Writing 2011 Results

This report presents results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2011 writing assessment, the first large-scale computer-based assessment in writing. The Nation’s Report Card: Writing 2011 is designed to provide information about the writing skills of students through the completion of computer-based tasks. In 2011, the study was administered to students at grades 8 and 12 as part of the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress.

National results for representative samples of students at grades 8 and 12 are reported as average scale scores and as percentages of students performing at three achievement levels: Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. Additional results are reported based on students’ demographic characteristics, educational experiences, and the frequency of engaging in actions available to them in word-processing software. The assessment tasks reflected writing situations common to both academic and workplace settings and asked students to write for several purposes and communicate to different audiences. The results are presented along with sample tasks and student responses. The Technical Notes provide information on NAEP samples and school and student participation rates. The new computer-based writing assessment does not allow us to report trend results. Future NAEP writing assessment results will be compared to the 2011 results.

Twenty-four percent of students at both grades 8 and 12 performed at the Proficient level in writing in 2011. Fifty-four percent of eighth-graders and 52 percent of twelfth-graders performed at the Basic level. Three percent of eighth- and twelfth-graders performed at the Advanced level. At grade 8, average writing scores were higher for Asian students than for other racial/ethnic groups. At grade 12, average writing scores were higher for White students, Asian students, and students of two or more races than for Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native students. At both grades, female students scored higher than male students.

Key findings from Writing 2011 include:

At grade 8, average writing scores were
• higher for Asian students than for other racial/ethnic groups;
• higher for female students than for male students; and
• higher for students attending schools in suburban locations than for students in cities, towns, and rural locations.

At grade 12, average writing scores were
• higher for White students, Asian students, and students of two or more races than for Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native students;
• higher for female students than for male students; and
• higher for students in suburban schools than for students in cities and rural locations.

Click here to find complete 2011 results for the nation, as well as findings from the student, teacher, and school surveys. Download the print report and find additional resources and information from the Writing website.

NAEP is a product of the National Center for Education Statistics at the Institute of Education Sciences, part of the U.S. Department of Education. The National Assessment Governing Board sets policy for NAEP.