Comparison and Properties of Correlational and Agreement Methods for Determining Whether or Not to Report Subtest Scores

Large-scale testing agencies often report subtest scores in addition to reporting the total test score. But is there evidence that subtests reveal differences in student performances? Three methods for determining whether subscore reporting is warranted were examined and evaluated using large-scale data as well as samples of various sizes for Reading and Mathematics assessments. Results revealed that subtests did not differ among themselves and added no value over the total test. The method statistics were determined to be accurate and precise estimators of the population parameters. Implications for subscore reporting are discussed.