readingInformation About the 2005 Reading Assessment
reading: summary
reading: national trends
reading: state comparisons
reading: national student groups
reading: sample questions
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mathematics: national trends
mathematics: state comparisons
mathematics: national student groups
mathematics: sample questions
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Average Reading Scale Scores for the Nation at Grades 4 and 8

  • The national average grade 4 reading score was 2 points higher in 2005 than in 1992 and 1 point higher than in 2003.
  • The national average grade 8 reading score was 2 points higher in 2005 than in 1992 but 1 point lower than in 2003.
Average reading scale scores, grade 4: Various years, 1992–2005

Average reading scale scores, grade 4: Various years, 1992–2005

* Significantly different from 2005.
NOTE: The dashed and solid lines represent results based on administrations when accommodations were not permitted and when accommodations were permitted, respectively. View complete data with standard errors for grade 4.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), various years, 1992–2005 Reading Assessments.

Read more about the 2005 reading assessment on the NAEP website. Read how the assessment was developed, what it measures, and how it was administered.

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