TABE

The Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) is a standardized assessment published by Data Recognition Corporation (DRC). It measures the foundational reading, language, and mathematics skills adults need in education and the workplace. The current edition, TABE 13&14, is approved for the National Reporting System (NRS) for Adult Education, which is why adult education programs across the country use it to place learners and measure their progress.

Who Uses the TABE

The Three Subject Tests

Subject	ReportingCategories	SkillsTested
Reading	KeyIdeasandDetails;CraftandStructure ,	Centralideasandthemes citingevidence word , ,
	VocabularyAcquisitionandUse;Integrationof	meaning textstructure pointofviewandpurpose , , ,
	KnowledgeandIdeas	evaluatingarguments andinformationfromchartsand ,
		othermedia
Language	TextTypesandPurposes;ConventionsofStandard	Organizingarguments explanations andnarratives; , ,
	English;KnowledgeofLanguageandVocabulary	grammar usage capitalization punctuation and , , , ,
		spelling;precisewordchoiceandsentencestructure
Mathematics	NumbersandOperations;AlgebraicConcepts;	Computation fractions decimals percents ratios , , , , ,
	Geometry;Measurement Data andProbability , ,	expressionsandequations graphs geometricfigures , , ,
		unitconversion datadisplays andprobability , ,

Levels and the Locator Test

Each subject test is offered at four levels of difficulty so that each learner takes the test that matches his or her current skills. The levels together span grade-level equivalents from about 2.0 to 12.9. Learners who read below the E level may take TABE Literacy (Level L), a separate beginning-literacy assessment.

Tabe13&14Levels

Level	Name	ApproximateSkillRange
E	Easy	Beginningbasicskills(aboutgrades2–3)
M	Medium	Lowintermediateskills(aboutgrades4–5)
D	Difficult	Highintermediateskills(aboutgrades6–8)
A	Advanced	Adultsecondaryskills(aboutgrades9–12)

Before your first TABE, you usually take the Locator test, a short test in each subject whose score tells the examiner which level (E, M, D, or A) to give you. The Locator is not needed again for later tests. Take it seriously: a Locator score that is too low places you in a level below your ability.

Locatortest

LocatorSubtest	Items	Time
Reading	16	35minutes
Language	16	20minutes
Mathematics	16	20 minutes (two 10 -minute parts)

Number of Questions and Time Limits

On TABE 13&14, testing times are the same at every level, and the number of items is nearly the same.

Subject	Items(byLevel)	TestingTime	ItemTypes
Reading	E42·M41·D39·	100 minutes (two 50 -minute parts)	Multiple-choice and evidence-based
	A40		selectedresponse
Language	33ateverylevel	50minutes	Multiple-choice
Mathematics	40ateverylevel	60minutes(Part1:45minutes;Part2:	Multiple-choice and gridded response
		15minutes)
Total	about112–115	210minutes

Programs may give one, two, or all three subject tests, depending on what they need to measure, and some schedule them on different days. Times listed are maximums; many test takers finish sooner. Reading passages are written to be read on one screen with scrolling, and a gridded-response math item asks you to enter a numeric answer yourself instead of choosing one.

Formats

Delivered through DRC INSIGHT on a computer or tablet at a

A test booklet and a single answer document used for all four

testing site. Mathematics includes an on-screen Desmos

levels. Paper tests are given in person at a testing site.

calculator where calculators are allowed. Scores are available quickly.

Scoring

Each subject test produces a scale score on a common scale of about 300 to 800, so scores from different levels and different forms can be compared. Programs convert scale scores into NRS Educational Functioning Levels (EFLs) and into approximate grade-level ranges. Score reports also show how you performed in each reporting category, which points to the skills to study next.

EFL	Name	Grade-Level Range
1	BeginningABELiteracy	0–1 .9
2	BeginningBasicEducation	2 .0–3 .9
3	LowIntermediateBasicEducation	4 .0–5 .9
4	HighIntermediateBasicEducation	6 .0–8 .9
5	LowAdultSecondaryEducation	9 .0–10 .9
6	HighAdultSecondaryEducation	11 .0–12 .9

No. The TABE has no single passing score. Each program, college, or employer sets the score or level it requires. Many career and technical programs, for example, look for scores at the adult secondary levels (EFL 5 or 6, about grade 9 and above) in reading and math. Ask the program you are applying to for its exact requirement.

Retesting and Cost

Each program sets its own retest policy. A posttest uses the

The testing program sets any fee. Many adult education

alternate form (13 or 14) and usually follows a set number of

programs test enrolled learners at no charge; colleges and

instructional hours, so your progress is measured on new

employers may charge a small fee or cover it.

questions.