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Basic Skills Assessment Tools

The National Reporting System (NRS) test benchmarks for educational functioning levels that are acceptable for Common Measures.  These benchmarks were developed by the U.S. Department of Education, Division of Adult Education and Literacy for implementation of an accountability system for federally-funded adult education programs under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).

There are seven(7) basic skills assessment tools:

• Adult Basic Learning Examination (ABLE) - Designed to measure the educational achievement of adults who may or may not have completed twelve years of school. This tool is also helpful in evaluating efforts to raise the educational level of adults. 
  Phone:  1-800-211-8378
   

• Adult Measure of Educational Skills (AMES)
   

• Basic English Skills Test (BEST) - This tool is designed for adult English as a Second Language learners at survival and pre-employment skills level. BEST includes Oral Interview and Literacy Skills sections that are scored separately. The Oral Interview scores: communication, fluency, pronunciation and listening comprehension skills. The Literacy Skills scores: reading and writing.
   

• Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAA, Life Skills System) - Used to help identify the basic skills in reading, math, and listening needed by individuals to function successfully in the workplace, community and society.
   

• Student Performance Levels (SPL)
   

• Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) - Is designed to asses reading, mathematics, language and spelling skills. Also, includes a version in Spanish and independent tests that assess basic skills in work-related contexts.
   

• WorkKeys - Provides students and workers with information about their workplace skill levels. Also provides information on skill levels required for jobs and assessments information to help individuals make better career and educational decisions.