Forward Exam Data and Results

Select a topic to jump to that section:

• About the Data
• Data Availability
• Data and Reporting Resources
• Scores and Score Ranges
• Percentile Tables
• Performance Level Descriptors
• Purpose of Exam

Forward Exam About the Data

Beginning in spring 2016, the Wisconsin Forward Exam was administered in English language arts and mathematics in grades 3 through 8, in science in grades 4 and 8, and in social studies in grades 4, 8, and 10 and is designed to evaluate how well students are mastering the Wisconsin Academic Standards. The Forward Exam is a computer administered assessment and includes multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and 2 one-paragraph short write tasks in the ELA section. Accommodations and supports for students with disabilities and/or English learners are built into the system so that the progress of students can be accurately measured.

Purpose of the Forward Exam

The Forward Exam results provide information about student performance which allows:

• students to reflect on their achievement.
• teachers to target instruction to student needs and reflect upon their own instructional practices.
• administrators to more fully understand what students know and can do in order to guide curriculum and professional development decisions.
• parents/guardians to understand what their child knows and is able to do in ELA, mathematics, science, and social studies. 
• all stakeholders to check how ready ALL students are for college and career, especially those groups that have historically been left behind.

Data and Reporting Resources

Manuals and Rescore Form

Forward Exam Rescore Form - Use this form to submit a re-score request for approval by DPI and processing by DRC. Please note this form is for public, charter, and choice students, only.

Forward Exam Informational Reporting Resources

• How to Use 2023-24 Forward Exam Assessment Data - Learn more about appropriate uses and comparisons of the 2023-24 Forward Exam data.
• Wisconsin Forward Exam Updates - Learn more information about recent changes to the Forward Exam test design.
• 2024 Forward Exam Performance Level Standard Setting - A diverse group of educators participated in a standard setting meeting where they aligned Forward cut scores with updated standards.
• WSAS Updated Asset-Based Performance Levels Informational Handout - Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is updating terminology used to describe student performance levels on statewide standardized assessments.
• The Link Between Standards, Curriculum, and Assessment - Learn more about the relationship between the academic standards, school curriculum, and statewide assessments, and what that looks like in the classroom.
• Percentile Rank - Learn more about the percentile rank and what it means on the Forward Exam Individual Student Report.
• Percentile Rank Vs. Normal Curve Equivalent - What is a Normal Curve Equivalent and how does it differ from a Percentile Rank?
• Raw Score Vs. Progress Scores - Learn more about the difference in scoring the Forward Exam is scored versus a classroom assessment. 
• Student Performance Levels - Learn more about performance levels.
• Standard Setting Process for Statewide Assessments - Learn about more about the standard setting process.

Individual Student Report Resources

Forward Exam Scores and Score Ranges

The Forward Exam is a summative assessment which provides information about what students know and can do in relation to the Wisconsin State Standards. Students receive a score based on their performance in each content area. Each score will fall in one of four levels:

• Advanced – The student demonstrates a thorough understanding of the knowledge and skills described in the Wisconsin Academic Standards for their grade level and is on-track for future learning.
• Meeting – The student is meeting the knowledge and skill expectations described in the Wisconsin Academic Standards for their grade level and is on-track for future learning.
• Approaching – The student is approaching the knowledge and skill expectations described in the Wisconsin Academic Standards for their grade level needed to be on-track for future learning.
• Developing – The student is at the beginning stages of developing the knowledge and skills described in the Wisconsin Academic Standards for their grade level needed to be on-track for future learning.

Subject Score Ranges

• Forward Exam results are reported on a 4-digit score scale for English language arts (ELA) and mathematics.
• Forward Exam results are reported on a 3-digit score scale for science and social studies.
• The tables below provide performance categories and cut score ranges for each performance level for each content area.

English Language Arts (ELA) Score Ranges

Mathematics Score Ranges

Science Score Ranges

Social Studies Score Ranges

Forward Exam Scale Score Percentile Table 

The percentile tables shows the direct correlation between the percentile and the scale score from the Forward Exam for 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2022-23, and 2023-24. There is no percentile table for 2019-20 as no testing occurred. The state percentile ranks a student's score on the Forward Exam compared with students across the state. Note: There is no percentile table for 2019-20 as the 2020 Forward Exam was not administered due to COVID-19.

Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs)

Cautions

Note that no single test can tell us whether students have learned everything that is important for students to learn. Additional local evidence should be reviewed for a more complete picture of student learning.