Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems - CASAS ABE/ESL Score Ranges and Grade Level Equivalents

Oct 2, 2026

Uploaded by jayni

Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems outlines CASAS recommendations for WIOA Title I funded agencies and youth providers, emphasizing use of grade level information only for administrative needs when required. It presents CASAS ABE Reading and Math score tables for EFLs and grade level equivalents, plus CASAS ESL Reading and Listening score ranges tied to NRS levels. Additional guidance explains identifying Basic Skills Deficient and low literacy levels at program entry using PIRL and TEGL references.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

NRS Level Score Tables

CASAS ABE Reading

CASAS ABE Math

CASAS ESL Reading

CASAS ESL Listening

Program Entry Literacy Level Guidance

Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems For WIOA Title I Funded Agencies and Youth Providers CASAS recommends agencies use grade level information only for administrative purposes when state or federal regulations call for a grade level. CASAS ABE Reading Scores by EFLs and Grade Level Equivalents (GLEs) for WIOA Title I | NRS Levels | Reading ABE/ASE EFLs | | Reading GOALS Score Ranges | Grade Level | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Beginning ABE Literacy | | 193 and below
194-203 | K 1 | | 2 | Beginning Basic Education | | 204 – 210
211-216 | 2 3 | | 3 | Low Intermediate | Basic Skills Deficient | 217 – 222
223 – 227 | 45 | | 4 | High Intermediate | | 228 – 230
231 – 234
235 – 238 | 6 7
8 | | 5 | Low Adult Secondary Education | Not Basic Skills Deficient | 239 – 243
244 – 248 | 910 | | 6 | High Adult Secondary Education | | 249 – 253
254 and above | 11
12 | CASAS ABE Math Scores by EFLs and Grade Level Equivalents (GLEs) for WIOA Title I | NRS Levels | Mathematics ABE/ASE EFLs | | Math GOALS Score Ranges | Grade Level | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Beginning ABE Literacy | Basic Skills Deficient | 184 and below
185 – 193 | K 1 | | 2 | Beginning Basic Education | | 194 – 198
199 – 203 | 2 3 | | 3 | Low Intermediate | | 204 – 209 210 – 214 | 45 | | 4 | Middle Intermediate | | 215 – 221
222 – 225 | 6 7 | | 5 | High Intermediate | | 226 – 228
229 – 235 | 78 | | 6 | Adult Secondary Education | Not Basic Skills Deficient | 236 – 240
241 – 244
245 – 248
249 and above | 9
10
11
12 | CASAS ESL Reading Scores by EFLs and Grade Level Equivalents (GLEs) for WIOA Title I | NRS Levels | Reading ESL EFLs | | Reading Life and Work Score Ranges | Grade Level | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 7 | Beginning ESL Literacy | Basic Skills Deficient | 180 and below | 1 | | 8 | Low Beginning ESL | | 181-190 | 1 | | 9 | High Beginning ESL | | 191 – 200 | 1 | | 10 | Low Intermediate ESL | | 201 – 205
206 – 210 | 2 3 | | 11 | High Intermediate ESL | | 211 – 215
216 – 220 | 45 | | 12 | Advanced ESL | | 221 – 225
226 – 230
231 – 235 | 6 7
8 | | | Exit Advanced ESL | Not Basic Skills Deficient | 236 and above | 9+ | CASAS ESL Listening Scores by EFLs and Grade Level Equivalents (GLEs) for WIOA Title I | NRS Levels | Listening ESL EFLs | | Listening
Life and Work Score Ranges | Grade Level | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 7 | Beginning ESL Literacy | Basic Skills Deficient | 180 and below | 1 | | 8 | Low Beginning ESL | | 181-189 | 1 | | 9 | High Beginning ESL | | 190 – 199 | 1 | | 10 | Low Intermediate ESL | | 200 – 204
205 – 209 | 2 3 | | 11 | High Intermediate ESL | | 210 – 214
215 – 218 | 45 | | 12 | Advanced ESL | | 219 – 221
222 – 224
225 – 227 | 6 7
8 | | | Exit Advanced ESL | Not Basic Skills Deficient | 228 and above | 9+ | *Adapted from the amended DOL‐only Participant Individual Record Layout (PIRL) ETA \#9172 and the Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 10‐16 Change 1 published August 23, 2017 developed jointly by the U.S. Departments of Labor (DOL) and Education (ED) (the Departments) . From the ETA 9172 DOL PIRL (Data element \#804) Mark as Basic Skills Deficient/Low Levels of Literacy at Program Entry if the participant is, at program entry: A) a youth, who has English reading, writing, or computing skills at or below the 8th grade level on a generally accepted standardized test; or B) a youth or adult, who is unable to compute and solve problems, or read, write, or speak English at a level necessary to function on the job, in the participant’s family, or in society.

FAQs

What does CASAS recommend regarding grade level information for WIOA Title I agencies?

CASAS recommends agencies use grade level information only for administrative purposes when state or federal regulations require it.

How are ABE Reading scores presented in the document?

ABE Reading scores are given as score ranges for EFLs by NRS levels and include corresponding grade level equivalents.

What guidance is provided for marking Basic Skills Deficient or low literacy at program entry?

The document specifies criteria from PIRL and TEGL sources, including youth at or below the 8th grade level on standardized tests and individuals unable to compute or use English skills necessary to function in work, family, or society.

Oct 2, 2026

Uploaded by jayni