In 2018, the average TEL content area score for eighth-grade students in Technology and Society was 2 points higher compared to 2014, and the average scores in Design and Systems and Information and Communication Technology were 3 points higher compared to 2014.

In comparison to 2014, the average TEL practice scores at grade 8 were 2 points higher in 2018 in Understanding Technological Principles and Developing Solutions and Achieving Goals, and the average score in Communicating and Collaborating was 3 points higher in 2018.

In 2018, middle- and higher-performing eighth-grade students scored higher in all three content areas and all three practices compared to 2014.

The TEL assessment measured three content areas: Technology and Society, Design and Systems, and Information and Communication Technology. Within the content areas, students were expected to demonstrate thinking and reasoning skills specified in three practices: Understanding Technological Principles, Developing Solutions and Achieving Goals, and Communicating and Collaborating. An overall TEL scale score is reported along with separate scale scores for each of the three content areas and for each of the three practices. Learn more about what the content areas and practices measured.

See scores by percentile for the TEL content areas and practices below.