The Grade 4 ELA test was designed to measure student progress in English language arts as defined by the New York State Learning Standards. The chart above shows three types of information that can be derived from the test: raw scores, scale scores, and performance levels. The Grade 4 ELA test produces both ELA (i.e., listening, reading, and writing combined) scores and Reading (RD) scores.

A raw score is the number of points a student achieves. The raw score for ELA is derived by using all multiple-choice and open-ended items on the Grade 4 ELA Test. Each multiple choice item is worth 1 point. The value of each open-ended item depends on the number of points in the rubric used to score the item. For instance, if a 4-point rubric is used, the item would be worth 4 points.

The raw score for RD is derived by using all multiple-choice items and the three short open-ended items in the Reading/Writing section of the test. For the 2003 Grade 4 ELA Test, the maximum total raw score is 41 points for ELA and 33 points for RD. In previous years, the maximum total raw score was 42 points for ELA and 34 points for RD. Item 28 was dropped from the computation of the scores for ELA and RD because the item was found to be flawed. Raw scores cannot be compared from year to year.

The scale scores show the level of proficiency a student has in English language arts and in Reading. Scale scores were arrived at through a standard setting study conducted with an expert panel of New York State teachers. The Grade 4 ELA and RD scale scores use a numerical scale that runs continuously from beginning skills (scale score range of 455-602) to advanced skills (scale score range of 692-800). The scale scores enable comparisons from year to year because the same scale score represents the same level of achievement for the New York State Standards, even if slight changes in the difficulties of the test questions from year to year cause slight changes in the raw scores.

Students are classified into one of the four levels of ELA performance based on their overall performance on the test as determined by their ELA scale scores. A similar classification places students into one of four RD levels. A student's performance level provides information on a student's abilities in relation to the New York State ELA Learning Standards. New York State teachers established descriptions of the skills and knowledge required in each performance level. These descriptions to grade 4 ELA are part of the individual student score report that is sent to schools by CTB/McGraw-Hill.

Below are the raw score-to-scale score conversion tables for 2003 ELA and RD.

More information on scoring can be found in the two-part electronic publication, "Determining the Scoring for the Grade 4 and the Grade 8 English Language Arts and Mathematics Examinations":

Part 1 -- Test Structure, History, Types of Scores, Performance Indicates http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/testing/assesspubs/detgr4&8scorelamat.pdf

Part 2 -- Frequently Asked Questions http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/testing/assesspubs/02dscorfaq.pdf