Available scores for the different forms
There are two test forms available: Standard and Abbreviated. Both forms are statistically equated assessments and offer the same level of score detail at the group level.
The Standard form provides:
- a total score and subscores and proficiency classifications for individual students
- total scores, norm-referenced subscores and criterion-referenced scores at the group level
- an alphabetical roster with 17 individual student scores
The Abbreviated form is statistically equated to the Standard form and provides:
- a total score, but no subscores, for individual students because there are not enough data to provide statistically reliable subscores.
- total scores, norm-referenced (scaled) subscores and criterion-referenced scores (proficiency classifications) at the group level. Thirty valid results are necessary to generate aggregate reports.
Learn more about the reports available for each form.
The ETS Proficiency Profile has two scoring conventions: Norm-referenced scores (scaled scores) and criterion-referenced scores (proficiency classifications).
Norm-referenced scores (scaled scores)
These scores compare the scores of one student or a group of students to another, or the same student or group at different points in time to allow you to look at longitudinal performance. Scores can be used for benchmarking or for determining value-added learning gains by conducting a longitudinal or cross-sectional study.
The ETS Proficiency Profile offers eight norm-referenced scores:
- a total score on 400–500 score scale
- four skills subscores (critical thinking, reading, writing, mathematics) on a 100–130 score scale
- three context-based subscores (humanities, social sciences, natural sciences) on a 100–130 score scale
The different subscores are not comparable to each other. For example, a score of 125 in reading on any edition of the ETS Proficiency Profile test is comparable to a score of 125 in reading on any other edition of the ETS Proficiency Profile test, but not to a score of 125 in writing.
Each of the scaled scores is computed by a two-stage process.
- The student's "raw score" is computed by counting the number of questions the student answered correctly (there is no penalty for incorrect guessing).
- A raw-to-scale conversion table converts the raw score to a scaled score.
Criterion-referenced scores (proficiency classifications)
These scores measure the level of proficiency obtained on a certain skill set. They can be used to inform curriculum improvement and measure student progress.
The ETS Proficiency Profile provides nine criterion-referenced scores:
- Mathematics (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3)
- Writing (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3)
- Reading (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3/Critical Thinking)
Each proficiency level is defined in terms of competencies expected of students. Learn more about the proficiency levels (PDF).
For detailed information on scoring, review the ETS Proficiency Profile User's Guide (PDF).
Essay scoring
Essays are scored by the e-rater® scoring engine, a computerized program developed by ETS, and receive a holistic score on a 6-point scale.
The e-rater engine scores essays by extracting a set of features representing important aspects of writing quality from each essay. These features must not only be predictive of readers' scores, but also correspond to the features that readers are instructed to consider when they award scores. These scoring features are then combined in a statistical model to produce a final score estimate, with the weight of each feature determined by a statistical process designed to maximize the agreement with human scoring.
For more information, review the Essay Scoring Guide (PDF).