WASL Compared to Other State Exit Exams

Achieve has an Oct. 11 2004 report that compares the 10th grade WASL to exit exams in other states.

http://www.achieve.org/dstore.nsf/Lookup/WASL/$file/WASL.pdf IV.

Conclusion
The results of the Achieve analysis can be summarized in the following way:
Compared with the other states, the writing test is exemplary. By requiring students to
pass that test in order to graduate, Washington is placing more value on student writing
than any of the other states in the study, which is commendable given how important
strong writing skills are to students’ success in college and careers.
The reading test is relatively strong as well. It has challenging questions though the
reading passages are not as rigorous as in other states. The proficient level of
performance sets a standard that is comparable to other states in Achieve’s study.
The math test is the least challenging of the three when compared to the other states, most
notably because the content is less rigorous. Given the relatively low level of content on
the test, the proficient level does not, in our opinion, set an unreasonable standard for
high school graduates.