foridahoteachers.org / isat resources / RIT scores

What is a "RIT" Score?

When a student completes an ISAT test, he or she receives a series of RIT scores as a result. So, what is a "RIT" and what do the scores mean?

"RIT" is an abbreviation for "Rausch Unit." The difficulty and complexity of each ISAT test question is measured using the RIT scale. A student's RIT score indicates that the student was answering questions correctly 50% of the time at that level of difficulty.

Distinguishing Features of RIT Scores:

• RIT Scores Indicate a Student's Instructional Level
  • The student's RIT score indicates the level of questions that the student was answering correctly 50% of the time. These are the skills that the student should be working on right now. The Learning Continuum (pdf) and DesCartes match specific skills to RIT scores, so instruction can be planned at an appropriate level for each student.

• The RIT Scale is an Equal Interval scale
  • The RIT scale in consistent, just like a ruler. One inch is always one inch, and one RIT is always one RIT. A student who grows from 165 to 170 shows the same amount of instructional growth as a student who goes from a 280 to 285 -- 5 RIT points of growth.
  • Because the RIT score is consistent, it can be used to accurately measure a student's growth over a period of time.

• RIT Scores are Completely Independent of Grade Level
  • There are "typical" RIT scores for each grade level, but every student is different. The RIT scale allows for students to be accurately measured regardless of their grade level.
  • If a 3rd grade student earns a 210 on the Reading ISAT, and a 8th grader also earns a 210 on the Reading ISAT, these two students are at the same instructional level.

What RIT Scores might I see for my students?

• As a teacher it is helpful to have a general idea of what RIT scores are typical for Math, Reading, and Language Usage for the grade level of your students.

• NWEA's "Monitoring Growth in Student Achievement" document charts the average RIT score for Fall and Spring testing for students at each grade level.

• Keep in mind that these scores are averages. You would not want to use these numbers to set goals or expectations for your students, but they can be useful in getting a general idea for how each student, or the class as a whole, is performing.

What RIT Scores do my students need to be considered "Proficient" in Idaho?

• The Idaho State Board of Education has identified RIT scores to indicate Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, and Advanced performance for each grade level for Reading, Math, and Language Usage.

• The State Board has also phased in graduation requirements for 10th grade students based on RIT scores for the Spring ISAT tests.

• "ISAT Spring Results 2004" from the State Board defines each of the levels of proficiency (page 4) and also describes the graduation requirements (page 5).

What amount of RIT score growth is "normal"?

• Every student is unique, but we can look at the results from NWEA's norm study to get an idea for how much RIT growth a student might show over a year.

• Generally speaking, students starting with a lower RIT score tend to show greater amounts of growth, and students starting with a higher RIT score tend to show less growth. (The most important thing? All students can grow!)

• "NWEA RIT Block Growth Norms" charts typical growth for students in each grade level, based on their RIT scores. This document can be very useful for goal-setting with students.