Comparing Northwest Evaluation Association’s Benchmark Assessment Scores to College Board’s ACCUPLACER Scores: Is There A Correlation?

Abstract

The research examined the relationship between the Northwest Evaluation Association's (NWEA) benchmark assessment (Measure of Academic Progress [MAP]) scores and the score a student receives on the College Board's ACCUPLACER Reading and Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics test and differences between test scores. The correlation between the two scores could help predict which of their students would score as college-ready on the ACCUPLACER test by their NWEA scores. The school started administering the ACCUPLACER tests to classify students as college ready in 2022-2023. Students previously at Maine Virtual Academy had NWEA scores, and the question addressed is how the NWEA scores correlated to ACCUPLACER scores. This is important when considering what interventions are necessary to prepare students for their postsecondary goals, whether their plans include college or a career. The data analysis of 99 high school students in grades 11 and 12 revealed a significant statistical correlation between the NWEA scores and the ACCUPLACER scores in both Reading and Math. The NWEA scores of a student can be used to predict their college readiness. Keywords: NWEA, ACCUPLACER, college-readiness DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-6-14 Publication date: February 28 th 2023