Why cant we compare this years CAT/6 results to last years Stanford 9 results?
The CAT/6 was developed by a different test publisher more than six years later than the Stanford 9; therefore, the test has a different structure, content emphasis, and difficulty level than the Stanford 9. The most appropriate comparison for CAT/6 results is the percentage of students scoring at or above the 50th national percentile rank. This percentage is important because it provides the data needed to accurately determine the average performance of students compared to the rest of the county. On the other hand, if you want to compare how a school did this year compared to last year, it is perfectly appropriate to look at the CST tests. For example, if a student scored at proficient in one grade, you generally would expect the student to score at the same or a higher level in the following grade. However, the tests are designed to assess the students attainment of the academic standards specified for the grade level. Since the academic standards change from grade to grade, it is i
