Interpreting Test Scores

All state assessments are based on grade-level expectations, which are the knowledge and skills students are supposed to have learned at the time of testing. Students do not receive a pass or fail grade, but receive an achievement level score. The five achievement levels a student can score on LEAP, iLEAP and GEE assessments are: Advanced, Mastery, Basic, Approaching Basic and Unsatisfactory.

Students in 4th and 8th grade must score Basic or higher in either English or math and Approaching Basic or higher in the other subject on the LEAP (Louisiana Educational Assessment Program) to advance to the next grade. Fourth-graders have had to meet this requirement since 2004, while eighth-graders have to meet this requirement since 2006. Students in grades 3, 5, 6, and 7 participate in the state's iLEAP, which is not a high-stakes assessment.

Louisiana high school students who entered ninth grade prior to the 2010-11 school year participate in the state's Graduation Exit Examination (GEE). High school students must score Approaching Basic or above on the English and math portions of the exam, and Approaching Basic or above on either the Science or the Social Studies components of the test in order to graduate. Students must pass the state test to earn a standard Louisiana diploma.

Beginning in 2010-11 all incoming freshmen must pass three End-of-Course (EOC) tests in the following categories: English II or English III, Algebra I or Geometry, and Biology or American History. The EOC tests will replace the Graduation Exit Examination (GEE) for graduation purposes.  

There are four achievement levels students can score on the End-of-Course exams: Excellent, Good, Fair and Needs Improvement. Students are required to score Fair or above on EOC English II or English III, Algebra I or Geometry, and Biology or American History to be eligible for a standard high school diploma.