Are grade equivalents accurate?

The reliability of age- and grade-equivalent scores is limited by the relationship between the equivalents and the raw scores on which they are based. An age or grade equivalent is simply the median raw score for a particular age or grade level.

Why are grade equivalent scores misleading?

Grade equivalents are not standardized scores (which are psychometrically sound and are reported) meaning that variance can exist from test to test or even within the test assessing different skill sets (math vs. reading).

Why are grade equivalents useful?

Standardized tests report a student's performance in several different ways. The Grade-Equivalent score compares your child's performance on grade-level material against the average performance of students at other grade levels on that same material and is reported in terms of grade level and months.

Why age equivalences should not be used to demonstrate progress?

“Because of the inherent psychometric problems associated with age and grade equivalents that seriously limit their reliability and validity, these scores should not be used for making diagnostic or placement decisions” (Bracken, 1988; Reynolds, 1981). References: Bracken, P.

Are age equivalent scores misleading?

Because of the inherent psychometric problems associated with age and grade equivalents that seriously limit their reliability and validity, these scores should not be used for making diagnostic or placement decisions (Bracken, 1988; Reynolds, 1981).

AssessMinutes - Understanding Grade Equivalent scores

Why are age equivalent scores bad?

First, in contrast to standard scores and percentile ranks, AE scores do not take into consideration the range of normal performance for individu- als whose scores fall within the average range. Rather, these scores represent the age at which a given raw score is average (McCauley & Swisher, 1984).

How do you explain age equivalent scores to parents?

Simply put, an age equivalent is a comparison of your child's performance compared to age groups whose average scores are in the same range. For example, if your 9-year-old child scores a 42 raw score on a test, and that score is average for 8-year-olds, their age equivalent score would be 8.

Is a 70% a good grade?

C - this is a grade that rests right in the middle. C is anywhere between 70% and 79% D - this is still a passing grade, and it's between 59% and 69% F - this is a failing grade.

How do you explain grade equivalent scores to parents?

A grade equivalent indicates the grade level, in years and months, for which a given score was the average or middle score in the standardization sample. For example, a score of 25 with the grade equivalent of 4.6 means that, in the norm group, 25 was the average score of pupils in the sixth month of the fourth grade.

What do age equivalent scores mean?

Age Equivalent is the individual's ability; skill, knowledge, or measurement expressed as the age at which most individuals reach the same level (age norm). The Age Norm is the average score of a particular test completed by children of a given chronological age.

What is the age equivalent score for speech therapy?

The therapist looks at how a child has scored and compares it to the other data. An age equivalent is then given based on which age range has the closest average to the child's actual score. For example, if a 10-year-old scores 42 on a test, and that score is average for an 8-year-old, their age equivalent would be 8.

What is an example of an age equivalent score?

For example, assume a student obtains a score of 95 on a particular test, a value typical of the average performance of students in the eighth grade. Thus, the age equivalent of 95 is 13, the age of most eighth graders.

What is an example of a grade equivalent score?

T F 2. A GE score for Tim of 9.2 means that he can read as well as ninth graders in the second month of the school year. T F 3. Tim's GE score of 9.2 on reading means that when a group of ninth graders in their second month were tested on ninth grade reading material, they received scores equivalent to Tim's score.

What is 86 in college grade?

Common examples of grade conversion are: A+ (97–100), A (93–96), A- (90–92), B+ (87–89), B (83–86), B- (80–82), C+ (77–79), C (73–76), C- (70–72), D+ (67–69), D (65–66), D- (below 65).

Why do we not use E in grading?

According to numerous sources, colleges stopped using E as part of the grading scale because of concern over students thinking that the letter grade stood for excellent. The letter was removed despite F standing for failing or failure—and it has remained that way in the time since.

Do colleges accept D grades?

But while a student can eek by with a D for graduation purposes, in California, the UCs and the CSUs will not accept Ds for their core academic courses (known as A-G courses).

Is 69 a bad grade?

Most colleges and universities generally consider a "D" (or a 60% to 69% score) as a passing grade. It's important to note that this minimum or lowest passing grade standard can significantly vary depending on the institution or major. For instance, some universities may require a "C" or better to pass.

Is a 77 a bad grade?

The threshold for a good mark depends on the school and the study grade, but on most occasions, 75 or higher is considered a good one.

What is the difference between grade level and grade equivalent?

The grade equivalent represents the grade level and month of the typical (median) score for students. For example, a fifth grade student who earns a 5.9 on a norm-referenced test has earned a score similar to the 50th percentile students in the test's norming group who were in their ninth month of fifth grade.

How are grade equivalent scores calculated?

Grade equivalent scores can be calculated for a test by finding the median (i.e., the 50th percentile) score obtained by children at each grade level on that test. Children who earn the median raw score for a given grade level are assigned a score equivalent to that grade level.

Is 16th percentile below average?

Everything from the 16th to the 84th percentile is included in the “average range”, where most kids in the classroom would be. From this perspective, being in the 5th percentile for weight would be considerably below the “average range” and could be a sign something is off track.

What is a normal equivalent score?

Normal Curve Equivalent (NCE)

Although not included on the Individual Student Reports, the Normal Curve Equivalent, or NCE, is another way of measuring student performance relative to other students, in this case where a student falls along the normal curve. The numbers on the NCE line run from 0 to 100.

What grade should I be in based on age?

Elementary school is kindergarten through 5th grade (ages 5-10), middle school is grades 6-8 (ages 11-13), and high school is grades 9-12 (ages 14-18). We offer the resources below to assist you with information on local area public schools and aftercare programs.

Should age and grade equivalents be reported as a reliable measure of performance?

Age-equivalent and grade-equivalent scores are not considered a reliable measure and should generally not be used.