Vertical Scaling
Vertical scaling places tests written for different grade levels onto a single continuous score scale so that growth from one grade to the next can be measured in common units. Unlike horizontal equating, which links alternate forms intended to be interchangeable, vertical scaling deliberately links tests of differing difficulty and content to build a developmental continuum spanning, for example, grades 3 through 8. It is the measurement foundation that lets a fourth-grade and a fifth-grade score be subtracted to express how much a student grew.
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Sources
- Kolen, M. J., & Brennan, R. L. (2014). Test Equating, Scaling, and Linking: Methods and Practices (3rd ed.). Springer. ISBN: 9781493903160
- Yen, W. M., & Fitzpatrick, A. R. (2006). Item Response Theory. In R. L. Brennan (Ed.), Educational Measurement (4th ed., pp. 111–153). American Council on Education / Praeger. ISBN: 9780275981259
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 22). Vertical Scaling of Achievement Tests Across Grades. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/education/vertical-scaling
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- Educational Growth Curve ModelingEducation↔ compare
- Item Response TheoryPsychometrics↔ compare
- Student Growth PercentilesEducation↔ compare
- Test EquatingPsychometrics↔ compare