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The Nation's Report Card

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Average writing scores in 2007 higher than in both previous assessment years at grades 8 and 12
  • GRADE 8
  • GRADE 12

Trend in eighth-grade NAEP writing average scores

Findings

  • The average writing score in 2007 was 6 points higher than in 1998 and 3 points higher than in 2002.

* Significantly different (p < .05) from 2007.
NOTE: View complete data with standard errors.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 1998, 2002, and 2007 Writing Assessments.

Trend in twelfth-grade NAEP writing average scores

Findings

  • The average writing score in 2007 was 3 points higher than in 1998 and 5 points higher than in 2002.

* Significantly different (p < .05) from 2007.
NOTE: View complete data with standard errors.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 1998, 2002, and 2007 Writing Assessments.

Although the writing scale score ranges are identical for both grades 8 and 12, they were derived independently and, therefore, scores cannot be compared across grades. For example, the average score of 156 at grade 8 does not denote higher performance than the score of 153 at grade 12. See more about the NAEP writing scale.

See more information about the writing assessment, including details about participating jurisdictions and percentages of students excluded from the assessment.

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National Assessment of Educational Progress, National Center for Education Statistics
National Assessment Governing Board
Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education