NAEP Report Card: Civics

The NAEP civics assessment measures students’ knowledge and skills in critical responsibilities of U.S. citizenship. As specified in the NAEP civics framework, assessment questions address three interrelated components: (1) knowledge about government and civil society; (2) intellectual and participatory skills essential for informed, effective, and responsible citizenship; and (3) civic dispositions that contribute to the political efficacy of the individual, the healthy functioning of the political system, a sense of dignity and worth, and the common good. Learn more about the NAEP civics assessment.

Grade 8 Sample Questions

Samples of released civics questions from the 2022 assessment are presented below. Each example contains a brief description of the question, the format type ( selected-response

), and the civic knowledge area (politics and government; American political system; roles of government; world affairs; roles of citizens). The percentage of students who answered a selected-response question correctly or who received full credit for their answer to a constructed-response question is also displayed.