The National Educational Development Tests (NEDT) were

standardized tests A standardized test is a Test (assessment), test that is administered and scored in a consistent or standard manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored ...

administered in the United States to students in Grades 7 to 10. The test system was developed by

Science Research Associates Science Research Associates (SRA), founded by Lyle Spencer in 1938, was a Chicago-based publisher of educational materials and schoolroom reading comprehension products. The company was acquired by McGraw-Hill Education in the early 2000s. Histo ...

in 1959, and applied from 1960 through to the early 1990s. The structure of the tests was based on the Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED) created by the University of Iowa College of Education in 1942 for use in

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

, and comprised 20–40 minute timed sub-tests in five categories: English Usage, Mathematics Usage, Natural Sciences Reading, Social Studies Reading, and Word Usage. From 1970, revised editions of the test included an additional generalised Test of Learning Ability and a

questionnaire A questionnaire is a research instrument that consists of a set of questions (or other types of prompts) for the purpose of gathering information from respondents through survey or statistical study. A research questionnaire is typically a mix of ...

for the student's own future educational plans. The NEDT was advertised to school counselors as a measurement of student performance in preparation for

college application College application is the process by which individuals apply to gain entry into a college or university. Although specific details vary by country and institution, applications generally require basic background information of the applicant, such ...

s and as a predictor for college entrance test scores. In practice, while the test scores correlated strongly with high-school level performance, the link to academic success at the collegiate level was unproven. At their peak in the 1970s, 350,000 students took the tests each semester. Even though the link to academic success at the collegiate level was unproven, the test proved to be very effective at revealing a number of students who scored very high on the test, but were actually working at a much lower level in class. With this information, counselors and teachers were able to work more closely with these underachieving students pointing them in the right direction for improving their grades in preparation for college. Wilson, Gary (1964) "Student Who Participated in the National Educational Development Test, Then Went To College and Received His Diploma."

References

Standardized tests in the United States {{US-edu-stub