The National Educational Development Tests (NEDT) were

standardized tests A standardized test is a 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 in a predete ...

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) 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. History Science Research Associates Inc. ...

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 The Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED) are a set of standardized tests given annually to high school students in many schools in the United States, covering Grades 9 to 12. The tests were created by the University of Iowa's College of E ...

(ITED) created by the

University of Iowa College of Education The University of Iowa College of Education is one of 11 colleges that compose the University of Iowa. It is located in Iowa City, Iowa. The College of Education is divided into four departments that include Educational Policy and Leadership Studies ...

in 1942 for use in

Iowa Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wiscon ...

, 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 counselor A school counselor is a professional who works in primary (elementary and middle) schools or secondary schools to provide academic, career, college access/affordability/admission, and social-emotional competencies to all students through a school ...

s 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.Hansen, Janet (1993),
The Correlation between the National Educational Development Test and the American College Testing Program
, Education Resources Information Center.

References

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