Testing 101: How to Understand And Use Raw Scores

Most homeschoolers compute raw scores every week. They are the result of scoring spelling tests and simple math tests in which the items are either right or wrong. With the answer key in one hand and your student’s work in the other, you determine how many items were answered correctly.

The raw score represents the number right out of the number possible. In other words, on a test where there are 25 questions, a student who answers 20 questions correctly receives a raw score of 20.  It doesn’t make any difference whether a question is worth more than one point, weighted in some way, or whether there is a penalty for guessing as opposed to not answering a question.   Again, the raw score simply represents the number of items answered correctly out of the number of items on a test.   Now, it is appropriate to weight the items on tests you give at home.  The answers to some questions should be worth more points.  When determining a grade, the answers to more complex questions should count more than the answers to simple questions. On an achievement test however, all items are weighted the same within each subtest.

Let’s say you’re reviewing your student’s achievement test report.  On our sample report (click here to view), the first subtest is Reading.  Across from this test title is the number 20 followed by a forward slash and the number 34.  The first number, 20, which appears in our sample represents the number of items answered correctly.  The second number, 32, represents the total number of items on this subtest.  This score is pretty straight forward.

Sometimes parents wonder if their student should guess when taking an achievement test.  First, there is no penalty for guessing on an achievement test.  An item left blank will be marked wrong regardless.  One point of view suggests that the student eliminate answer choices that can’t possibly be right and then choose between the options that remain.  This is often referred to as making an educated guess.  Another point of view suggests that the student not guess at all because answers guessed correctly lead to a misleading understanding of the test report.  What do I mean by this?

Although a raw score gives a numerical summary of a student’s performance, the real meaning behind the items answered correctly lies in converting them into a report that identifies what they were measuring.  That’s what a Performance Evaluation Report (PER) does.  For instance, if a student answered five correct out of eight on a particular section of the test, the PER report would point to what those items were measuring.  Guessing diminishes the value of this report if the student answers any of the guessed items correctly.  The parent assumes the student knows something that actually he doesn’t know; he just got lucky.

So, what’s next when reviewing your student’s achievement test report? The percentile rank and stanine. I’ll be explaining what these scores mean and how to use them later this week.

Thanks for Reading,

Curt Bumcrot, MRE

Want to practice the above using one of our practice tests? We have two to practice with: The One Hour Practice Test and Achieving Peak Performance. Both are available as instant downloads so you can start preparing immediately!

Thinking about testing later this month? There are two group options available.

• On April 19, we’ll be testing at the Firmly Planted Resource Center in Vancouver Washington. To reserve a seat, phone Jerry at 360-687-5433 or email at jerry@fpfam.org.

• On April 27, we’ll be in Wilsonville, Oregon. To reserve a seat, contact Cynthia Powell by email at: cynthiampowell@comcast.net.