Scale Scores State Assessments

The cut (or threshold) scores for Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4, within the scale score range, were initially developed by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, with input from thousands of educators and community members. The Smarter Balanced member states approved these scores. The scores were then adopted by the State Board of Education in January 2015. ESHB 2224 (passed July 2017) moved the high school testing grade from grade 11 to grade 10. Grade 10 cut scores were adopted by the State Board of Education in January 2018. The graduation cut scores for both ELA and Math, adopted by the State Board in August 2015, did not change.

Below are the scale score ranges for all achievement levels on the Smarter Balanced assessments.

*On 8/5/2015 the State Board of Education (SBE) set the minimum scores on the high school assessments needed to meet the assessment graduation requirement. View these cut scores.

*On 8/5/2015 the State Board of Education (SBE) set the minimum scores on the high school assessments needed to meet the assessment graduation requirement. View these cut scores.

Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS)

The cut (or threshold) scores for Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 were developed by Washington educators. These cut scores were adopted by the State Board of Education in August 2018.

Historical Scale Score Ranges

Below are the scale score ranges for assessments that were not administered in the 2017-18 school year. They include all levels on the grades 3-8 (Reading, Math, and Writing) Measurements of Student Progress (MSP), Grade 11 Smarter Balanced Assessments, High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) and the End-of-Course (EOC) exams. HSPE and MSP are the same scale score ranges as the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), which was replaced as of 2009-10 school year. The scale score ranges include the lowest and highest attainable score on each test (reading, writing, math, and science).