Before you begin the practice tests, it's crucial to understand a key concept in administering standardized achievement tests: basal & ceiling rules. This video will explain how these rules work, even though newer tests like the Woodcock-Johnson 5 use software to calculate scores.
The Woodcock-Johnson III & IV is still widely used by homeschoolers in North Carolina & many other states. While the Woodcock-Johnson IV is also in use, it is being phased out. The Woodcock-Johnson V, released in 2025, now automatically calculates raw scores using basal & ceiling scores, but it's still essential for you to understand the process. While the core concepts of basal & ceiling rules remain the same, the WJ V's software-based administration takes on the responsibility of implementing these rules, a task that was largely manual for examiners using previous versions. This shift is a major change designed to improve the reliability & ease of test administration. By administering these tests to your student you will gain an understanding of the basal & ceiling rules.
Basal: A basal score is established when a student correctly answers a specific number of consecutive items, often six in a row. Once this is achieved, the student gets full credit for all items before that point, even if they were not administered. If a student misses an item, the computer will back up to find where the student can correctly answer six items in a row to establish the basal. This ensures the student isn't working on problems that are too easy for too long.
Ceiling: A ceiling score is established when a student misses a specific number of consecutive items, which is often six in a row. Once this happens, the computer automatically ends the test section & moves on to the next one. This prevents students from being tested on material that is too difficult for them.
By understanding how basal & ceiling rules work, you will be better equipped to manually score practice tests for your students. This knowledge is important for you to have, even as testing procedures become more automated.
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You can view the video HERE.