mathematical rules in order to generalize and synthesize concepts and principals in the five NAEP content strands |
• Probe examples and counterexamples in order to shape generalizations from which they can generate models • Use number sense and geometric awareness to consider the reasonableness of an answer • Use abstract thinking to create unique problem-solving techniques and explain the reasoning processes underlying their conclusions |
|
SOURCE: Hoffman and Thacker (1999:14-15). |
||
