STAR Vocabulary Test - Score Definitions Cabrini High School STAR Reading scores represent how students performed on the test compared with the performance of a nationally representative sample of students. These scores present a "snapshot" of achievement at a specific point in time. As with any test, it is important to remember that many factors can affect a student's test scores. STAR Reading test scores give only one picture of how a student is doing in school. GE (Grade Equivalent) Grade Equivalent scores range from 0.0 to 12.9+. They represent how a student's test performance compares with that of other students nationally. For example, if a 5th-grade student has a GE of 7.6, his or her score is equal to that of a typical 7th grader after the sixth month of the school year. This score does not necessarily mean that the student is capable of reading 7th-grade material. It only indicates that his or her reading skills are well above average for his or her grade level. IRL (Instructional Reading Level) The Instructional Reading Level is the grade level at which a student is at least 80% proficient at recognizing words and comprehending reading material with assistance. IRL scores are Pre-Primer (PP), Primer (P), I through 12, Post-High School (PHS). If a 7th-grade student has an IRL of 8, he or she reads 8th-grade words and books with 80% accuracy or better. NCE (Normal Curve Equivalent) NCE scores are similar to Percentile Ranks, but-they are based on an equal interval scale. This means that the difference between any two successive scores on the NCE scale has the same meaning throughout the scale. NCEs range from I to 99. They are useful for making meaningful comparisons between different achievement tests and for statistical computations, such as determining an average score for a group of students. NCEs are mostly used for research purposes and government program evaluations. PR (Percentile Rank) The Percentile Rank score compares a student's test performance with that of other students nationally in the same grade. It ranges from I to 99. This score indicates the percentage of other students nationally who obtained scores equal to or lower than the score of a particular student. For example, if a student has a PR of 85, the student's reading skills are equal to or better than that of 85% of other children in the same grade. PRs give the best measure of a student's reading ability relative to that of his or her peers. The PR Range indicates the range of PR scores a student would likely have achieved had he or she taken the test numerous times in a short period of time. It reflects the amount of statistical variability in a student's PR score. SS (Scaled Score) The Scaled Score is the most fundamental score produced by STAR Reading tests. It ranges from 0 to 1400 and spans grades I through 12. It is calculated based on the difficulty of the questions and the number of correct responses. Scaled Scores are useful for comparing student performance over time and across grades. In STAR Reading tests, all other non-referenced scores are derived from the Scaled Score. ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development) The Zone of Proximal Development defines the reading level range from which a student should be selecting books for optimal growth in reading without frustration. The ZPD is especially useful for students using the Accelerated Reader reading management system, which provides readability levels on all books included in the system. The ZPD, however, is approximate. Success at any reading level also depends on the student's interest and prior knowledge of a book's content. Teachers should use their professional judgment to adjust the level of books read to match an individual student's needs and interests. |