Using Benchmarks Charts
The benchmark numbers are generally the highest numeric score a student can get that does not meet the benchmark. For example, if the benchmark is 144 and the student score is 144, the student performed below benchmark. If the student scored 145, the student is above the benchmark.
FastBridge Benchmarks
Looking for the quick reference document? The document was created by a 3rd party and kindly shared but will no longer be available here due to the lack of capacity to maintain and ensure the accuracy of the tables on a document. Please use only the official FastBridge benchmarks and norms, which are located in Fastbridge > Training & Resources > Benchmarks & Norms.
i-Ready Benchmarks for Iowa
Curriculum Associates has updated the i-Ready benchmarks for Iowa for the 23-24 school year for Literacy and Math.
Download the 2023-24 Iowa i-Ready Benchmarks here.
These benchmarks are applicable to tests administered starting in the 23-24 school year.
MAP Benchmarks for Iowa
Below are the benchmarks originally released in 2021-22 that will be used for MAP assessments in Iowa for the purpose of ELI and Healthy Indicator reports. These benchmarks are accurate for the 2023-24 school year and will remain in effect unless updated here.
Please note that these benchmarks are only available in this document.
Be aware the benchmarks and other cut points available elsewhere likely are not intended for Iowa use. NWEA has created many different sets of cut points and benchmarks over the years for various purposes and various customers.
NWEA produced a set of cut scores to be used in universal screening for their math and reading assessments released in March, 2021. However, the NWEA team that created the cut points included a caution that the risk predictions below 3rd grade are less accurate based on the data available to study (i.e., the farther below 3rd grade, the poorer the test’s predictive ability). The NWEA team reported “it is highly recommended for schools and educators to incorporate other factors in conjunction with student performance against the established benchmarks to identify students in need of intensive intervention…” Based on this, while the test is currently approved for this purpose for literacy screening, its use in K and 1 in particular is discouraged.