Frequently Asked Questions about easyCBM

How is easyCBM normed?       

Norms are established to help us better understand how students are doing on tests in relation to other students.  Norms generate percentiles, which show the range where students are performing compared to their same grade peers.  easyCBM Reading norms are based on a sample of students from 12 districts in Oregon and Washington.  The easyCBM Math tests are normed on a national sample of students.  

What is a percentile?

A student’s percentile score shows the percentage of other test takers that scored a lower or equal score. For example, a student who was ranked in the 90th percentile scored equal to or better than 90% of their grade level peers. This is different than percentage, which indicates the number of items a student scored correctly out of a certain total. For example, a student may have scored 18 out of 20 (90%) on the easyCBM Reading Comprehension test, but have a percentile ranking at the 80th percentile. This indicates the student scored better than 80% of their peers on that measure, which gives better information as to the student's relative standing.

What is a Risk Score?  

Risk scores are based on how students scored on each of the reading tests taken. Students are then placed on a 6 point scale based on how they scored: 0-1 is Low Risk, 2-3 is Some Risk, 4-6 is High Risk.  Schools can use this information to help identify students that are in need of academic intervention in reading.     

Further answers to both academic and technical questions about easyCBM can be found at the BRT project website, by clicking here.