RIT+Scores

=RIT Scores (and more!)=

__What is a RIT score?__
RIT is a unit of measure that uses individual item difficulty values to estimate student achievement. RIT scores create an equal-interval scale. This means the difference between scores is the same regardless of whether a student is at the top, bottom, or middle of the RIT scale, and it has the same meaning regardless of grade level. The RIT scale is used to measure how “tall” a student is on the curriculum scale and scores can be compared to tell how much growth a student has made, similar to measuring height on a yardstick.

The RIT score is one of the most important pieces of information on the testing reports. This score is independent of the age or grade of the student, and reflects the instructional level at which the student is currently performing. If you take a look at your third highest performing student in relationship to the //Normative Data: Monitoring Growth in Student Achievement// document, you can judge at what level this child is performing. Then look at the third lowest performing student in relationship to the same document. This will begin to show you the instructional differences in your class.

__Why are there score ranges? How should I use them?__
Score ranges indicate the range of measurement error around a particular score (score ranges include one standard error above and below the RIT score). Students performing within the same score range have similar instructional needs.

__How do I use the goal scores?__
Goal scores are available in two forms—by Goal Descriptors and by RIT Ranges.

Goal descriptors report scores as LO, AV, or HI in each goal area. HI means the score is in the top third (percentile scores equal to or greater than 66), AV means the score is in the middle third (percentile scores between 66 and 33), and LO means that the score is in the bottom third (percentile scores equal to or less than 33). A hyphen in the goal area means that the student did not answer enough questions correctly in that goal area to generate a score.

Goal scores can also be ordered as a RIT score range. The RIT score range includes the error of measurement and can be used to place a student or groups of students directly into NWEA’s //DesCartes: A Continuum of Learning// for instructional guidance related to appropriate content.

For the class, the number of students in each category, (LO, AV, HI) are indicated in the summary information at the bottom of the report. This summary information can be used to help determine the type of differentiation needed to instruct the students around that specific goal area.

You can use the class median to look at the different goal areas related to how the class did overall. If the goal area median is more than 3 points higher or lower than the overall class median, this may indicate an area of strength or an area that needs more emphasis.

Teachers should identify the number one goal to work on for their class each year. Choose the goal that has the most leverage in helping kids across the most areas. Make a big push in this area, but don't sacrifice your other goals!

__What is the difference between percentile and percent correct?__
A percentile is how well a student performs compared to students in a "norms" sample for their grade. Fifth graders are compared with fifth grade students in the nationwide norm sample. A student scoring at the 35th percentile scored as well as, or better than, 35 percent of the students in the group (within the same grade level from the norm sample). It also means that 65 percent of the students exceeded this score. Percentile does not mean that the student got 35 percent of the items correct.

The percentile is not a good measure for measuring growth in students. Students in the middle of the percentile range can leap ahead or fall behind fairly easily, but it is harder to move percentiles the further you are to either end of the range (e.g. 98th).

__How do I use the summary data on the reports?__
The class average (mean) is the average score received by the class. It is very sensitive to extreme scores at either end of the scale. For example, a student who performs significantly better than other students (an "outlier") tends to skew the average.

The median is the middle score received by the class. This is the point at which half the scores are above and half the scores are below. The median is not affected by extreme scores.

The standard deviation indicates how "spread out" the instructional level is for a group of students. The higher the number, the more variety of instructional levels there are within your group; the lower the number, the more your students are alike. If the standard deviation is less than 10, the class is very homogeneous. If the standard deviation is between 15 or 16, this is an average range for a class. If the standard deviation is 18 or higher, the class is very diverse. The standard deviation can help you determine whether whole group instruction will be very effective or not with your class. If all the scores were the same, the standard deviation would be zero.

__How can I use RIT scores in my classroom?__

 * See Using the Data.
 * See Using MAP Results--Reading for specific strategies to use in each of the MAP reading goal areas.
 * Use DesCartes: A Continuum of Learning for a specific list of skills and concepts to enhance, develop, and introduce for each goal area.
 * Use the data to set goals for the class as well as individuals.

The above information comes from //Understanding Teacher and Class Reports//. Revised 7/2006. Northwest Evaluation Association.