New State Exam Measures Writing Skills of Students

Most California eighth-graders are adequate writers--or worse. They are better at spelling and grammar than at the more complex thinking and composing skills writing also entails. And they are far better at reporting information than they are at presenting and supporting their own opinions.

These are some of the results of the state’s new writing test, first taken last spring by 268,700 eighth-graders as part of the California Assessment Program. The test, which has been in development since 1984, is the state’s first to directly assess students’ writing ability.

In the past, writing achievement was evaluated on the basis of students’ responses to multiple-choice questions on standardized tests. The new test requires each student to write an original essay of a specified type on a given topic in 45 minutes. The students’ essays then were read and evaluated by selected teachers.

Skills ‘Essential’

“Good writing skills are essential for students’ success in a rigorous high school program and for them to compete in a complex and rapidly changing job market,” said Supt. of Public Instruction Bill Honig in releasing the results of the 1986-87 test. “We now will have concrete data about how well students can actually write.”

The first test reveals that 14% of the state’s eighth-graders are good to excellent writers, while 19% write poorly. The majority (65%) are adequate or barely adequate.

Statewide, the average score on the new writing test was 250 on a scale from about 100 to 400. About 34,000 eighth-graders in the Los Angeles Unified School District took the test. Their average score was 220. Students in some district magnet programs, however, were among the best writers in the state.

The 1,281 eighth-graders tested in the Conejo Valley Unified School District, the largest group tested in Ventura County, scored above the state average (272).

Statewide, 58% of the students showed adequate or better mastery of the mechanics of writing, but only 34% wrote effectively. The eighth-graders were best at reporting information (52% were adequate or better) and least successful at critical writing (34% were adequate or better).

Honig said he was not surprised that poor writers outnumbered very good ones. “This is a tough test with high scoring standards,” he said.

CAP does not provide information about individual students. Data is collected about individual schools and school districts and how they compare with others in the state.

California is one of 25 states with a statewide test of student writing ability, according to the Educational Commission of the States, an educational clearinghouse in Denver.

Honig described California’s new test as a state-of-the-art tool for evaluating how well students have mastered the different skills and some of the different forms of writing.

In taking the test, students were asked to write one of four different kinds of essays: an autobiographical sketch, an informative report, a proposal of a solution to a problem or a critical essay. The students were given a “prompt,” or specific writing assignment, such as: Write a letter to the school principal suggesting how to solve the school litter problem, or write an essay justifying your preference for a particular type of music.

Read by Teachers

The essays were then read by teachers who evaluated each essay for its rhetorical effectiveness, its coherence or some other important feature of the writing and mastery of the mechanics of writing. The essays were scored from a low of 1 to a high of 6 in each of these areas.

“Many people expected the kids to do best on an autobiographical incident because of the popularity of personal writing with junior high teachers, but they did better on report of information,” said Beth Breneman, a language arts consultant to the CAP in Sacramento who helped develop the test.

According to Honig, development and scoring of the test was a monumental task, involving hundreds of teachers and other educators. All “prompts” were scrutinized by members of several minority groups to ensure that they were accessible to all students.

‘High Levels of Agreement’

Last July, 290 scorers read all the writing samples over an eight-day period. Five percent of the essays were double-scored, that is, rated by two evaluators. Double scoring was done to ensure that the essays were scored fairly. “The reliability figures we saw were very respectable,” Breneman said. “The readers achieved high levels of agreement.”

Breneman acknowledged that the new test has some limitations. It is not appropriate, she said, for evaluating certain kinds of writing, such as poetry. She also noted that its relatively short duration allows students little time to rewrite.

“Revision is essential to the writing process,” she said, “but students may or may not have time to revise in 45 minutes.”

The state plans to expand the writing evaluation program. This year’s test includes evaluation of two additional kinds of writing--the biographical sketch and the story.

Two more types (an essay involving speculation about causes or effects and “observational” or descriptive writing) will be added in 1989. High school seniors will be given a writing test in December, and sixth-grade and 10th-grade tests will be added in 1990-91 and 1992-93, respectively.

HOW TO READ THE SCORES

* School districts are in boldface, followed by individual schools within each district. Scores for magnet programs, alternative schools and other programs with small numbers of students have been omitted. No individual student scores are given on CAP tests.

* The score shows how students in a given school or district performed compared to other schools and districts in the state. The average score statewide was 250 on a scale from approximately 100 to 400. For example, eighth-graders at Brightwood Elementary School in the Alhambra School District on average scored well above the statewide average (319), while students at Park Elementary School in the same district scored below the statewide average (232).

* Scores are followed by a “performance comparison,” which is designed to show how a school or district performs compared to schools and districts with similar socioeconomic backgrounds and English language proficiency. The numbers reflect the lowest and highest scores for the “middle 50%” of students in comparable schools and districts. “Middle 50%” means students scoring between the 25th percentile and 75th percentile. For example, Brightwood Elementary School’s 319 average represents a high level of performance in comparison with similar schools, whose “performance comparison” scores range from 257 to 289.

Grade 8 Writing Assessment Test Scores

PERFORMANCE SCHOOL SCORE COMPARISON LOS ANGELES COUNTY ABC Unified 256 253-274 Whitney 363 282-308 Ross 240 241-263 Tetzlaff 259 267-289 Haskell 252 249-272 Killingsworth 208 204-227 Carmenita 259 265-288 Alhambra 268 229-250 Brightwood 319 257-289 Emery Park 259 220-258 Fremont 277 228-260 Garfield 264 216-247 Granada 241 224-270 Marguerita 275 233-265 Baldwin 271 221-249 Monterey Highlands 272 230-259 Park 232 215-252 Ramona 240 210-238 Repetto 293 234-265 Northrup 267 210-239 Ynez 243 194-225 Arcadia Unified 288 277-298 First Avenue 272 266-291 Dana 306 272-298 Foothills 288 282-306 Azusa Unified 225 220-242 Center 227 227-252 Foothill 224 217-243 Slauson 226 203-229 Baldwin Park Unified 205 212-233 Charles D. Jones 209 210-233 Holland 200 209-233 Olive 202 207-232 Sierra Vista 211 202-227 Bassett Unified 216 207-230 Edgewood 217 199-227 Torch 216 206-232 Bellflower Unified 236 245-267 Bellflower 221 237-261 Mayfair 252 247-271 Beverly Hills Unified 316 286-308 Beverly Vista 314 284-313 El Rodeo 317 285-317 Hawthorne 304 280-312 Horace Mann 330 271-303 Bonita Unified 260 258-279 Ramona 259 260-283 Lone Hill 260 250-273 Burbank Unified 249 247-268 Jordan 250 238-262 Luther Burbank 234 241-264 Muir 258 252-274 Castaic Union Castaic 258 229-258 Charter Oak Unified 224 258-280 Royal Oak 224 256-277 Claremont Unified 266 277-298 El Roble 266 276-297 Compton Unified 183 210-231 Bunche 167 189-214 Enterprise 191 215-242 Vanguard 175 226-251 Whaley 195 199-223 Willowbrook 182 217-242 Roosevelt 168 205-231 Walton 195 205-232 Davis 192 197-221 Covina-Valley Unified 249 246-267 Las Palmas 251 237-260 Sierra Vista 251 250-274 Traweek 244 242-265 Culver City Unified Culver City 250 252-274 Downey Unified 265 243-264 East 255 244-268 Griffiths 273 243-267 South 251 231-255 West 281 240-265 Duarte Unified Northview 237 228-250 East Whittier 257 247-269 East Whittier 267 240-264 Granada 247 249-275 Hillview 255 244-268 Eastside Union Eastside 232 228-261 El Monte 229 206-227 Columbia 222 189-214 Durfee 234 205-231 Gidley 224 202-229 Potrero 211 193-219 Rio Hondo 243 226-254 Wright 250 196-224 El Rancho Unified 224 210-231 Burke 223 212-237 North Park 232 196-220 Rivera 215 211-236 El Segundo Unified El Segundo 281 257-285 Garvey Elementary 235 209-230 Garvey 229 208-229 Fern 250 204-229 Glendale Unified 254 253-273 Roosevelt 236 224-247 Toll 250 252-274 Rosemont 259 268-290 Wilson 268 255-277 Glendora Unified 269 265-287 Goddard 289 267-293 Sandburg 255 258-282 Gorman Elementary Gorman 208 183-312 Hacienda La Puente 245 245-265 Cedarlane 250 252-276 Mesa Robles 291 271-294 Newton 263 260-284 Orange Grove 286 255-282 Sierra Vista 226 219-244 Sparks 216 213-235 Grandview 206 231-255 Hawthorne Elem. 253 229-251 Hawthorne 254 226-249 Yukon 250 224-251 Hermosa Beach City Hermosa Valley 284 262-293 Hughes-Elizabeth Hughes-Elizabeth 220 231-252 Inglewood Unified 220 231-252 La Tijera 250 221-251 Lane 271 242-277 Parent 284 280-314 Crozier 213 228-249 Monroe 198 214-236 Keppel Union Almondale 228 225-251 La Canada Unified La Canada High 334 282-307 Lancaster Elem. 256 249-270 Park View 261 254-275 Piute 250 237-260 Las Virgenes Unified 300 283-304 Wright 291 281-305 Lindero Canyon 305 282-303 Lawndale Elem. 241 222-244 Addams 236 206-236 Rogers 243 223-247 Lennox Elem. Felton 199 204-226 Little Lake City 234 228-250 Lake Center 221 222-246 Lakeside 251 227-253 Long Beach Unified 231 234-255 Avalon 283 241-288 Reid 212 191-272 Newcomb 322 248-277 DeMille 239 229-252 Hamilton 192 230-253 Hoover 253 242-267 Jefferson 234 220-243 Lindbergh 204 218-241 Marshall 28 232-254 Rogers 263 250-275 Stephens 229 237-259 Bancroft 246 244-267 Franklin 219 199-223 Hill 195 226-249 Hughes 249 253-274 Stanford 233 236-260 Washington 205 199-224 Los Angeles Unified 220 223-243 Eagle Rock 259 248-271 Adams 182 191-213 Bancroft 235 229-252 Belvedere 190 193-213 Burbank 226 208-229 Byrd 232 226-250 Carnegie 251 233-255 Carver 172 180-200 Nimitz 213 198-217 Columbus 243 236-258 Dana 206 228-250 Drew 183 182-204 Emerson 263 271-293 Fleming 237 231-253 Fulton 218 206-228 Gompers 149 184-207 Griffith 203 204-225 Harte 202 173-196 Hollenbeck 196 187-208 Holmes 256 250-276 Irving 225 215-236 King 241 219-239 Lawrence 241 232-253 Maclay 184 204-227 Mann 226 208-230 Marina del Rey 210 219-243 Mark Twain 219 220-244 Bethune 163 177-200 Millikan 270 257-279 Mt. Gleason 243 231-252 Muir 162 192-213 Mulholland 225 235-257 Nightingale 192 175-195 Northridge 219 226-249 Pacoima 206 206-227 Palms 231 240-264 Pasteur 202 215-238 Porter 278 247-270 Revere 275 273-295 Frost 243 259-280 San Fernando 207 205-226 Sepulveda 295 253-274 South Gate 205 206-225 Stevenson 226 190-211 Sutter 229 245-266 Van Nuys 210 216-239 Virgil 205 202-222 Webster 246 242-265 White 229 233-254 Wilmington 199 213-234 Wright 223 262-284 Audubon 191 240-261 Berendo 202 200-220 Burroughs 268 257-278 Clay 190 220-242 Dodson 248 229-251 Edison 179 187-208 Foshay 189 191-213 Gage 200 206-225 Hale 243 260-281 Henry 241 253-276 Le Conte 219 217-238 Madison 235 241-262 Markham 185 164-187 Mt. Vernon 194 205-226 Nobel 241 260-282 Olive Vista 218 219-240 Parkman 244 252-274 Peary 232 239-260 Portola 255 257-277 Sun Valley 190 201-222 Reed 235 245-265 Curtiss 196 247-270 El Sereno 196 198-218 Los Nietos Elem. Los Nietos 216 219-244 Lowell Joint Elem. Rancho-Starbuck 277 256-280 Lynwood Unified Hosler 213 215-235 Manhattan Beach City Manhattan Beach 274 276-300 Monrovia Unified 243 230-252 Clifton 225 226-250 Santa Fe 269 227-254 Montebello Unified 233 205-225 Macy 254 245-268 Bell Gardens 221 186-208 Eastmont 226 196-219 Montebello 236 191-213 La Merced 249 208-232 Suva 224 199-220 Mountain View Elem. 232 194-216 Baker 232 186-213 Kranz 232 192-213 Norwalk-LaMirada 228 233-254 Glenn 222 211-233 La Mirada 237 250-272 Norwalk 224 226-248 Palmdale Elementary 242 241-263 Sage 232 236-259 Juniper 257 241-266 Palos Verdes Penin. 330 294-315 Dapplegray 346 286-312 Malaga Cove 329 295-317 Ridgecrest 320 292-315 Paramount Unified 204 211-233 Alondra 224 216-238 Clearwater 188 203-225 Pasadena Unified 238 241-261 Marshall 257 252-275 Pasadena 266 248-308 Washington 213 217-240 Eliot 250 248-269 Wilson 231 233-255 Pomona Unified 211 224-244 Emerson 220 227-250 Marshall 210 210-234 Simons 206 200-224 Fremont 161 197-220 Palomares 193 217-242 Lorbeer 279 268-292 Redondo Beach City 262 247-269 Adams 238 241-266 Hillcrest 282 243-270 Lincoln 283 242-278 Rosemead Elem. Muscatel 242 219-242 Rowland Unified 248 243-263 Alvarado 271 253-274 Giano 223 224-245 Rincon 248 245-266 San Gabriel Elem. Jefferson 256 241-263 San Marino Unified Huntington 319 291-315 Santa Monica-Malibu 262 262-284 Adams 242 234-258 Malibu Park 286 280-310 Lincoln Junior 267 270-293 Alternative School 290 246-337 Soledad-Agua Dulce Acton 262 251-282 S. Pasadena Unified South Pasadena 280 274-298 S. Whittier Elem. South Whittier 205 201-223 Temple City Unified Oak Avenue 248 253-276 Torrance Unified 280 263-284 Calle Mayor 277 269-292 Casimir 252 251-276 Lynn 267 271-294 Madrona 287 254-279 Magruder 339 248-276 Hull 285 252-276 Valle Lindo Elem. Dean L. Shively 221 211-243 Walnut Valley Unified 292 269-290 Suzanne 282 254-277 Chaparral 299 275-296 West Covina Unified 244 245-267 Hollencrest 257 247-270 Willowood 231 237-261 Westside Union Elem. 251 248-271 Del Sur 237 230-276 Walker 253 247-270 Whittier City Elem. 240 220-241 Edwards 223 215-238 Dexter 255 219-241 William S. Hart Union 280 265-286 Arroyo Seco 289 265-286 Placerita 266 270-291 Sierra Vista 289 255-276 Wilsona Elementary Wilsona 229 238-269 Wiseburn Elementary Dana 270 243-272 VENTURA COUNTY Briggs Elementary Briggs 189 201-247 Conejo Valley Unified 272 276-296 Redwood 269 280-302 Colina 290 276-299 Sequoia 265 267-288 Los Cerritos 267 272-295 Fillmore Unified Fillmore 175 212-237 Hueneme Elementary 267 227-249 Blackstock 277 228-251 Green 258 221-243 Mesa Union Elem. Mesa 283 241-288 Moorpark Unified Chaparral 251 246-271 Mupu Elementary Mupu 219 238-307 Oak Park Unified Medea Creek 272 268-302 Ocean View Elem. Ocean View 245 220-244 Ojai Unified Matilija 267 253-278 Oxnard Elementary 226 218-239 Haydock 224 215-236 Fremont 228 215-237 Pleasant Valley Elem. 261 267-288 Los Altos 250 261-285 Monte Vista 272 unavailable Los Primeros 274 244-291 Las Colinas 255 253-287 Rio Elementary Rio Del Valle 229 211-236 Santa Paula Elem. Isbell 215 219-243 Simi Valley Unified 248 257-278 Sinaloa 246 255-277 Valley View 237 257-280 Sequoia 250 255-277 Hillside 263 251-274 Somis Union Elem. Somis 247 232-281 Ventura Unified 257 246-267 Mar Vista 157 187-251 Balboa 264 240-263 Cabrillo 274 250-273 Anacapa 250 251-274 De Anza 236 223-250