National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Science Assessment Instrument
Evaluates students' knowledge of three fields of science (earth, physical, and life), three elements of knowing and doing science (conceptual understanding, scientific investigation, and practical reasoning), and two overarching domains in science (the nature of science and themes-systems, models, and patterns-present in science).
Average Review: 
(5.0)
by Cary Sneider,
Assoicate Research Professor, Portland State University,
This is an excellent resource for a person who wants to develop a test of science knowledge without having to start from scratch. NAEP is well known as the Nation’s Report Card, as it is the only test given in all 50 states. Data from NAEP makes it possible to compare performance of different states and certain urban areas, and to compare performance of students of different ethnic and racial groups, or those who are receiving free or reduced lunch, not only on the test as a whole, but item-by-item. Users also have access to scoring guides with examples of student work.
To use this resource start by clicking on the button “Learn How to Access This Assessment Tool.†A page will open on the NAEP Questions Tool. With a little practice it is possible to use this tool to customize an assessment, drawing from 243 released questions from the 2000 and 2005 NAEP assessments. The questions can be printed by themselves, or with detailed scoring guides and performance data.
The available questions include 117 multiple choice, 100 short constructed response and 26 extended constructed response. 73 of the questions are at the 4th grade level, 90 are at the 8th grade level and 80 are at the 12th grade level. All of the questions are in the public domain, so they can be downloaded and copied without asking for permission. However users are encouraged to acknowledge the source when reproducing the questions.
