Study: Reading, Math Test Results Greatly Fell During Pandemic

Study: Reading, Math Test Results Greatly Fell During Pandemic

A new study found that math and reading test results for America's nine-year-olds greatly fell during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is part of the U.S. Education Department. It found that reading test results saw their largest decrease in 30 years. It also found that math test results had their first decrease in the history of the kind of testing under study.

The study found that in math, the average test result for nine-year-old students fell seven percentage points between 2020 and 2022. The average reading test result fell five points.

The decreases hit all areas of the country and affected¹ students of most races. But students of color saw some of the greatest decreases, widening the differences in test results between races.

Much of the nation's standardized³ testing did not happen during the early days of the pandemic. So, the findings released Thursday gave an early look at the effects the pandemic had on learning. More data is expected to be released later this year as part of the National Assessment⁴ of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation's Report Card.

Daniel McGrath of NCES said these are some of the largest decreases they have observed in a single testing period in 50 years. McGrath added, "Students in 2022 are performing at a level last seen two decades ago."

The study shows the difficulties in education as U.S. schools shut down for months at a time during the pandemic. Many students spent a year or more learning from home. And virus outbreaks among school workers and students continued to interfere⁵ with learning as students returned to the classroom.

More difficulties for students of color

The pandemic's difficulties especially hurt students of color. Math test results dropped by five percentage points for white students, compared with 13 points for Black students and eight points for Hispanic students. The divide between Black and white students widened by eight percentage points during the pandemic.

Decreases were more equally spread in reading: test results dropped six points for white, Black, and Hispanic students.

For Asian American students, Native American students, and students of two or more races, the study found there was little change in reading or math between 2020 and 2022.

Across the U.S., all areas saw decreases in math. But decreases were a little worse in the Northeast and Midwest compared with the West and South. Outcomes were similar for reading, except that the West had no measurable difference compared with 2020.

Although the results mark a sharp drop since the pandemic, the study found that the average reading and math scores are still higher than the ones from the 1970s.

Words in This Story

standardize² – v. to change (things) so that they are similar and consistent and agree with rules about what is proper and acceptable

decade – n. a period of 10 years

score – n. the number of points that someone gets for correct answers on a test or exam

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 standardize   

v.使符合标准，使标准化

参考例句：

• We will extend and standardize legal services and provide effective legal aid.拓展和规范法律服务，积极开展法律援助。
• There is a drive both to standardise components and to reduce the number of models on offer.正在为实现零部件标准化和减少推出的型号数量而努力。

3 standardized   

adj.标准化的

参考例句：

• We use standardized tests to measure scholastic achievement. 我们用标准化考试来衡量学生的学业成绩。
• The parts of an automobile are standardized. 汽车零件是标准化了的。

4 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

5 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。