Scale Scoring A Revised Format for Provincial Assessment Reports

Teachers, parents and the public alike think they know and understand simple scores like total scores, percent correct and percentile ranks. Teachers, parents and the public need to know and understand how to interpret scaled scores. Twing, J. (2002). Vice President, Psychometric Services, NCS Pearson Iowa City.

Beginning with this school year ( ), provincial assessments will be reported on a common scale.

Provincial Assessments ELLA- Early Literacy Assessment EEMLA- Early Elementary Mathematical Literacy Assessment ELA- Elementary Literacy Assessment JHLA- Junior High Literacy Assessment

Scaled scores allow more accurate interpretations of assessment results. comparisons of results from year to year comparisons of results from one grade level assessment to another comparisons between subject areas

Scaling provides consistency in reporting any assessments results, while allowing for the assessments to vary in format, grade level, and year of administration. Most large-scaled assessment systems use scaled scores.

What is a Scale? A mathematical conversion of raw scores to a common scale or a derived score. Different scales may be used to measure the same thing, but they are calibrated differently. (e.g. rulers, thermometers, speedometers, bathroom scales)

Cut Score Defines the point at which a certain required level of achievement has been demonstrated on the assessment NOT a mean; the cut score can be above or below the mean, depending on what level of achievement is being defined

Cut Score A point between passing or not passing, achieving or not achieving, meeting or not meeting expectations. Cut scores may be set to identify: - not yet meeting expectations, - meeting expectations (satisfactory performance), and - meeting expectations (strong performance)

Properties of Provincial Scale Range: Scales range from 200 at low end to 800 at the high end Higher scores mean stronger educational attainment

scale will avoid confusion with comparison to percentages (1-100) Aligns with national and international assessment scoring (PCAP, PISA, PIRLS) to allow comparisons

Properties Distribution of Scores: - Provincial mean is set to On most provincial assessments about 65% of students will place between 400 and 600

Interpreting Results How close or how far away from the cut score and/or mean did the student perform? Did the student meet expectations with satisfactory or strong performance?

The Department of Education has a website that highlights information on all the assessments. Click on the above link for more information. Additional