Test Score Charts by Grade Level: iReady, NWEA MAP, STAR, SAT, ACT and CogAT

Test Score Charts by Grade Level: iReady, NWEA MAP, STAR, SAT, ACT and CogAT

Welcome. ReadyScores.com provides independent test score charts, percentile guides, and placement explanations. Our parent-friendly score interpretation guides are all updated for 2026-2027.

Quick Links to Score Charts and Calculators

This page brings together the main ReadyScores chart resources for iReady Diagnostic, NWEA MAP Growth, Renaissance STAR, SAT, ACT, and CogAT.

Use this page when you want to compare school test scores by grade level, testing season, subject, percentile, placement level, or growth measure. The goal is to help parents, students, and educators quickly find the right chart and understand what the score means.

ReadyScores focuses on clear score interpretation. A score chart should not be used to label a student. It should be used to understand where the student is now, what kind of support or challenge may be helpful, and how the student is growing over time.

Test Score Charts by Grade Level

A test score chart shows how a student’s score compares with grade-level expectations, national percentiles, benchmark categories, or placement levels. Different assessments use different score systems. iReady uses scale scores, placement levels, and percentile-style interpretation. NWEA MAP Growth uses RIT scores and percentiles. Renaissance STAR uses scaled scores, percentile ranks, benchmark categories, and growth measures.

Parents often search for test score charts after receiving a report from school. The report may show a number, percentile, placement label, or benchmark category without enough explanation. A score chart helps turn that number into context.

Assessment Main Score Type Subjects Best ReadyScores Page
iReady Diagnostic / iReady Inform Scale score, percentile, placement level, growth target Reading and Math iReady Diagnostic Scores Guide
iReady Math Scale score and percentile chart Math iReady Math Score Chart by Grade Level
iReady Reading Scale score and percentile chart Reading iReady Reading Score Chart by Grade Level
NWEA MAP Growth RIT score and percentile Math and Reading NWEA MAP Test Scores by Grade Level
Renaissance STAR Scaled score, percentile rank, benchmark category Reading, Math, Early Literacy STAR Test Scores by Grade Level
SAT Total score and section scores Reading and Writing, Math Coming Soon
ACT Composite score and subject scores English, Math, Reading, Science Coming Soon
CogAT Standard age score, percentile rank, stanine Verbal, Quantitative, Nonverbal Coming Soon

iReady Diagnostic Score Charts

iReady Diagnostic score charts help parents understand how a student’s Reading or Math score compares with grade-level expectations, testing-season norms, percentile ranges, and placement levels. iReady is commonly used in elementary and middle school to measure academic performance and instructional readiness.

The iReady Diagnostic is adaptive. That means the test adjusts question difficulty as the student answers. A correct answer usually leads to a harder question. An incorrect answer usually leads to an easier question. This helps the test estimate the student’s instructional level more precisely than a fixed test with the same questions for everyone.

ReadyScores includes multiple iReady chart and interpretation pages:

The most important iReady chart pages are the Math chart and Reading chart. Use the Math chart when the report shows an iReady Math Diagnostic score. Use the Reading chart when the report shows an iReady Reading Diagnostic score.

For parents, the key question is not only whether a score is high or low. The better question is: what does the score show about the student’s current instructional level, and what type of learning should happen next?

NWEA MAP Growth Score Charts

NWEA MAP Growth score charts help parents understand RIT scores by grade level, subject, testing season, and percentile. MAP Growth is different from many school tests because it is designed to measure both achievement and academic growth over time.

The main MAP score is called a RIT score. RIT stands for Rasch Unit. It is a continuous scale, which means a student can be measured on the same scale across multiple grades and testing windows. This makes MAP useful for tracking growth from Fall to Winter to Spring.

ReadyScores includes several NWEA MAP chart and interpretation pages:

Use the main NWEA MAP Test Scores page when you need the actual score chart. Use the “good MAP score” page when you want a simpler explanation of what counts as average, strong, low, or advanced for a specific grade.

MAP scores should be read by grade, subject, and season. A 190 in Reading does not mean the same thing in Kindergarten, Grade 3, and Grade 8. A Fall score should also not be judged the same way as a Spring score. Students are expected to grow during the year.

Renaissance STAR Test Score Charts

Renaissance STAR score charts help parents understand STAR Reading, STAR Math, and STAR Early Literacy scores by grade level, benchmark category, scaled score, and percentile rank. STAR tests are often used for screening, progress monitoring, intervention planning, and reading or math benchmark placement.

STAR results may include several score types. These can include a scaled score, percentile rank, benchmark category, student growth percentile, grade equivalent, instructional reading level, or domain-level information. Parents should be careful with grade equivalent scores because they are often misunderstood. A grade equivalent is not the same thing as grade placement.

ReadyScores currently provides this main STAR chart resource:

Use the STAR score chart when your child’s report mentions STAR Reading, STAR Math, STAR Early Literacy, Renaissance STAR, Star360, benchmark categories, or percentile rank. The chart helps explain whether the student is below benchmark, on watch, at or above benchmark, or performing at a high level compared with national expectations.

SAT Score Charts

Coming Soon.

ReadyScores will add SAT score chart resources covering total scores, section scores, score ranges, percentile interpretation, college readiness benchmarks, and how SAT scores compare across testing years.

When available, the SAT score chart page will help students and families understand how SAT Reading and Writing scores, Math scores, and total scores are interpreted. It will also explain the difference between raw performance, scaled section scores, national percentiles, and college readiness context.

ACT Score Charts

Coming Soon.

ReadyScores will add ACT score chart resources covering composite scores, English, Math, Reading, Science, score ranges, percentile interpretation, and college readiness benchmarks.

When available, the ACT guide will help students understand how a composite ACT score is calculated, how subject scores are interpreted, and how ACT score ranges are commonly used in college admissions and scholarship context.

CogAT Score Charts

Coming Soon.

ReadyScores will add CogAT score chart resources covering standard age scores, percentile ranks, stanines, ability profiles, verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, nonverbal reasoning, and gifted-program screening context.

CogAT scores are different from achievement test scores. CogAT is usually used to measure reasoning ability rather than direct grade-level academic achievement. A future ReadyScores CogAT guide will explain this difference clearly for parents.

Other School Test Score Guides

Some score pages are not pure chart pages, but they help parents understand what to do with test results after they receive them. These pages are especially useful when a child is below grade level, when a score drops, or when the report shows confusing labels.

These guides are useful because a chart alone does not always tell the full story. A score may look low, but the student may be growing well. A score may look high, but the student may not be making enough progress. A parent needs both the chart and the interpretation.

How to Read a Test Score Chart

To read a test score chart correctly, first identify the assessment, grade, subject, testing season, and score type. Do not compare a score to the wrong grade or season. A Fall score should usually be compared with Fall norms. A Spring score should usually be compared with Spring norms.

Follow these steps:

  1. Find the name of the test on the score report.
  2. Find the subject, such as Reading or Math.
  3. Find the student’s grade level.
  4. Find the testing season, such as Fall, Winter, or Spring.
  5. Find the score type, such as scale score, RIT score, percentile, placement level, or benchmark category.
  6. Compare the student’s score with the matching chart.
  7. Read the interpretation notes before making conclusions.

A common mistake is to look only at the score number. The same number can mean different things depending on the test. A 200 on MAP, a 500 on iReady, and an 850 on STAR are not interchangeable. They come from different scoring systems.

Percentiles vs Grade-Level Scores

A percentile shows how a student compares with other students in the same grade and testing window. A grade-level score or placement label shows how the student is performing relative to grade-level expectations. These are related, but they are not the same thing.

For example, a student at the 50th percentile is performing around the national middle for students in the same grade and season. A student at the 75th percentile is scoring higher than most national peers. A student at the 25th percentile may need closer attention, especially if classroom performance shows the same concern.

Percentiles are not percentages correct. A student at the 60th percentile did not answer 60% of questions correctly. It means the student scored as well as or better than about 60% of comparable students in the norm group.

Grade-level scores and placement labels can answer a different question: is the student working below grade level, on grade level, or above grade level? This is especially important in iReady, where placement language is central to the report.

Placement Levels vs Percentile Scores

Placement levels describe instructional readiness. Percentile scores describe national comparison. A placement level may say “One Level Below Grade Level,” “Early On Grade Level,” “Mid On Grade Level,” or “Above Grade Level.” A percentile may say the student is at the 35th, 50th, 75th, or 90th percentile.

Parents often ask whether iReady ranks mean placement levels or letter levels. Usually, when parents say “iReady ranks,” they may mean one of three things:

  • Placement levels, such as below grade level, on grade level, or above grade level.
  • Percentile ranks, such as 25th percentile, 50th percentile, or 75th percentile.
  • iReady lesson levels, such as Level AA, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, or Z.

The best page to understand placement language is the iReady Placement Levels guide. The best page to understand letter levels is the iReady Levels Explained guide.

Growth Scores vs Achievement Scores

Achievement tells where the student is now. Growth tells how much progress the student is making over time. Both matter.

A student can have a high achievement score but low growth. That may mean the student is still performing well, but not improving as much as expected. A student can also have a low achievement score but strong growth. That may mean the student is still behind, but moving in the right direction.

This distinction is especially important for NWEA MAP Growth and iReady. MAP is built around long-term growth tracking through RIT scores. iReady also includes growth targets and placement-level information that can help parents see whether a student is catching up, staying on track, or needing additional support.

For iReady growth interpretation, use the iReady Growth Tracker. For MAP growth interpretation, use the NWEA MAP Test Scores guide and the NWEA FAQ.

Which Test Score Chart Should Parents Use?

Parents should use the chart that matches the exact test name, subject, grade, and testing season shown on the child’s score report. Do not use an iReady chart to interpret a MAP score. Do not use a STAR chart to interpret an iReady score. Each assessment has its own scoring system.

If the report says… Use this ReadyScores page
iReady Diagnostic Math iReady Math Score Chart
iReady Diagnostic Reading iReady Reading Score Chart
iReady Inform iReady Diagnostic Scores Guide
iReady Placement Level iReady Placement Levels
iReady Level AA, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, or Z iReady Levels Explained
NWEA MAP Growth RIT Score NWEA MAP Test Scores
Good MAP Score by Grade What Is a Good MAP Score by Grade?
STAR Reading or STAR Math STAR Test Scores by Grade Level
SAT Score Coming Soon
ACT Score Coming Soon
CogAT Score Coming Soon

If you are not sure which chart to use, start with the test name printed on the report. Then match the subject and grade. If the report shows multiple numbers, look for the overall score first, then review domain scores or goal-area scores after that.

Test Score Chart FAQ

What is a test score chart?

A test score chart is a reference table that helps explain what a student’s score means. It may show grade-level expectations, percentile ranges, placement levels, benchmark categories, or growth targets.

What is the best ReadyScores page for iReady score charts?

For iReady Math, use the iReady Math score chart. For iReady Reading, use the iReady Reading score chart. For a broader overview, use the iReady Diagnostic Scores guide.

What is the best ReadyScores page for NWEA MAP score charts?

The best ReadyScores page for MAP score charts is the NWEA MAP Test Scores by Grade Level guide. It explains RIT scores, percentiles, Math scores, Reading scores, and Fall, Winter, and Spring testing windows.

What is the best ReadyScores page for STAR score charts?

The best ReadyScores page for STAR score charts is the STAR Test Scores by Grade Level guide. It covers STAR Reading, STAR Math, STAR Early Literacy, scaled scores, percentiles, and benchmark categories.

Are percentiles the same as percentages correct?

No. A percentile is not the percentage of questions a student answered correctly. A percentile shows how the student compares with other students in the same grade and testing window.

What does the 50th percentile mean?

The 50th percentile usually means the student is near the national middle for that grade, subject, and testing season. It does not mean the student got 50% of the questions correct.

What does it mean if my child is below grade level?

Below grade level means the student may be working on skills typically expected from an earlier grade or may need extra support in one or more areas. It does not mean the child cannot improve. Growth, classroom performance, domain scores, and teacher feedback all matter.

What does it mean if my child is above grade level?

Above grade level usually means the student is performing beyond typical grade-level expectations in that subject or testing area. Parents should still look at growth, effort, classroom challenge, and whether the student needs enrichment.

Which matters more, score or growth?

Both matter. The score shows current performance. Growth shows whether the student is making progress. A complete interpretation should consider both achievement and growth.

Can a student’s score go down?

Yes. Scores can drop because of tiredness, rushing, anxiety, test conditions, missed instruction, or genuine skill gaps. One lower score should be interpreted carefully. A pattern across multiple testing windows is more meaningful than one result.

Should parents worry about one low test score?

One low score is not enough to define a student. Parents should compare the score with classroom work, teacher observations, previous test results, and growth over time.

Are iReady, MAP, and STAR the same test?

No. iReady, NWEA MAP Growth, and Renaissance STAR are different assessments with different scoring systems. iReady often emphasizes placement and instructional level. MAP emphasizes RIT scores and growth. STAR emphasizes scaled scores, benchmark categories, and screening data.

Can I compare an iReady score with a MAP score?

Not directly. iReady and MAP use different score scales. You can compare the general interpretation, such as whether a student is below average, average, or above average, but the numbers themselves are not interchangeable.

Can I compare a STAR score with an iReady score?

Not directly. STAR and iReady use different scoring systems. Use the STAR chart for STAR scores and the iReady chart for iReady scores.

What is a RIT score?

A RIT score is the main score used by NWEA MAP Growth. It is a continuous scale used to measure achievement and track growth over time.

What is an iReady placement level?

An iReady placement level describes where a student is performing instructionally. Common labels include below grade level, on grade level, and above grade level. Some reports may use more specific labels such as one level below, early on grade level, or mid on grade level.

What is a STAR benchmark category?

A STAR benchmark category describes whether a student is below benchmark, on watch, at or above benchmark, or in a higher performance range. These categories help schools identify students who may need intervention, monitoring, or enrichment.

What should I ask the teacher after receiving a test score report?

Ask which skills need the most attention, whether the score matches classroom work, whether the student is making expected growth, what support is already happening at school, and what one or two things you can do at home.

Should parents use test score charts for tutoring decisions?

Charts can help identify possible concern areas, but they should not be the only reason to start tutoring. Look at domain scores, teacher feedback, classroom grades, homework patterns, and growth over time.

Can a high score still need attention?

Yes. A high-scoring student may still have weak areas, low growth, or a need for more challenging work. High achievement and strong growth are not always the same thing.

Can a low score improve?

Yes. Many students improve with targeted instruction, regular reading or math practice, school support, and time. A score chart shows a starting point, not a fixed outcome.

Are ReadyScores charts official testing company pages?

No. ReadyScores is an independent score interpretation resource. ReadyScores summarizes and explains publicly available score information, norms, and assessment concepts so parents and students can understand school test reports more clearly.

Where should I start?

Start with the exact test name on the score report. If the report says iReady, use the iReady chart pages. If it says NWEA MAP Growth, use the MAP score chart. If it says Renaissance STAR, STAR Reading, or STAR Math, use the STAR score chart.

ReadyScores.com is designed to help families understand school test scores without panic. Use the charts to find context, then use teacher feedback and student growth to decide what should happen next.